Celtic Studies in Poland: Recent Themes and Developments

Though works devoted to various aspects of Celtic philology and history appeared in Poland already by the end of the 19th century, it is Stefan Czarnowski (1879–1937) who deserves to be called the forerunner of Celtic studies in Poland. Czarnowski, the author of numerous studies on sociology, religion, history and theory of culture, also published several articles devoted to Celtic issues, especially literature and religion, and translations of specimens of Celtic literatures. However, his most important achievement in the field of Celtology was Le culte des héros et ses conditions sociales: Saint-Patrick, Héros national de l’Irlande (Paris 1919), an historical and sociological study of St. Patrick and mediaeval Ireland, in which he followed the methodological assumptions worked out by Émile Durkheim. Though published more than eighty years ago, this study has lost very little of its value and importance, and still deserves to be closely analysed. Today, several Polish scholars and institutions conduct research pertinent to Celtic Studies: most notably at the Chair of Celtic Studies at the Catholic University of Lublin, the only place in Poland where regular courses in modern Irish and Welsh have been offered, and where vigorous research, especially in the phonology of the Celtic languages is conducted. Also other universities offer more or less regular courses and seminars, such as the ‘Introduction to Celtic Studies Seminar’ at the Department of English Language at Łódź University. Hopefully, the future will see more of such initiatives. In the paper, I also stress the importance and appropriateness of providing information about Celtic Studies to students of English.