ABSTRACT
In this chapter, having covered aspects of Ireland’s musical (and-more generallycultural) history, we turn to a broader view of Ireland’s context among related nations. In looking more broadly at Ireland’s musical neighbors (both among the islands and on the mainland), our goal is to locate a set of shared histories, musical styles, and approaches to music while differentiating some key elements. You already know from reading earlier chapters that most Irish musicians tend to avoid using the word “Celtic” in describing the music they play, even if they sometimes bring into their playing a few tunes from Brittany or Scotland or the Shetland Islands. Its use in CD marketing has come to dominate all other intended meanings of the word. However, by understanding its use as a linguistic term, you should be able to both distinguish the Celtic from the non-Celtic, and know why and how these related regions come together in this chapter.
