Some new insights into Celtic life will be revealed in a celebration of Celtic culture to be held at Emmanuel College, the University of Queensland, on Saturday September 20 1997.
Dr Cath Filmer-Davies, a leading Celtic scholar in the University's English Department, says the most interesting civilisations are those which have died.
"The lack of written Celtic lore has opened the way to much speculation and invention about culture', Dr Filmer-Davies said.
"Although we do not know as much as we would like about the Celts, archaeologists and researchers have provided some ideas of how they lived.
"At the Celtic day we will be celebrating the cultural legacies they have left us and the enduring storytelling and music."
Visiting Newcastle University scholar Associate Professor Norman Talbot will give a keynote talk titled, Morgan Sans Merci: Morgan le Fay Sexuality and the Girls of the Otherworld .
Other talks will cover the use of Celtic themes in contemporary fantasy fiction.
Dr Filmer-Davies, who has recently returned from a six-month study tour of the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany, will give a visual presentation of key Celtic sites in Europe.
"The day will be a celebration of things Celtic," Dr Filmer-Davies said.
"We have places on the program still for anyone who can sing or dance in the Celtic tradition. Anyone who would like to do so should contact me as soon as possible."
Talks, stories and music will feature from 11am until 5pm and at 6.30pm a Celtic feast will feature genuine Celtic dishes. A fine selection of Celtic entertainment will be presented by noted tenor Neil Mason accompanied by University of Queensland organist Dr Robert Boughen.
Dr Filmer-Davies said many Australians had Celtic ancestry, made evident by surnames such as McPherson, Donnelly, Jones, Griffith and Hughes.
"Like people everywhere, Celtic Australians are seeking the assurance of having roots, of belonging somewhere," Dr Filmer-Davies said.
"We hope this day will help them appreciate the legacy of the ancient Celtic culture."
Dr Filmer-Davies said while the day would be informal, it offered participants insights into Celtic scholarship and the opportunity to talk with researchers in the field of Celtic myth and literature.
For further information contact Dr Cath Filmer-Davies (telephone 07 3365 2615) or Jane Ferrin, Mythopoeic Conference Secretariat telephone (07) 3365 7099.
