Deirdre O Cleirigh: The Rise of a Celtic Warrior is a fictional story but is based on the mythology and legacy of the Celic peoples. The additional Appendixes are summaries of the actual history and mythology of the Celtic peoples and are not a continuation of the story itself.
Appendix 1 – History Before Briton
The origins of the Celts in continental Europe, their migrations, and early cultural identity before their arrival in the British Isles.
Appendix 2 – Villages and Culture of Northern Briton
Daily life, farming, craftsmanship, and social order in Celtic villages, with a look at kinship, trade, and regional identity.
Appendix 3 – Women as Warriors and Leaders
Powerful female figures in Celtic history and myth, their leadership roles in politics, battle, and community life.
Appendix 4 – Magic and Folklore in Celtic Mythology
An exploration of Celtic myths, rituals, and magical beliefs that shaped their worldview and cultural imagination.
Appendix 5 – Rise of the Roman Conflict with the Celts
The dramatic clash between Rome and the Celtic tribes, including resistance, cultural exchanges, and eventual subjugation.
Appendix 6 – Daily Life in Celtic Villages
The rhythms of work, family, farming, and community that shaped everyday existence for the Celts, revealing how their homes, customs, and social bonds sustained their culture beyond battles and legends.
Appendix 7 – Celtic Religion and Mythology
The Celtic cosmology of gods, spirits, and afterlife realms where mortal and divine worlds intertwined.
Appendix 8 – Celtic Warfare and the Warrior Ethos
The weapons, strategies, and warrior culture that made the Celts both feared and respected across Europe.
Appendix 9 – Roman Conquest and Celtic Resistance
Traces the clash between Roman expansion and Celtic independence, highlighting the fierce battles, heroic leaders, and enduring spirit of defiance that marked this turbulent encounter.
Appendix 10 – Legacy of the Celts in Modern Culture
An exploration of the Brehon Laws and the intricate social order of the Celts, revealing how justice, kinship, and honor shaped everyday life.
Appendix 11 – The World of the Druids
A deep study of the Druids, their spiritual authority, political influence, and role as keepers of law, memory, and sacred knowledge.
Appendix 12 – Women in Celtic Society
Beyond the battlefield: women as landowners, healers, poets, and family leaders, shaping daily Celtic life.
Appendix 13 – Religion and the Otherworld
The spiritual beliefs of the Celts, exploring their gods, rituals, and visions of a mystical realm that connected the living with the divine and the dead.
Appendix 14 – Archaeology of the Celts
The physical remains of Celtic life—forts, tombs, artifacts, and sacred spaces—revealing truths beyond myth.
Appendix 15 – Celtic Warfare and Military Organization
How the Celts raised their armies, structured their forces, and employed tactics that reflected both their warrior ethos and adaptability in the face of powerful enemies.
Appendix 16 – Celtic Trade, Economy, and Craftsmanship
The vibrant networks of exchange, skilled artisanship, and resourceful economies that sustained Celtic societies and connected them to the wider ancient world.
Appendix 17 – Celtic Festivals, Music, and Oral Tradition
Songs, chants, and laments of the Celts, with examples of traditional verses and the role of music in ritual and memory.
Appendix 18 - Celtic Heroes and Epic Tales
Mythic and legendary figures from the Fenian Cycle, Ulster Cycle, and beyond, heroes who embodied Celtic ideals.
Chapter 19 - Celtic Art and Symbolism
A study of the Celts' vibrant artistic traditions and the powerful symbols woven into their metalwork, stone carvings, and sacred designs.
Chapter 20 - Samhain: Gateway Between Worlds
An exploration of the Celtic festival marking the thinning of the veil between the living and the dead, its myths, rituals, and enduring influence on modern culture.
Chapter 21 - Decline and Transformation of the Celts
How the Celts faced conquest, assimilation, and cultural change, while leaving lasting legacies across Europe.
Chapter 22 - Legacy of the Celts in Modern Culture
The enduring echoes of Celtic traditions in literature, music, nationalism, and contemporary identity.