The Myth of a Celtic Rite: Liturgical Identity in Early Christian Ireland

Abstract

This article critically examines the widespread but historically unfounded notion of a distinct “Celtic Rite” in early Christian Ireland. While popular and nationalist narratives have often imagined a sui generis liturgical tradition rooted in Irish exceptionalism, a closer analysis of the surviving sources reveals that early Irish liturgy was a regional expression of the broader Gallican tradition of the Western Church. Drawing on historical, liturgical, and manuscript evidence, the article argues for a more integrated understanding of early Irish Christianity, not as isolated or idiosyncratic, but as a creative and inculturated participant in the shaping of early medieval Western liturgy. It concludes by proposing ways in which this authentic heritage may inform contemporary efforts at liturgical renewal.