Bards

Medieval Celtic bards

The word and the calling outlived the Roman conquest in the Celtic-speaking lands of the British Isles, but the term came to be used very differently in the two main traditions. In medieval Walesbardd stayed the ordinary and prestigious word for a poet, whereas in medieval Irelandbard was kept for a lower grade of poet, ranked below the file. In both countries the praise, and the satire of rulers remained at the centre of the professional poet's office.