Bard

Bard (an Irish and Gaelic word for a poet; Lat. bardus), the poets and singers of the ancient Keltic races, who celebrated the deeds of gods, heroes, and warriors, accompanying their recitations with the harp. In both Wales and Ireland they formed hereditary guilds, and in the latter country kept up the national feeling against the conqueror. In the former they held periodical competitions in poetry and music, which were revived in the last century and are now well known.