Born in England of an Irish mother and a Welsh father, Bill Watkins spent most of his early childhood with his maternal grandparents in Ireland. His vivid evocation of a poor but idyllic childhood is suffused with good humour and self-mockery.

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A Celtic Childhood is the lyrical narrative of a gifted and animated storyteller. With humour and charm, Watkins blends history, song, and Celtic identity into a wonderful tale of misadventure and merriment.Watkins vividly portrays his eccentric and richly colloquial Celtic family; his vibrant Irish mam whose 'hand is on the tiller' as the head of the household, and her tendency to burst into song; his principled but stout-loving Welsh dad, who dances a jig to escape from the fairies; an uncle, who gets the 'heebie-jeebies' from round food; and his lovely Grandda, who has a 'generous supply of Celtic songs and tall stories for all social occasions.' The nights with his family are filled with poetry, music, and storytelling that bring forth a rich understanding of young Bill's place in Celtic history.