Nestled in the historic landscape of Morado, Portugal, a unique Celtic cultural endeavor is taking root.

Brigantia, a modern-day Celtic village, launched this past February.

Fittingly, the project coincides with the start of the ancient festival of Imbolc, reflecting its core theme – that of renewal, community, and the continuity of traditions. Telma Rocha, the visionary behind this ambitious undertaking, is an actress and cultural historian with deep ties to both Portugal and the United Kingdom. Together with her colleague Ewan Cameron, they are building more than just a theatrical site – they are resurrecting a way of life.

Rocha’s inspiration for Brigantia stemmed from her twenty-year career as an actress in the U.K., where she discovered striking cultural similarities between northern Portugal and the Celtic traditions of Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and northern England.

“Storytelling is at the heart of Celtic culture,” she shares. “In the northern mountains of Portugal, our grandparents would gather by the fire, making chorizos, sharing wine, and passing down stories – just as I saw in the U.K. I began to look more deeply into those similarities.”

Her research led her to explore the historical links between the Brigantia tribe, an ancient Celtic people whose presence stretched from Portugal to northern England. The name Brigantia itself has deep cultural and spiritual significance, drawing from both the Celtic goddess and the revered Saint Brigid, whose influence is still felt in the Braganza district of Portugal. Rocha highlights the importance of honoring this legacy, as Brigantia aims to connect people to not only history but the deeper spiritual and communal aspects of Celtic life.

“I eventually realized that St Brigid was a saint adored and worshipped in the district of Braganza (in Portugal), and if you travel to this little district, you will find that many of the saints here are women.”

Brigantia is not merely a historical reenactment, however – it is envisioned as a living community where people can immerse themselves in the Celtic way of life…

Visitors and residents alike will participate in storytelling, traditional music, communal feasts, and customs that have endured over centuries.

“We want people to experience Celtic culture in real-time. We want people from different Celtic communities to share food, stories, and music just as they did in ancient times. Ultimately, there is more that unites us than divides us.”

Cameron concurs; “The experience we are creating is not about seeing sites or observing only, but interacting, by various means, one of which Thelma terms as ‘landscape theatre’.”

Beyond the rich cultural aspects, the settlement of Brigantia also aims to reconstruct traditional Celtic architecture. As such, Rocha has enlisted the expertise of architects, historians, and anthropologists to ensure historical accuracy.

“We have very dedicated builders and architects who are precisely reconstructing Celtic ruins here in Portugal, helping us lay the foundation. We are using historical maps and excavation reports to recreate the structures exactly as they were.”

The village’s design includes natural pools for blessings and purification rituals, with the sacred number three playing a key role in the layout, reflecting the Celtic Triskele and the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. The initiative seeks to create an immersive environment where participants can take part in authentic experiences, from making traditional crafts to engaging in ancient forms of music and dance.

“The end goal is an actual living settlement where people can come and visit and stay for an extended period of time,” continues Cameron. “We are still in the process of expanding the village to accommodate that.”

Despite its noble vision, Brigantia has faced numerous challenges, including logistical hurdles and bureaucratic red tape. Brexit has complicated international collaboration, making it more difficult for artisans and scholars from the U.K. to contribute. Funding remains an ongoing challenge, as Rocha and her team actively seek support from cultural organizations and European grants.

“Although, at times, it has been difficult to get the people needed into Portugal, it’s wonderful how we can somehow come together and overcome barriers. When I met Ewan – who is with the Wild Moon Morris dancers – we were able to get the dancers for the launch where they teamed up with traditional dancers from Portugal.”

One of the biggest obstacles has been resistance from the Church. Some factions see the project as reviving pagan traditions and have even issued death threats. Rocha remains undeterred.

“Celtic culture has survived invasions, persecution, and erasure. It lives on in our traditions, our emotions, and our connections. Brigantia is proof that these stories are still alive…”

Despite the opposition, local support for the project is growing. Some of the older women in Rocha’s own grandmother’s village have welcomed the initiative, even serving up meals and sharing their own family traditions. Many of them recall older customs and ways of life that closely resemble Celtic practices, reinforcing the project’s authenticity and its place in Portugal’s cultural fabric.

“We have managed to overcome obstacles by building trust, sharing cups of tea, and sitting with people to explain our vision. That’s how cultural change happens – through human connection.”

Beyond the village itself, Rocha and Cameron have a grander vision: establishing a Celtic tourism route linking Portugal, Spain, France, and the U.K. They are actively seeking funding from the European Union to develop this initiative, hoping to attract cultural travelers and history enthusiasts to walk the path of the Celts. The project also seeks to collaborate with historians and anthropologists to map out key sites and deepen the understanding of Celtic migration and settlements.

Cameron, who hails from Scotland, sees Brigantia as part of a wider movement reviving lost traditions.

“There’s a renaissance happening,” he says. “Folklore and ancestral traditions are being reclaimed. Brigantia will be a place where that revival comes to life.”

Brigantia will also host major Celtic events throughout the year, including gatherings for reenactments, festivals, and workshops on traditional crafts, music, and storytelling. Volunteers from Scotland, Wales, and Ireland have already signed up to help construct the village, demonstrating the cross-border appeal of the project.

The long-term vision includes building a network of similar settlements across Europe that will function as hubs for Celtic heritage, allowing people to experience history in an interactive and meaningful way.

In addition, Rocha envisions the settlement as evocative of the matriarchy so prevalent in the recurring Celtic motif of the divine feminine. “We are looking to contribute to a renaissance of what has been forgotten, specifically, women’s role within the folkloric and cultural community, and how we can learn from that in today’s society.”

With its recent official launch, Brigantia has taken its first steps into actualization, with visitors from around the world attending to witness and participate in the rebirth of a Celtic village. Rocha and Cameron encourage those interested in supporting the ongoing project to visit the website for updates, volunteer opportunities, and upcoming events. They emphasize that anyone can take part, whether as a visitor, a storyteller, a musician, or a builder contributing to the settlement’s expansion and growth.

“We are inviting community,” Rocha says with a smile. “This is just the beginning.”