Celtic Ireland

“The wind on the sea bore a strange melody of an island that sings.” – Dora Sigerson

Literary Ireland

"Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy.” – W B Yeats

Ireland is the 20th largest island in the world. Population: 4.5 m. Capital: Dublin. There are 4 provinces: Ulster, Munster, Leinster, Connacht. Land mass: 70280sqm. Longest river: Shannon 386km. Highest mountain: Carrauntoohil 1038m. Official emblem: The Harp. Most popular sport: Gaelic football. Biggest rock band: U2. Most famous brand: Guinness. Sheep population: 5.5m

History

The first inhabitants of Ireland were hunter gatherers using stone implements. Around 3000bc they evolved into Bronze Age people who cultivated crops, raised domestic animals, and made weapons, tools, and jewellery out of bronze. They created fine stone implements and traded abroad. Around 2000bc, they built megaliths - massive stone sanctuaries and tombs

Places to Visit

Surrounded by dizzying drops, Dunluce Castle perches on a headland overlooking the north Antrim coast, with a sea cave called the Mermaid’s Cave. Stories tell how, in 1639, the kitchen fell into the sea, along with the cooks and servants.

Interest

In the famous novel, Ulysses, by James Joyce, Leopold Bloom commented that it would be a good puzzle to try and cross Dublin without passing a pub.

Arts & Crafts

The Book of Kells is a masterpiece of Celtic art unrivalled for the exquisite quality of its decoration, intricate designs, and visionary concept. It is regarded as one of the world’s greatest illuminated manuscripts with decoration so stunning and lavish that it was thought to be the work of angels.

Quotes & Sayings

“It’s bad manners to talk about ropes in the house of a man whose father was hanged.” – Irish proverb

Round Towers

Irish round towers were built between from c500 to c1200 generally in the vicinity of monasteries and churches. Structurally they conform to a specific design unique to Ireland. Given their great height – up to 40m/130ft – and with four windows located at the top facing the cardinal compass points, it is likely that they served as lookout towers and landmarks.

Round towers may also have served as repositories for the monastery’s treasures such as chalices and illuminated manuscripts. All the towers follow a similar design and pattern of construction so it is safe to assume that they were the work of teams of builders that moved from one monastery to another.

Many historians believe that Irish round towers were primarily used as belfries. As such, they would have served various religious functions, such as calling the monastic community to prayer. The tolling of the bells may also have warned the monks of impending danger. Christian annals document that during Viking raids monastic communities sought refuge in round towers although it is unknown that they were built with this purpose in mind.

It has also been discovered that the seemingly random geographical arrangement of the round towers mirrors the positions of the stars in the northern sky during the winter solstice. Archaelogical excavations have revealed that the towers were erected on top of much older graves and that they were sacred sites long before the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.

Approximately one hundred round towers have survived including some fine examples at Glendalough, Co.Wicklow; Timahoe, Co.Laois; Ardmore, Co.Waterford; and the Rock of Cashel, Co.Tipperary. Thirteen towers still retain their conical caps. It’s assumed that the others fell in over the centuries while on a small number of them battlements were added possibly during the Middle Ages.

The Celtic Quill