Irish symbols - Celtic heritageThe Irish symbols that are carved into the stones of ancient monuments such as Newgrange Knowth, Dowth, Loughcrew and many more ancient sites throughout Ireland are the earliest indicators of our rich celtic, spiritual heritage. These fluid pagan spirals were first integrated into early Christian manuscripts by the monks and continue to this day as graphic endorsements of many Irish products.When St Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century we entered a Golden Age of Enlightenment and Ireland became known as the Land of Saints and Scholars. Impressive churches and abbeys were built at Christian settlements like Clonmacnoise where the monks began to record the scriptures in beautifully illuminated manuscripts such as the Book of Kells, and intricately crafted metalwork items, inlaid with precious stones such as the Ardagh Chalice which can be seen at the National Museum of Ireland at Kildare St in Dublin.
Less obvious and more bound up in oral tradition were the ring forts, holy wells & other sacred places sought out by druids, saints and scholars long ago. Places like Tara , the ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland and Uisneach the epicentre of Ireland in Celtic times where the 2000 year old Festival of Fires has been rekindled in recent times. Or the hallowed ground of Glasnevin where over 2 million Irish souls are buried including Daniel O'Connell the Liberator, who founded the cemetery, so that each citizen could have a decent burial, the history of which is explored in the award winning new museum. You can explore your own personal sacred space on retreat at Glenstal Abbey or simply enjoy it for a day, similarly Holy Cross Abbey where the plantagnet Queen's son was buried earning the monks a relic of true Cross.... The 10 Best Sacred Places in Ireland are....
1 Newgrange, County Meath
2 Corcomroe Abbey, County Clare
3 Clonamacnoise, County Offaly
4 Glenstal Abbey, County Limerick
5 Kylemore Abbey, County Galway
6 Christchurch Cathedral Dublin
7 Glasnevin Museum, Dublin 11.
8 Hill of Tara, County Meath
9 Holy Cross Abbey, County Tipperary
10 Kilfenora Cathedral, High Crosses, Ceili Band, County Clare
For more examples of Irish symbols please click here.
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