The Religion Of The Irish Celts

Today, Ireland is strongly associated with the Roman Catholic Church, but the forebears of the modern-day Irish population participated in a largely unknown religion awash in its own unique system of myth, ritual, and symbolism. In The Religion of the Ancient Celts, author J.A. MacCulloch presents a learned and engaging survey of this fascinating subject. A must-read for fans of ancient Celtic culture or comparative religion buffs.

First published in 2005. This work, a broad history of the Celtic religion, explores all aspects of Celtic life and worship. Topics include the Celtic people, the Gods of the Gaul, the Irish mythological cycle, gods and mem, nature plant and animal worship, cosmogony, sacrifice, festivals, the Druids, magic and rebirth.

Seminar paper from the year 2010 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 1,3, University of Heidelberg, course: Geteilte Geschichte(n) - Irland und Deutschland, language: English, abstract: During the last decades, old Celtic religion and traditions became increasingly popular again. Unlike other minor religious orientations, however, the Celtic does not separate itself from Christianity; it does not emphasise their differences but their similarities. On this basis, the symbiosis of Celtic Christianity is formed. This ability of adaption and assimilation is demonstrated throughout the Celtic history, particularly during the Roman Empire and Christianisation. The first part of this paper gives an overview of the old, pagan religion of the Celts with emphasis on the druids and similarities with Christianity. In the second part, the adaption to Roman and Christian religion is displayed along with a short presentation of the Irish Christianisation. The last part combines the previous ones by dealing with the survival and revival of Celtic religion and gives an insight of today’s Druidism.

This book offers an ethnological study on the Druids and their religion.

This dictionary, with more than 1000 articles, provides a comprehensive survey of all important aspects of Celtic religion and culture, covering both the prehistoric continental Celts and the later, medieval culture that found written form long after the Celts had settled in the British Isles. Articles in the dictionary also cover the interaction between Celtic and Roman civilisations, and the seminal input of medieval Celtic legend into the Arthurian tradition. The continental and insular Celtic languages, both ancient and modern, are described, and there is a full account of the Celtic deities known to us from the inscriptions and iconography of the classical world. Celtic art and agriculture, the Ossian myth, the Irish Renaissance, and the history of Celtic studies are among other areas treated in depth.

Ancient monuments, legends and folklore interpreted to illuminate the realities of prehistoric Irish belief. The myths and legends of prehistoric Ireland have inspired writers through the ages, down to W.B. Yeats and Seamus Heaney in our own century, but what do we know of the realities of ancient Irish belief? Daithi O hOgain's book approaches the question by studying archaeological remains such as tumuli, stone henges and circular enclosures and analysing the rich materials that have been handed down both in the great cycles of Irish heroic tales and the humblebut significant survivals of modern folklore, for instance the traditions associated with wells and springs. Drawing evidence from these varied sources, he arrives at a balanced picture of a society and its beliefs which have alltoo often been the subject of conjecture and fancy. CONTENTS Pre-Celtic Cultures . Basic Tenets in the Iron Age . The Druids and their Practices . The Teachings of the Druids . The Society of the Gods . The Rites of Sovereignty . The Triumph of Christianity. DAITHI O HOGAIN was Professor of Folklore at University College Dublin.

Ireland, whether viewed from an antiquarian or an ethnological point of view, is one of the most interesting countries in the world. It is curious that its literary treasures have been so long neglected. The author of this book sheds light on Irish Paganism and Druidry. Throughout this book he discusses many of the concepts which later would be utilized by the Wiccan movement to construct Celtic Neo-Paganism. Contents: Irish Druids Who Were The Druids? Welsh Or British Druidism Irish Druidism St. Patrick and the Druids Opinions On Irish Druids Irish Bards Isle Of Man Druidism French Druidism German Druidism Druidical Magic Neo-Druidism Druidical Belief Druidical Mysticism Early Religions Of The Irish Irish Superstitions Irish Magic, and Tuatha De Danaans Irish Gods Idol-Worship Serpent Faith Sun-Worship Fire-Worship Stone-Worship Animal Worship The Shamrock, and Other Sacred Plants Well-Worship Holy Bells Irish Crosses The Sacred Tara Hill Round Tower Creed Ossian the Bard The Culdees of Druidical Days The Future Life, or Land of the West Ancient Irish Literature The Lia Fail, or the Stone of Destiny

A detailed history of the Churches of the Irish and the Britons from the fourth to the twelfth century with special emphasis on pre-Viking Ireland.