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German Folkband "Spirited Ireland" (in German language) | ||||||||
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Celtic Crosses |
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Clonfert The large stone crosses that dot the landscape of Ireland, as well as Scotland and other parts of Europe that were home to Celtic Christianity are an ongoing reminder of the early Celtic Church. Though each of the sculptures is different, there are some common characteristics. |
Clonmacnoise Another characteristic of celtic crosses is the artwork on the shaft of the cross. Usually portraying Bible stories or the lives of saints, they were a way to educate a population that lacked universal access to the written word. The crosses were usually carved of sandstone or granite, though it is possible that earlier crosses of wood existed but didn't survive through the centuries. Most shafts show filigran celtic design, the typical winding network. |
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Clonmacnoise The South Cross is a somewhat simpler, and early, high cross. The carvings are mainly abstract ornamentation with one figured scene on the west shaft showing the crucifixion. The date of the Southern Cross is arguable. Some scholars suggest a date around, or even before |
Faheen - Kilkieran Churchyard Restoration A little cemetery in Faheen, County Kilkenny, abroad the big national roads, caught my interest with two large celtic crosses which were broken, but were restored in the mid 19th century by a blind stonemason from Faheen named Paddy Laurence, who had lost his sight while engaged in the building of the House of parliament in London. |
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Faheen - Celtic Cross Horses Local people have done much valued work in the restoration of Kilkieran churchyard,which is situated in the townsland of Castletown. The graveyard hold much of interest for the local and not to local historian and follower of our older past. The Kilkenny Archaeological Society and it's Journal has done much research into it, as have in recent years this very civic minded local group. |
Faheen - Armless Celtic Cross Besides the remains of the two large celtic crosses in this very interesting graveyard, which many historians and experts of this tell of their great antiquity, one unique cross in particular consists of a tall and slender shaft of 2.5 meters with short side arms. This is still almost perfect and carries some other ornamentation. These crosses date to around the 9th century. |
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Kells If the Book of Kells is a small scale testament to the artistic achievement of the age, then the "High Crosses" are painted on a much broader canvas. There are five of them in Kells altogether. Four are situated in the churchyard of St. Columba's church The South Cross is the best preserved in Kells and has been signed by the craftsman who created it. When you visit it, look carefully at the base and MUIREADACH's name may be faintly visible. Source: Kells Net |
Kells The South Cross tells a lot of stories, here the babtise of Jesus Christ. What I like most is the connection of the meaning of ancient celtic ornaments and christian believes. These celtic crosses are witnesses of how both could go together until church got too mighty. Both systems completed each other and made sense for the people and their need to believe into a higher spirit and to find their place in the wheel of life. |
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Killorglin Killorglin is just a nice little town in County Kerry, not much to see, but once a year in August it's bursting, when the Puck Fair takes place in the geographical heart of Kerry. |
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