EaRlY ChRiStIaN IrElAnD 6. Religion


The druids were very important in the lives of the Celts. They performed religious ceremonies and were thought to have magical powers. They sacrificed offerings to the gods, sometimes even human sacrifices. The Celts worshipped many gods. Dagda was the god of the afterlife and his wife was the river god Boann (Boyne). Lug was the warrior god and also the god of the sun. Throughout the year, druids celebrated many festivals.


(a) Samhain (November) Festival to honour all the spirits of the underworld.


(b) Imbolg (February) (c) Bealtaine (May) (d) Lughnasa (August)


Festival in honour of the goddess Brigid at the beginning of spring.


Festival in honour of the goddess Bel for good crops and healthy livestock.


Festival in honour of the god Lug for a bountiful harvest.


The Celts believed in an afterlife called Tír na nÓg (land of the young). On the massive stones (monoliths) above cist graves they often carved decorations of spiral and floral designs. Sometimes they used ogham – the earliest form of writing in Ireland. Using a very simple alphabet they carved notches on the side of the stone. Ogham was read from the bottom up.


RECALL


1. Explain the following words: (a) Rath (b) Fosse. 2. Why were some forts located on hills or beside cliffs? 3. Where would you find a crannóg? 4. Give an example of a promontory fort in Ireland. 5. What jobs did a druid perform? 6. What was Ogham and where would you find it?


✣ By the way


The god Lug was important and some cities were named after him such as Loudon in France. He was associated with the harvest and the Irish name for the month of August is Lughnasa.


✣ By the way


Samhain was celebrated at the beginning of November when the spirits of the afterlife mixed with the living. Today we have a very similar holiday – Halloween.


3


Fig 3.12 Ogham stone in Carrickart, County Donegal. Fig 3.13 This is some of the alphabet in Ogham. 65


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