Padraig

KimGrad, you are entering on to contentious ground!

Are you dealing with the survival of elements of pre-Christian beliefs (of which there have been many) or are you dealing with early Christianity in Celtic countries or are you addressing the subsumption of pre-Christan elements into early Christianity?

You're not going to find much informed input in casual encounters. In recent times people in Ireland have left that stuff behind them. You are about 100 years late for field research into beliefs and attitudes.

The sites are there, of course, but they can be interpreted in different ways, and you might not get what is most relevant to your interests. Yes, Newgrange is pre-Celtic, but it was there in Celtic times and was invested with some meaning by Celtic people. And the Christian pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick was simply a takeover of the Celtic festival of Lunasa. And the Celtic cross evolved from overlaying the Christian cross on the circular sun symbol of the Celtic religion. And St. Brigid, one of Irelands patron saints, evolved from a Celtic goddess. And...and...and...

There is enough material to overwhelm you, but you might not find it easily.

If you plan to visit Tara, make sure you also visit Slane. I take it you know the tale of St. Patrick and the Pascal fire.

No, we don't believe in fairies. We never did. Our ancestors believed in the sidhe, spirit folk who inhabit another realm close to ours and sometimes cross over. Not cute little creatures with wings. Far more disturbing.

CowboyCraic

Sidhe are only disturbing when they need to be, Padraig. You have to admit that simply a mention of the Sidhe by our grandparents would mollify the most recalcitrant child. At least it worked in our family. By the same token, a shiny coin found by a well behaved child was always said to be a reward from the Sidhe. Gran always said that they were fair minded just not really tolerant of ill behavior. ;D

I do think that Kim should look to arranging a meeting with one of the professors at Trinity, as you are correct in that she will not find quality information from everyday encounters.

Slan Beo,

Bit

Padraig

CowboyCraic wrote: "I do think that Kim should look to arranging a meeting with one of the professors at Trinity..."

I think she might do even better at University College Dublin, as it has a Department of Folklore and is the repository for the national folklore archive.

KimGrad

Oh my gosh, I wish I would have found you all earlier!!

It's interesting, I have a National Geographic article in which the author interviews everyday people and learns a great deal about their spiritual beliefs as well as their culture.

What I am really trying to do is dispel or confirm myths that we have here in the US about Celtic spirituality based upon a lot of books that are for sale in the New Age bookstores. Lofty? Yes, but makes for an interesting paper.

I know a bit about the history of the Celts and I am only going to cover a little historical ground. My advisor couldn't decide if my paper needed to be under folklore, religious studies, history or all of the above!!

I can only come for 10 days because I had to beg my mother to come and stay with my son, thus the rush job.

I have already been to Cornwall twice (oh, how I love it there) and to Wales, so I chose Ireland and Scotland for this trip.

Thanks for all the links and I have already looked into the Univ. of Dublin.

CowboyCraic, I would love to talk with your friend, even if only by email.

You guys are awesome...

Kim

CowboyCraic

Padraig,

You are right. I had forgotten about University College's Folklore Department. Good to know you are here to keep me on my toes.

Kim,

Patrick Lavin is my friend. He has written several books, on the American Southwest and on his native Ireland. Here is his website, http://www.patricklavin.com. I believe that here is contact information. If not, then email me off list and I will put you in touch with him. He is a Roscommon lad, himself.

10 days is not nearly enoughtime for either Ireland or Scotland individually. I hope you can get what needs to be accomplished. Otehrwise, you will just simply have to go back.

Slan Beo,

Bit

Padraig

Kim, I just want to make sure that you get the right university: the "University of Dublin" is Trinity College; University College Dublin is a different institution.

A man who might be useful is Daithi O Hogain in the Department of Folklore (Google on his name, and you will quickly see why I say so).

KimGrad

Padraig, I did go to the correct university website, but there is no email listing for the professors, so I had to email to some random feedback email! You are right about that professor - I will be ordering books..

Bit, thanks for the info on your friend. I will post back my schedule soon, so you all can critique it.

Thanks again for all the help.

PS Flying into Edinburgh on Ryanair!! Also, mother bowed out of staying with son, so going to be busy begging friends...

KimGrad

Ok, never mind, I found a decent email addy. Has anyone heard of the Celtic Church of Scotland?

caroline_edinburgh

No. But you must go to Iona - and stay the night, don't just go as a daytripper. You might be able to stay at the Abbey - http://www.iona.org.uk/abbey/

sheila

I'm fairly certain there's no such thing. There was a Celtic Church IN Scotland till the 11th century and the Synod of somewhere or another I'd have to look up.

But I'm pretty certain there's no such present or recent body.

alanRow

Celtic Christianity covered a larger area than just Scotland & Ire;and - it was the predominant form of Christianity in Northern England (think St Aidan, Lindifarne, Bede). You can find Celtic monuments in a number of English churches. Eventually the Celtic church merged with the Roman church and some of it's features like private confession became part of the Roman church

Itallian_Chauffer

A link of value:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/cml/cml15.htm

There are MANY sites of late Celtic / Early Christian Era in Donegal:

http://www.megalithics.com/ireland/grianan/granmain.htm

http://www.a-wee-bit-of-ireland.com/...kilcar_14.html

FYI: A flight from Glasgow or Edinburgh to Donegal (Derry MIGHT be better) to access these sites, should be affordable and reasonably quick.

Bob

chip

Celtic Journeys:A Traveler's Guide to Ireland's Spiritual Legacy

I enjoyed this book...nice,brief overview of various sights plus some travel info.

We had a private guide on our last family tour of Ireland. When asked if he believed in faries he told us some stories about fairy forts and trees near his home. He said that some still believed it to be bad luck to destroy these sights...also important to preserve these ancient sights. He also told us about the highway in Clare that was held up by protests of destroying a fairy tree...googled it when we came home and there are some interesting ariticles along with info on folklore and Irish storytellers.

IrishEyes

The Irish are great storytellers. Do not believe everything you hear and take it with a grain of salt. In a conversation with the director of a well-known museum I found out that even though there are Celtic Spiritualty tours assocaited with his center, they basically tailor the tour to what the participants want to hear. If they want to hear about fairies, leprechauns and tree gnomes that is what they get whether it is true or not. They use a lot of "poetic license" and make some of it up as they go. It pleases the participants and the tour guides get a kick out of it. Win - win situation for all involved.