My last several posts have been on Celtic Christianity. I wrote those in preparation for the historical tour I would be leading in Ireland this month. The tour finished last week. I’d like to thank the 20 people who came with us. I certainly enjoyed the trip, and I think everyone else did as well.

Here are some personal highlights:

The Book of Kells

This was opened to a page that hasn’t been seen publicly in over 30 years. It’s a page with the signs of the evangelists (a winged man for Matthew, a winged lion for Mark, a winged bull for Luke, and an eagle for John) that precedes the Gospels. It’s one of the most famous pages in the book and was placed there as inspiration for those who had not yet learned to read.

The National Museum in dublin

I was particularly inspired by the metalwork of the early Irish Christians. The Ardagh Chalice has beautiful and intricate gold knotwork panels on it. There is also a crystal in the bottom so that when you took the wine at the Eucharist, you would get a burst of light just as the wine reached your lips.

The same things are found on the Derrynaflan Chalice, and similar metalwork on the Derrynaflan Paten, both also in the National Museum.

Glendalough

A monastic site founded by St. Kevin, Glendalough later grew to become a “monastic city” with an infirmary and guesthouse, workshops, and farms.

Giants Causeway

This set of basalt pillars and the stories associated with them are always fun.

Matt Malloy’s Pub in Westport

This was a personal pilgrimage for me. Matt Malloy is the greatest Irish flute player on the planet, and though I wasn’t able to meet him or attend a session, I was able at least to drink a Guinness in his pub. Notice the two Grammy awards behind the bar which he got as a member of the Chieftains.

If you want to see what I mean about his flute playing, check this out. As someone who plays Irish flute, it makes me think I should take up knitting.

Inishmore

The largest of the Aran Islands in Galway Bay, Inishmore is where St. Enda founded his monastery, which was the first to emphasize education and scholarship. Dunn Aengus is a ring fort dating back to 1100 BC, with its current design going back to about 500 BC. Actually, it’s only a half a ring fort today, the other half having fallen down the 300 foot cliff into the sea sometime in the last 1500 years.

Dingle Peninsula

The Dingle Peninsula is beautiful, with mountains falling into the sea and rocks rising out of the ocean. The Gallarus Oratory on the peninsula is a ninth century church probably built for pilgrims on their way to honor St. Brendan the Navigator,

And we got a look at Skellig Michael.

Then there were the gardens: Powerscourt (rated the third best garden in the world) and Blarney Castle gardens, plus castles, cathedrals, ….

As I said, it was a great trip. I learned things to supplement my knowledge of Irish Christianity and had a chance to reflect on what we can learn from their very different approach to the faith.

I’m looking forward to an opportunity to get back to Ireland, though my next historical tour is likely to be on the Reformation, starting in Prague, moving through Germany, and then south to Switzerland. Stay tuned.

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