Page 40 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

38  INTRODUCING IRELAND

Celtic Christianity

Celtic Ireland was divided into as many as 100 chiefdoms, ULSTER
though these often owed allegiance to kings of larger CONNAUGHT
provinces such as Munster or Connaught. At times, there LEINSTER
was also a titular High King based at Tara (see p252). Ireland
became Christian in the 5th century AD, heralding a golden MUNSTER
age of scholarship centred on the new monasteries, while
missionaries such as St Columba travelled abroad. At the Ireland in 1000
end of the 8th century, Celtic Ireland was shattered by Viking settlements
the arrival of the Vikings. Traditional Irish provinces

Ogham Stone Celtic Monastery
The earliest Irish script, Ogham, Monasteries were large centres of population.
dates from about AD 300. The This reconstruction shows Glendalough (see
notches correspond to Roman pp144–5) in about 1100. The tall round tower
letters, like a form of Morse code.
served as a lookout for Viking raiders.

Refectory and kitchen Round Abbot’s
Craftsmen’s dwellings
tower house
St Mary’s
Church

The watermill was used for grinding
wheat and barley.
The Magnus Domus
was a large communal St Kevin’s Church Dry-stone bridge
building used by the
abbot and the monks.
A High Cross marks the
monastery boundary.
Battle of Clontarf
After their defeat by the Irish High King, Brian Ború,
in 1014, the Vikings began to integrate more fully
with the native population. Brian Ború himself was
killed in the battle.

430 Pope 455 St Patrick founds 563 St Columba 664 Synod of Whitby
sends first church at Armagh (Colmcille), the first Irish decides that Irish
Christian missionary, founds Church should
missionary monastery on Iona conform with Rome
Palladius in the Hebrides over date of Easter
400 500 600 700
c. 550 Beginning 615 St Columbanus c.690 Book of
432 Start of of golden age of dies in Italy after Durrow (see p67)
St Patrick’s Celtic monasticism founding many completed
mission to St Patrick new monasteries
Ireland on the Continent

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