Legends suggest that the green hills of Ireland have always been a place for fairy games. According to local beliefs, the forests were full of hidden settlements inhabited by supernatural creatures. Most of them have been forgotten over time, but the fairy queen Maeve received a special place in the history of the Knocknarea area and she even has a tomb that is visited by thousands of people every year.

I don't usually celebrate St.Patricks day and only just found out that Patrick's chasing out the snakes is actually in reference to chasing out the Druid's, Ireland's indigenous religion. I felt I needed to share this interesting piece of history with you all and then if you wished you could- celebrate a 'druid memorial day' 17th March Making a wreath to place upon your door with flowers of spring and shreds of white musilin/ribbon St. Patrick's legend Reputed with bringing Christianity to Ireland in a time when pagan High Kings ruled. It has been stated that St. Patrick rid Ireland of all of its snakes. Science tells us that Ireland had no snakes since icebergs surrounded the island. What could then can be meant by the old legend? Before Christianity began to spread into Ireland, the Druids were the leading religious figures in Ireland. One of the symbols of the Druids was a snake. In Christianity, the snake symbolized the devil - due to Adam & Eves temptation. According to the legend, St. Patrick stamped his staff on the ground to rid the snakes out of Ireland. The snakes that were sent from the island were the Druids. After they were murdered, all their records were destroyed. These were people who lived in harmony with nature. Sadly during the seventh century, the Christian Church taught its missionaries that if they could not convert any natives, they were to use any means necessary to convert the non-believers. The Druids were not interested in giving up their old ways and converting to Christianity. St. Patrick is said to have lead to the murders of almost eight hundred Druid priests and priestesses. Symbolic act of Patrick overtaking Ireland's Druid heritage involves his use of the Shamrock (three-leaf clover). It is said that Patrick used the clover to explain the Trinity of God: Father, Son and Holy Sprit. However, the shamrock (Persian word for three-leaf clover), known as a "Seamroy" to Ireland, was a symbol used in Druidism to explain the three faces of the Goddess found in the Moon: Maiden, Mother, and Crone. A place of many in Ireland named after this Patron Saint Probably one of the most famous sites is the Hill of Slane in Co. Meath. Situated within the line of vision of Tara - the seat of the High Kings of Meath - St. Patrick choose this place to burn the light of Christianity in 433 AD. It was the eve of Easter and coincidentally the pagan Feast of Beltane and the Spring Equinox. St. Patrick knew that King Laeghaire would be at Tara to celebrate Beltane. In direct defiance to the law that no fire should be lit in the vicinity of the great festival fire at Tara, St. Patrick lit a bonfire on the Hill of Slane to welcome the light of Christianity. King Laeghaire drove his chariot in anger to the Hill of Slane to arrest this rebel but it is said St. Patrick was so eloquent in his preaching, the King was soon pacified and St. Patrick was allowed to preach Christianity to the pagan army. Symbolic The Leprechaun is the face figure of the Faeries known in Ireland. The legend of the Leprechauns is that they know all the secrets of hidden treasures. Their affiliation with shoe-making, rainbows, and pots of gold is really symbolic of them being earth elemental spirits. They are the spirits that take raw material, work and shape it into something useful for humans. Trolls are the raw materials, found in its raw state, in its original location. Leprechauns are one of the many tribes belonging to the Faerie gods known to pagan Ireland. They live in the Land of Faeries known as "Tir Non Og" which lies in the West. The Irish originally called all faeries the Tuatha de' Danann, a pantheon of gods from which Lugh and Danaan were a part. There are variety of others including: Lhiannon Sidhes - the faerie sweethearts, Phookas, Fir Darrig, Merrows - faerie mermaids, Roanes - the Seal People, and the Glaistigs - female water spirits. Each family has his/her own protective Faerie spirit according to ancient Ireland and Druid tradition. These family spirits are cared for, fed, and given gifts. to do this strengthens the sprit and in time one can actually communicate with his/her spirit faerie. Among other things, one can learn the dame of his/her family spirit faerie and acquire favors. Food for thought: A quintessential symbol of fertility and renewal, the snake has long been associated with Goddess worship. The tale of the "snake" leaving Ireland illustrates a Christian longing for the eradication of the ancient and benevolent goddess worship that once dominated Ireland. Also, as the snake was a symbol associated with the Druid caste, its departure could also apply to the gradual dilution of Druidic beliefs into the early Christian church. . Love & light Trace xoxo

The British Iron Age is a conventional name used in the archaeology of Great Britain, referring to the prehistoric and protohistoric phases of the Iron Age culture of the main island and the smaller islands, typically excluding prehistoric Ireland, which had an independent Iron Age culture of its own. - HeritageDaily - Archaeology News

Two charts and seventeen maps, showing how the languages of Britain and Ireland have changed since the Roman rule of Britannia ended 1600 years ago! First, check out this GIF I made! When most people think of the languages of Britain and Ireland, they probably think of English. It’s the language pretty much everybody speaks, […]

The Celts of Cymru brought Christianity to the Barbarian Germanic migrants to Britain in the Dark Ages - they were also regarded by the Saxons as being masters of the 'dark arts', the 'hwicce'.

This article looks at the history of the Celts in central Europe, as well as the six Celtic nations of northwestern Europe. Were they all the same Celts? Read this article for an introduction to the historical debate.

Britons are still living in the same 'tribes' that they did in the 7th Century, Oxford University has found after an astonishing study into our genetic make-up.

A set of 12 FREE printable Irish proverbs wall art! A dozen unique designs featuring popular Irish proverbs. Perfect for St. Patrick's Day or any time of the year!