Early Christian Ireland

• • Christianity first came to Ireland during the time of the Celts, who were pagans. Their spiritual figures were the Druids.
• • Between AD 432 and 461, St. Patrick worked in Ireland, converting the pagan Celts to Christianity.
  • Monasteries were built, becoming centers of learning. The earliest known Irish monastery was Inis Mór, founded by St. Enda around AD 500.
  • Monks lived in small stone huts called beehive huts. Other notable monasteries include Clonmacnoise, Skellig Michael, and Glendalough.
• • An oratory was a building where monks attended Mass or prayed.
  • A scriptorium was where manuscripts were copied and illustrated.
  • A refectory was where monks ate their meals.
  • A round tower served as a bell tower and a safe place during attacks.
  • A guest house provided accommodation for travelers.
  • Monks were buried in a cemetery with simple graves. Celtic graves - ogham stones - series if horizontal and diagonal lines across a vertical line
  • An external circular wall provided protection.
• The Art of Early Christian Ireland

  • Early monasteries created art to honor God and demonstrate their importance.
  • Manuscripts, such as the Book of Kells, were written on parchment or vellum, decorated with Celtic patterns and bright colors.
  • Metalwork included crosses, bells, brooches, belts, cups, and chalices like the Ardagh Chalice.

  High Crosses were stone crosses with detailed carvings from the Bible to teach those wh
• • Monasteries were built, becoming centers of learning. The earliest known Irish monastery was Inis Mór,
• effects of Christianity coming into Ireland.

  -decline of paganism.

  • monastery buildings /artwork
• Bell tower - also a place of refugees