Early Christian Ireland

Keywords

Pagan

Someone who worships various gods, often focusing on nature.

Druid

A spiritual figure similar to a priest in pre-Christian Celtic Ireland.

Monastery

A closed religious community living by the rules of an order.

Monk

A man dedicated to areligious order and to life in a monastery

Scriptorium

Where manuscripts were copied by hand and illustrated in scribes.

Round tower

Bell tower and safe place for people and treasures if the monastery came under attack.

Manuscript

A book written by hand, often in Latin, on sheepskin parchment.

High Cross

A free-standing stone cross, usually with elaborate carvings showing biblical scene

Longphort

Viking camp by the water used as a base for raids.

Oratory

Where monks attended mass and prayed

Refectory

Where they ate their meals.

Bee-hive hut

Where the monks slept.

Monastery Example

Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly, founded by Saint Ciarán.