Christmas Traditions in Ireland

Christmas traditions like most things have evolved over the years with the traditions of one generation differing from those of another generation. This is particularly the case when it comes toIreland, as modernIrelandis now home to many different nationalities, religions and cultures which are all now helping to create new Christmas traditions. Despite this however, there are some traditions that continue to survive generation after generation, though some of them may have changed slightly over the years.

Lighted Candle in Window:Tradition saw one candle being placed in the front window of every house on Christmas Eve. It should be lit by the youngest member of the family and only blown out by someone called Mary.

The lit candle served as a welcome to Mary and Joseph who sought shelter on Christmas Eve and extends hospitality to any weary travellers that the house is open to anyone who needs shelter. This is still one of the most widely followed traditions in Ireland today, though it is now common to see lights in all windows of a house and they tend to be electronic lights rather than normal candles.

Midnight Mass: TraditionallyIrelandis a largely catholic country, therefore mass has always been a big part of Irish culture. And while this is changing as the years pass, it is still an important part of Irish culture. As a result Midnight mass on Christmas Eve is one of the most important aspects of Christmas.  It is a huge social gathering where family, friends and neighbours who may not have seen each other all year can come together, catch up and experience the magical experience of Midnight mass, singing carols and playing music. Churches are all decorated with holly, candles, Christmas tree with lights and of course the obligatory life-size crib. All this combined with dimed lights and a church packed full of people all in a festive mood, singing carols results in a truly un-miss-able experience. It is something which everyone should experience if they get a chance. It’s no wonder many non-religious people attend Midnight mass every year, as they want to be part of the atmosphere and occasion with their neighbours and friends. Though it should be noted, that in many places mass is not actually held at Midnight as this is deemed too late for young children who need to be home in bed eagerly awaiting the visit of Santa Claus. So it could actually be on at 9, 10 or 11pm.

The Crib: In churches a life-size crib is often the main attraction.  But most homes also have their own miniature crib. Tradition would see the crib set up before Christmas with the addition of Baby Jesus to the crib only on Christmas Eve.

Decorations: Traditionally Christmas decorations are put up on the 8^th December (Feast of the Immaculate Conception) and taken down on the 6^th January (Little Christmas). It is believed to be bad luck to take down your decorations before the 6^th.

Traditional Irish Christmas decorations involved making a wreath out of holly and hanging on the front door of houses. This is because holly could be found in plentiful supply throughout the Irish countryside and the green leaves and red berries made the perfect decoration. In fact the custom of hanging wreaths on front doors inNorth Americacan be traced back to the early Irish settlers that moved there during the Potato Famine.

Pre 20^th Century, Christmas trees were only found in Churches, shops and big estate houses. However thankfully this all changed and now everyone and everywhere has Christmas trees, though the type of tree has changed with real trees now replaced by fake ones. And gone are the days of home made decorations and tinsel, now its lights and baubles all the way.

And decorations don’t stop at the tree,Irelandhas now caught up with theUSAand you will find houses covered with flashing lights throughout the countryside.

The Big Clean Up: Advent which is the four weeks leading up to Christmas was traditionally the big clean up time and involved getting the house ready for Christmas.  This included whitewashing the walls, painting and scrubbing the interiors.  And while this is no longer practised in a way it is still followed in that most people tend to give their homes a big clean in preparation for putting up their decorations and getting the house ready for visitors at Christmas.

Food:  Food is probably the most important component of Christmas inIreland, especially Christmas Day dinner. It involves days of shopping and preparation, not to mention hours of cooking.  But it’s all worth it in the end, even though we generally cannot move for the rest of the day once we’ve eaten. The traditional Irish Christmas Day dinner typically features turkey, ham, roast and boiled potatoes, brussel sprouts, carrots, parsnips and stuffing with additions such as cranberry sauce and gravy. Then it’s on to dessert which can be Christmas cake, Christmas pudding and Mince Pies with either custard or cream.  And if that’s not enough there’s always the other obligatory Christmas fare such as the tins of assorted biscuits, boxes of chocolates and selection boxes.

Santa Claus/Father Christmas: Santa Claus as his most commonly known here delivers presents to all the children on Christmas Eve, he places them under the tree to be opened on Christmas Morning. Children usually leave some food and drink out for Santa and his reindeers such as a slice of Christmas cake or mince pie, a glass of milk or sometimes something a little stronger such as a beer, or drop of whisky (only a drop mind as we wouldn’t want Santa getting drunk when he has to travel around the world!) and of course a carrot for Rudolph.

Christmas Cards:  The early 20th Century saw the beginning of the tradition of sending Christmas Cards to friends and relatives in the mail.  This was probably enhanced by the fact that so many Irish emigrated and were unable to return home to their families for Christmas so cards became an essential way of sending Christmas wishes to loved ones. They were often accompanied by a letter with all the news and gossip. But with the popularity of e-cards increasing it will be interesting to see how long this lovely tradition of sending cards by mail will continue! I for one hope this tradition is one that remains for many more Christmases to come.

I am sure that every family probably has traditions that they continue to follow year after year that are unique to them, as Christmas Traditions are as much about individual families as entire countries. I asked a number of my colleagues about their unique family traditions and they came up with some interesting ones. One colleague came from a rural parish in the West of Ireland where they used to have Mass at 6am Christmas Day Morning instead of Midnight Mass.  And though it was more a New Year tradition rather than a Christmas one, My Boss also told me about a tradition his Mother would follow in the shop, whereby you had to serve a Man first when you reopened the shop in the New Year.  It was considered bad luck for your first customer to be a Woman so even if a Woman came into the store first, you would have to ask her to wait until a Man came in and you could serve him first.  Not sure that tradition would go down too well in today’s society!

We would love to hear about your Christmas Traditions. So please feel free to tell us about them by posting a comment. In fact, we will review all stories submitted here and through our website, Facebook or Twitter Pages and the best story will receive a small prize.

 

 

Jean Butler Jewelry Collection

Irish –American JeanButler is a household name in Irish-American homes due to her lead role as the original star of Riverdance.  She is one of the most respected and talented Irish dancers in the world. However this year she has joined the commercial world of Jewelry design.  She has just released a stunning range of Jewelry, largely aimed at the Irish- American market. Regarded as one of the greatest ambassadors ofIreland, Jean has designed a range of jewelry that captures her charm, grace and finesse, while subtly reminding the wearer of their Irish heritage.

Jean Butler was born inNew Yorkin 1971 to an Irish Mother who originated from Co. Mayo. She first went to Irish Dance lessons at the age of six but quit shortly afterwards as she didn’t like it. But at nine, she decided to try again with a different teacher and from then on Irish Dancing became her life. She went on to compete in regional, national and international championships and won numerous national and regional titles.  She performed in a number of shows inAmericaincluding a concert at Carnegie Hall with Irish band The Chieftains. She went on to tour the world with them.

But her big break came in 1994 when she was asked to perform in a 7 minute intermission piece at the Eurovision Song Contest which was being held in Dublinthat year. The piece was titled Riverdance and the standing ovation and worldwide interest led it to become one of the most popular interval acts in the history of the contest and the creation of a full show of Irish dance with Jean Butler and Michael Flatley as its’ two lead dancers. The first performance of the full length show opened in The Point in Dublinon 9^th February 1995 and by the end of 1996 they had performed 400 shows to an audience of 1.3 million people. 

Riverdance made Jean Butler a worldwide star, but she continued to make a name for herself even after leaving the highly acclaimed show. She was joint collaborator of a new show, Dancing on Dangerous Ground, which was based on the ancient Irish legend of Diarmaid and Gráinne. The show first opened inLondonin 1999 to critical acclaim.  That same year she was awarded for her Outstanding Contribution to Irish Dance.

 She married Irish designer Cuan Hanley in 2001.  From 2003-2005 she was Artist in Residence at theUniversityofLimericks Irish World Music Centreand in 2005 she completed a Masters Degree in Contemporary Dance Performance from theUniversityofLimerick.

 So who better to create a modern Irish range of Jewelry, than Jean. The Jean Butler Collection consists of a number of stylish jewelry suites which capture the character ofIrelandin contemporary designs.  The collection consists of rings, bracelets, pendants and earrings.  All pieces are made in Sterling Silver and complemented by gold toning and come presented in special cream and green packaging. The full range can be seen here:

 http://www.fallers.com/jean-butler-jewellery-CAT467P0.html

Jean Butler Jewelry Collection

2010 in review

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads This blog is doing awesome!.

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 3,100 times in 2010. That’s about 7 full 747s.

In 2010, there were 21 new posts, not bad for the first year! There were 44 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 541kb. That’s about 4 pictures per month.

The busiest day of the year was June 23rd with 43 views. The most popular post that day was Charm Bracelets.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were fallers.com, healthfitnesstherapy.com, digg.com, fallers.ie, and android-vs-ipad.co.cc.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for what does your watch say about you, irish symbols, what does a watch say about you, correct ring size, and christmas in ireland.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

1

Charm Bracelets May 2010

2

How to wear your Claddagh Ring April 2010

3

Celtic Irish Symbols May 2010

4

Choosing the correct ring size April 2010

5

History of the Claddagh Ring March 2010
3 comments

Christmas in Ireland

Christmas traditions in Ireland like most countries have changed with the times and from generation to generation, though the core Christmas traditions still remain, many have evolved over the years. But here are the most popular which have stood the test of time in some form:

Advent- The four weeks leading up to Christmas is when people begin to get ready for Christmas. Houses are cleaned, Decorations put up and food preparations are begun such as making of the Christmas cake. In olden times, this time of year saw the biggest clean up of the house and gardens, with the outhouses whitewashed, all in preparation for visiting family and friends.

Decorating a tree is a pagan custom that is practiced the world over. Christmas Trees usually start appearing at the beginning of December with the 8th December the traditional date, though there are the non-Christmas lovers who leave it until the week before Christmas to put up their tree. Today Trees are usually decorated with white lights and sparkling decorations. This has evolved from the popular coloured lights and tinsel of the 80’s and 90’s and before that handmade decorations, holly and pine cones. Fake trees have also overtaken real Christmas trees. This can be put down to a number of factors: Fakes trees do not shed; hence they do not need looking after like real trees. Another reason is that it makes it easier if you just have a tree that you use year in and out and you do not have to go and get a new tree every year and it also means that you do not have to find a way of disposing of the old tree once Christmas is over. We always had a real tree in our home when I was growing up and I always remember the excitement of waiting for Dad to come home each year with the chosen tree and helping to fill a pot with sand to stand it in and the smell of the pine which I loved. Nowadays I live in an apartment and unfortunately having a real tree here is so not practical but I have found myself the closest real-looking fake tree I could find! 

The decorating of whole houses inside and especially outside is a fairly new phenomenon here in Ireland. It’s really only been in the last fifteen years or so that outside decorations have really become commonplace on houses here. Now it’s not uncommon to see lights everywhere from windows to roofs and doors to trees and ornaments in the garden. Not to mention inside, where walls, fireplaces and staircases all see the addition of some Christmas sparkle.

Placing a holly wreath on your front door originated here in Ireland, and today it is a custom practiced the world over. The reason for its popularity here in Ireland was that holly is one of the main plants found throughout the Irish countryside at Christmas, so its vast supply coupled with the fact it was a cheap way of decorating one’s home, made it a popular decoration. It also looks very nice too. However today, many wreaths also contain a lot of other items along with the holly, such as moss, leaves, branches, flowers and other decorations. Fake wreaths are also common, so they can be recycled year after year.

Another custom that is very popular is the placing of a lighted candle in your front window on Christmas Eve. It is believed to be a symbol of welcome to Mary and Joseph and also to any travellers looking for shelter. Though I’m certain that people would be very surprised if anyone turned up on their doorsteps actually looking to take them up on the offer of shelter. But it is a lovely tradition. The candle is supposed to be lit by the youngest member of the family and should only be extinguished by a girl named Mary. These days, many people put candles in every window of their house throughout the Christmas period, not just on Christmas Eve.

Attending midnight mass on Christmas Eve is probably one of the most widely practiced traditions here in Ireland. Though nowadays the mass is generally a bit earlier than midnight to allow children to be home in their beds in time for Santa Claus! Churches see there largest congregation of the year on this night as entire families attend mass together only on this night. It is a time to dress up in your best new clothes and see friends and neighbours and catch up with people you have not seen all year or maybe even years. The church is lit by candlelight and Christmas lights, prayers are said by the crib, and carols are sung. It is a mass that even non-church goers love to attend each year.

Speaking of Santa Claus, Santa leaves presents under the tree on Christmas Eve and families gather around the tree on Christmas morning to open their gifts together. Then its time to get dressed up in your new clothes and go to Mass if you did not make the Christmas Eve service, or some people actually go to both masses. After which the preparation of dinner continues (some things need to be done the day before) as it takes hours and hours to prepare and cook a traditional Turkey dinner. Though with plenty of sweets and alcohol to keep you going while you get it ready, you are often not hungry by the time it is ready to be served. Personally I think the leftovers eaten the next day always taste nicer anyway!

Now for Christmas food….Christmas cake unfortunately is a dying trend. While many people still buy it from the shop, there aren’t many people who go to the trouble of baking their own except for the older generations. I guess this could be because of the fact that it takes a lot of time and effort to bake a true Christmas cake so it really is only for those people with a lot of spare time on their hands and as you know the young of today are always on the go. Traditionally a Christmas cake is an extremely rich fruit cake which needs to be made weeks in advance. Laden with dried fruit and spices as well as the obligatory Irish whisky and covered in marzipan and white icing, it is then decorated with dried cherries, fruit peel and colourful icing. The whole process takes weeks but the end result if you are a cake fan, is surely worth it!

As for Christmas dinner, well that involves turkey and much more… from baked ham, mashed potatoes, roast potatoes, carrots, parsnips, brussel sprouts and stuffing to dessert of Christmas cake, Christmas pudding and Sherry Trifle. (Yes all our traditional Christmas desserts involve alcohol as an ingredient!)

December 26th – St. Stephen’s Day is when the wren boys go from door-to-door, dressed up in costumes like at Halloween, singing and playing music. This tradition is a dying one, but it is still found in small doses in some rural areas. This tradition stems from an ancient ritual when people dressed up in old clothes and painted their faces black. They then killed a wren and paraded it around the locality as a punishment to the wren for betraying the hiding place of St. Stephen. Nowadays thankfully no birds are killed and it’s just another day for children to dress up and collect treats and money.

Christmas is officially over on the 6th January – Little Christmas, when it is time to take down all the decorations. It is believed to be bad luck to take them down before this date so don’t tempt fate. So that’s the basis of Christmas in Ireland. Some traditions have survived over the years and hopefully will for many years to come, while others are slowly dying out and may not see many more years. But then there are those that have evolved and will probably evolve even more. Not to mention the new traditions which are emerging such as Pantomimes and Plays. Over the past couple years the popularity of attending pantomimes and plays at Christmas time has steadily increased. Now every community holds some sort of pantomime or play and it nice to have something to do and somewhere to go on these dark winter nights, whether it’s a school play, a church play, a community production or a major pantomime in a large theatre.

Whatever way you celebrate Christmas, we hope you have a good one.

Merry Christmas – Nollaig Shona Duit.

 

Christmas Greetings from Fallers of Galway

 

Halloween in Ireland

Halloween is an annual holiday celebrated on the 31^st October each year. Its’ origins are very mysterious but it is widely believed that it traces back to the Celtic festival Samhain.

Halloween Pumpkin

The name Halloween is actually a modern term, derived from the Scottish All Hallows’ Day another name for All Saints Day, which is celebrated on the 1^st November.  It was believed that on this day, departed spirits returned to earth to visit their loved ones. The day before it became known as All Hallows Eve from where it was shortened to Halloween.

Samhain was a harvest festival linked to other Celtic cultural festivals and was celebrated up to late medieval times.  It became associated with the Christian festival All Saints Day and greatly influenced the modern celebration of Halloween.

The Irish name for Halloween is óiche Shamhna which translates to the night of Samhain.  Samhain is also the Irish for November and translates as “summers end”. In medieval Ireland, Samhain was a major festival regarded as the Celtic New Year. It marked the end of the lighter half of the year and the beginning of the darker half of the year and was traditionally celebrated over three days. It was believed that the border between this world and the otherworld became thin on Samhain, allowing spirits both good and bad to pass through into this world. It was marked by a great assembly at the royal court of Tara where a bonfire was set alight on the Hill of Tara so that it could be seen for miles around and this signalled to everyone across Ireland to light their bonfires.

Samhain represented the final harvest. It was a time to take stock of herds and grain supplies.  Animals were slaughtered and grains stored, in preparation for the cold dark winter months. Bonfires played a huge part in the festivities.  Each village set up a huge bonfire, all other fires were extinguished and then each family would light their hearth using the common flames of the main bonfire, thus bonding the villagers together.  People used to wear masks and costumes which were believed to be an attempt to either copy or placate the evil spirits so that they would not be harmed.  Hence the custom today of dressing up at Halloween.  That is also the reason why traditional Halloween costumes were modelled on scary creatures such as devils, skeletons, ghosts, vampires and witches. Dressing up in Ireland was prevalent by the 19^th Century.

Another feature of Samhain was the use of turnips. Turnips which are a common vegetable in Ireland were carved out and used as lanterns. This practice of commemorating souls with candle lanterns was adapted into the making of pumpkin lanterns in the mid-late 19^th century.  The use of pumpkins originated in North America where Pumpkins are in plentiful supply at this time of year and are much larger and easier to carve than turnips.

There are many other features common to the current tradition of Halloween that come from the Samhain. Black and orange, the two colours associated with Halloween represent the darkness of night and the colour of bonfires, leaves and the turnip/pumpkin lanterns. Then there is the practice of trick-or-treating which resembles the late medieval practice of souling when the poor of Ireland would go door to door begging for food in return for saying prayers for the dead. In later years this became known as guising and children would dress up to disguise themselves and go door to door in search of food and coins.  Nowadays this is known as Trick-or-Treating and is still a common practise today.  Though the objective now is to collect as much sweets and money as possible rather than the food needed for survival as was the traditional reason.

As regards food, there are a number of items associated with Halloween in Ireland. Because the holiday comes in the wake of the apple harvest, apples are one of the main items used at Halloween. Whether used in games such as apple bobbing or threading from a string in a doorway to food where they are covered in toffee, caramel or chocolate as a common Halloween treat.

Colcannon while not eaten as much nowadays was a very popular meal up to recent times.  Traditionally served at Halloween as this was when kale or cabbage came into season.  It is made of mashed potato (an Irish staple), kale or cabbage, and butter, salt and pepper.  It was a cheap food staple and made special at Halloween when small coins were hidden in the mixture.

This practice of hiding coins in the food is also found in the barmbrack or báirín breac. This is a fruit cake made at Halloween in which either a coin or plain ring is placed into the mixture before it is baked.  It is believed that whoever gets the ring in their slice of cake will find true love in the coming year, or whoever gets the coin will be blessed with riches. 

So while the modern commercial celebration of Halloween stems from America, the actual origins and traditions of the festival come from Celtic countries such as Ireland and Scotland. Its’ just the beliefs that have changed.  Today it is purely a time of fun and games and not just for children. Head out to a Pub in Ireland on Halloween night and you’re sure to see ghosts, witches, devils, angels, cartoon characters and anything else you can think of having a drink! So enjoy….Féile Shamhna….Happy Halloween! 

Crosses of Ireland

High crosses also known as Celtic crosses here in Ireland, are found on old monastic sites throughout the Irish countryside. They were erected to mark a sacred place and to declare adherence to Christian beliefs, and they were also the focal point of celebrations so many can be found close to a church or round tower. However it should be noted that not all were of an ecclesiastical nature, some were just used to mark a place of interest and they were not as many believe, used to mark graves.

No one really knows the precise history of High crosses as there is no written account going back that far. The earliest crosses in Ireland were made of wood and metal and would have been smaller than the stone crosses that still survive today. Crosses can be dated back to the 8th Century. The first stone crosses are believed to be The Western Ossuary Group of Crosses, which imitated the designs of their predecessors. They can be found spread over an area in the south of Ireland around Ahenny, Killarney, Kilree and Kilkieran. The most important feature of these crosses was the basic form of the cross shape.

Most High crosses were made from sandstone as it was easy to work with and could be carved with incredible detail. Unfortunately however it was not the most robust of stones and that combined with centuries of poor Irish weather means many of these beautiful monuments collapsed and did not survive the test of time. From an unfinished cross at Kells, it would appear that the crosses were raised before their carvings were complete. The ring at the centre of the cross is what makes Irish Celtic crosses so unique. No one knows the true meaning, though the ancient pagan Celts believed a circle represented many things including the cycle of life and the season cycle. The cross within the ring has been regarded as a scared symbol of the sun since pre-Christian times. To Irish Catholics, the circle represents eternity and the infinite nature of God’s love. The crosses are etched with intricate carvings.

Later crosses are more ornate and are known as transitionary and then scriptural crosses, they are believed to date back to the 9th Century. It is the scriptural crosses that are specifically entitled High Crosses. There are about 30 of these still standing today and all date back to the 9th and 10th Century. The best known and oldest of these is the Cross of Scriptures at Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly.

There are several local groupings of crosses, the other most well known and popular being Kells and Duleek in Co. Meath, Monasterboice in Co. Louth, Moone and Castledermot in Co. Kildare, Durrow in Co. Offaly and Graiguenamanagh in Co. Kilkenny. Other popular crosses include Downpatrick in Co. Down, Ardboe in Co. Tyrone, Drumcliffe in Co. Sligo and Cashel in Co. Tipperary.

Crosses from the later 11th and 12th Century show a move towards more ornamental design with the Crucifixion being the main scene depicted. After this time, building of new crosses died away. In order to preserve the remaining crosses, some of them have been removed from their original locations and placed in protective environments; some have been replaced by replicas.

Now we will take a look at some of the most popular High Crosses:

Cross of Scriptures, Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly

The monastery at Clonmacnoise was founded in 545 by Ciaran of Clonmacnoise. Known as a centre of religion, learning and craftsmanship, it was the one of the most famous monasteries in Europe. Many of the high kings of Tara and Connacht are buried there. The original buildings are now in ruins as is the castle which was built by the Normans in the 13th Century. The site also houses a round tower which was built in 1124 by the king of Connacht. The upper part was struck by lighting and was later rebuilt and also houses a number of High crosses. The most notable being the Cross of Scriptures. Standing 4 metres high it is considered to be one of the best crafted of the surviving high crosses. It has an inscription asking for a prayer for Flann, the King of Ireland at the time and Colmán who made the cross. Made about 900, it was carved from a single piece of stone. Scenes depicted on the carvings include the Crucifixion, the last judgement and Christ in the tomb. The original cross has been removed from its original standing spot into a visitors centre to protect it from the elements, however a replica cross stands in its original location.

Monasterboise, Co.Louth

The monastery at Monasterboise was founded pre 521 by St. Buite and remained in existence up to 1122. The round tower was burned in 1097 and there are also the remains of two medieval churches. It actually contains not one but two of the finest high crosses in Ireland. Both date back to the 9th Century. One is the Muiredach Cross and the other is the Tall Cross. The Muiredach Cross is the most well known. It gets its name from the inscription at the base of the west side which says that it was erected by Muiredeach. The cross measures 5.5 metres in height and is covered with decorative panels depicting scenes from the bible, those on the east side include Adam & Eve, Moses, David & Goliath, Cain & Abel and on the west side is Christ being mocked by soldiers, Raised Christ, the Crucifixion, the Ascension and on one of the arms is the Resurrection. The base of the cross features pictures of animals, hunters and interlaced knot work.

Drumcliffe, Co. Sligo

The monastery at Drumcliffe was founded about 575 by St. Colmcille. A Church of Ireland church now stands in its place and in front of this poet W.B. Yeats is buried. There is also the remains of a round tower which was struck by lightening in 1396. The Drumcliffe High Cross measures 3.83 metres high and features images of Adam & Eve, David & Goliath, Daniel in the Lions Den and Christ in Glory on the east face and on the west face it has the crucifixion as well as interlacing knot work.

Moone, Co. Kildare

This 8th Century cross which stands 17 Feet high is the second tallest cross in Ireland. It is situated within the site of an early monastery believed to have been built by St. Palladius in the 5th Century, in a walled enclosure outside the village of Moone in Co. Kildare. The cross had actually fallen apart and was put back together and moved within the ruins of the medieval church. The shape of the cross is unusual as are the carvings on this cross as it is more flat and as a result it is one of the most appealing of all the high crosses. The scenes depicted include the Twelve Apostles, Adam & Eve, the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes and the Crucifixion. There are also pictures of animals. There is also a base of another cross beside this cross.

Kells, Co. Meath

The monastery at Kells was founded in 804 by monks from St. Colmcilles foundation. There is also a round tower and a number of high crosses. The greatest treasure to come from this site was the Book of Kells, which is now housed in Trinity College, in Dublin. Near the round tower is the south cross – believed to date to the 9th Century, the cross was dedicated to St. Patrick and St. Columba. The base of the cross has interlacing and engravings of animals. The east face shows Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel, Daniel in the lions den and the three children in the fiery furnace. The west face shows scenes of the crucifixion and Christ in judgement. The left arm shows the sacrifice of Isaac and the right arm includes the Miracle of the loaves and fishes. There are also a number of decorative panels on the cross. To the north-west of this cross is another very fine and tall cross. Near the church is an unfinished cross and there is also the base of another cross on the site.

Kells is also home to the Market Cross. This cross stands at 3.35 metres high at the crossing of two streets within the town. It is believed that the cross was moved here and would originally have stood at the gate if the monastery. The base of the cross shows horsemen, animals and a battle scene. The east face shows, Christ in the tomb. Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel and the west face features an inscription saying the cross was erected in 1688 with panels depicting the Miracle of the loaves and fishes and the Crucifixion.

Ardboe, Co. Tyrone

The Ardboe High cross is the only surviving remnant of the monastery that sat on the hill overlooking a lake. Nearby are the remains of a church and an abbey. This is the only cross in the North of Ireland where the shaft and the head of the cross are likely to have belonged together originally. It measures 5.5 metres high making it the tallest cross in Ireland. The east face of the cross is dominated by scenes from the old testament while the west side shows scenes such as the Marriage at Cana and Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. The north side appears to represent scenes from the early life of Christ and it also appears to read from top to bottom which is highly unusual. Also on the cross you will see scenes of the crucifixion and the last judgement.

Durrow, Co. Laois

The monastery here was founded by St. Columba in 553. There is no longer any trace of the monastery, but there is a holy well and a high cross dating back to the 9th Century. The book of Durrow also originated from this monastery. The cross measures 3.6 metres high and the scenes depicted on the high cross include the rising of Christ, David slaying the lion, soldiers guarding Christ’s tomb, the crucifixion, Cain slaying Abel and Adam & Eve.

These are just a sample of the 30 high crosses that can be found in Ireland. The beauty and craftsmanship of these crosses have made them some of the most popular tourist attractions in Ireland. It has become a necessity to go and see at least one of these crosses if travelling around Ireland. Because of the beautiful and intricate detailing and designs of these crosses they also make ideal models for jewellery and you can buy pendant replicas of many of the most popular crosses in gold and sterling silver such as this Drumcliffe High Cross. 

Drumcliffe Celtic High Cross

The Different Metals used in Jewellery

There are several different types of metals used to make jewellery. The most commonly used metals include Sterling Silver, Gold, Platinum, Palladium, Titanium and Stainless Steel.

Sterling Silver

Sterling Silver is a grey coloured metal. It is made up of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. It is a highly popular metal in the jewellery trade due to its low cost. While it is softer than the other most commonly used metals such as gold, it is a durable and long lasting metal. However it is prone to tarnishing due to oxidisation and results in it turning black. Therefore it is recommended that silver jewellery only be used for occasional use.  But all it needs to regain its colour is a simple cleaning with silver jewellery cleaner and it will be back to its best.

Gold

Yellow Gold is considered the worlds most favourite metal where jewellery is concerned. The warmth of the colour and ease of use makes it the most popular metal used in jewellery, in particular in engagement and wedding rings. However it is also used widely in all other types of jewellery including pendants, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and cufflinks.

The carat of gold refers to the gold content of the metal. It measures the proportion of pure gold mixed with other alloys to make up the final metal. The higher the proportion of pure gold, the more valuable and expensive the metal. Gold is available in a number of different carats from 9K, 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, 24K.

• 9K contains 375 parts of pure gold to each 1000 parts or 37.5% pure gold.
• 10K contains 410 parts of pure gold to each 1000 parts or 41% pure gold.
• 14K contains 585 parts of pure gold to each 1000 parts or 58.5% pure gold.
• 18K contains 750 parts of pure gold to each 1000 parts or 75% pure gold.

The remainder of the metal is made up of a combination of different metal alloys such as silver, copper and zinc. Pure gold is yellow in colour, but the addition of the other metals is what gives gold its different hues, hence the reason 18K gold is a lot yellowier than 9K gold as it has more gold alloys then other metals.  Different parts of the world tend to use different carat gold in their jewellery. For example in the Middle East, they tend to use 22K, in the USA they use 14K and in Europe they use mostly 9K and 18K.  Carat can also be spelled Karat or abbreviated to ct, kt or K. Hallmarks can vary. E.g. 9K can be hallmarked 375, 9K, 9ct, or 9kt.

The higher the carat the softer the gold. 9K -18K gold are relatively hard-wearing and durable and are therefore used in all types of fine jewellery. 22K and 24K on the other hand are much softer and are not considered suitable for everyday jewellery such as wedding rings.

Gold is also available in a number of different colours. The three main colours are yellow gold, white gold and rose gold, though on a lesser scale you can also get red gold and bronze gold. Yellow gold is by far the most popular worldwide, though white gold has seen a huge rise in popularity over the past number of years. A combination of gold can also be got called two-tone or multi-coloured gold. The difference in colour between the gold is determined by the metals used in the alloy mix, e.g. Copper results in the rose-red colour of rose gold while the presence of silver and palladium in the alloys of white gold results in its white appearance. Though it should be noted that white gold is actually greyer in colour, so to achieve its bright white appearance it is coated with a white metal called rhodium. This rhodium plating gives a much whiter and shinier appearance and makes it more aesthetically pleasing however this plating will wear away so it will be necessary to get most white gold items in particular rings re-rhodium plated. White gold is generally more expensive than yellow and rose gold.

Titanium

Titanium is a natural element which has a silver-grey-white colour. It is the hardest natural metal in the world and is three times as strong as steel. Dent, bend and scratch resistant, it is also very light weight, it is lighter than all other jewellery metals. It is also 100% hypo-allergenic so everyone can wear Titanium. Low maintenance, it does not fade so is perfect for jewellery, however it cannot be soldered so it would not be possible to resize rings. Another advantage of Titanium is that it can be coloured which is dependent upon the anodizing process. This makes it a highly poplar metal in jewellery making. However it is quite expensive.

Platinum

Platinum is a white metal which is 95% pure. It is a precious metal and very rare hence the expensive price. Extremely hard-wearing and very white in colour, it is a dense metal so tends to be heavier than gold. It is a lot more expensive than gold, so it tends to be used mostly in rings. It is resistant to tarnishing and therefore takes a lot less maintenance making it ideal for use in jewellery.

Palladium

Palladium is a white metal with a silver-grey-white colour. Similar to platinum, it is part of the platinum group of metal which also includes rhodium and iridium. It is used mostly in wedding rings. While it is more expensive than gold, it is cheaper then platinum. Stainless Steel Stainless Steel is a hard and durable metal. Due to its appealing colour, low cost and robust nature it is used mostly in dress and fashion jewellery, in particular men’s jewellery.

The Claddagh in Galway

Claddagh comes from the Irish word “Cladach” meaning “the stony beach”. It is an area close to the centre of Galway city.

It was formerly a fishing village, just outside the old city walls but now it is part of the city centre, situated just across the river Corrib from the Spanish Arch. The Claddagh village has now disappeared; the original village consisted of thatched cottages which unfortunately no longer exist. Historically it also had a largely Irish-speaking population. It was one of the oldest former fishing villages in Ireland and a highly self-contained community, where for centuries people used to fish and sell their seafood. There was an elected ‘King’ who controlled their activities and the fishing fleet. He alone was allowed to use white sails on his hooker, and he had the rare distinction of flying a flag. So far as we know, it has not been possible to find out what devices appeared on the this flag, but it would not be too fanciful to hope that it was some form of joined hands supporting a crowned heart.

The area is still one of the most popular places in both the city and county of Galway. The popularity of the Claddagh ring means the area will never be forgotten. It was from here the famous ring got its name. Richard Joyce was a Galway man but why this quaint village should be held to have almost proprietary interest in the rings, we will not know as they were worn the whole way across Galway County, though they were more popular here then elsewhere in the county.

Today, if you visit Galway City, the chances are you will definitely be taking a walk down to the Claddagh. The area is a major draw for tourists. From the beautiful views of the river Corrib out to the sea, the swans that have made their home in the river, the small but beautiful church that is a hugely popular wedding location, the views across the river to the Spanish Arch and it’s colourful houses along the river mouth. There is always a brilliant atmosphere in the area. During the summer months, there is usually some sort of activity taking place in the area, whether its water sports in the canal, a festival or just people relaxing and enjoying the scenery. But if you want to avoid the summertime crowds then visit in winter, believe me the winter scenery is worth braving the cold for, especially on a snowy or frosty morning. And don’t forget your camera!

Modern Usage of the Claddagh Ring in Film and Television

The Claddagh Ring is Ireland’s unique symbol of love, loyalty and friendship.

Sterling Silver Ring from Fallers of Galway

Over the years the ring has gained popularity throughout the world, not just here in Ireland, from where it originates. Claddagh rings from Galway, Ireland are worn with great pride by the Irish diasporas throughout the world, and they are also worn by many people that do not have Irish decent but who fall in love with the design of the ring and of course the idea behind the ring. The Claddagh is the most romantic ring in the world so what better way is there to show your love for someone than by giving them a claddagh ring.

And it’s not just regular people who have fallen in love with this Irish ring.  Claddagh rings have appeared in both movies and television on numerous occasions. The design has also been used in books and on album covers. All of these uses have of course only contributed to the popularity of the design.

Some of the films that the Claddagh ring appears in are as follows:

-           The Doors

In this 1991 Oliver Stone movie based on real life, Val Kilmer (playing Van Morrison) and Kathleen Quinlan (playing Patricia Kennealy-Morrison) exchange Claddagh rings during their wedding ceremony.

-           Rounders

1998 movie starring Edward Norton, whose character Worms wears a silver Claddagh ring.

-           Ladder 49

The 2004 film stars Joaquin Phoenix as an Irish American fire fighter called Jack, who conveys his love for Linda by turning around the Claddagh ring he wears on his left hand. He explains to her that “it is a Claddagh ring and in his Irish heritage if the person it belongs to wears it pointing down it means you are free, but if pointing up towards your heart, it means you belong to someone.” He then turns the ring around, thus showing his commitment to her.

-           Leap Year

In this 2010 American romantic comedy, Declan an Irishman played by Matthew Goode proposes to Anna, an American played by Amy Adams with a Claddagh ring which had been passed down to him.

The Claddagh ring has also appeared widely in various television shows.

The most notable of these was Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  This was a hugely popular American television show which ran from 1997-2003, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz. In the show Angel (Boreanaz) who was an Irishman called Liam in a former life, wears a Claddagh ring and in one episode he gifts Buffy (Gellar) with a Claddagh ring on her 17^th birthday saying “My people – before I was changed – they exchanged this as a sign of devotion. It’s a Claddagh ring. The hands represent friendship, the crown loyalty…and the heart….well you know…..wear it with the heart pointing towards you it means you belong to somebody.”  After it appeared in this show, interest in Claddagh rings skyrocketed.

The Claddagh ring can also be seen in several episodes of Brotherhood, another American television series which ran from 2006-2008.  It was often worn by Jason Isaacs who played the character of Michael Caffer.

But not only are Claddagh rings popular on screen, many famous people are proud owners and wearers of Claddagh rings, from royalty to political figures to movie stars and singers. Here is just a sample few:

-           President John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy were presented with a pair of Fallers Claddagh Rings by Cornelius Faller of Fallers Jewellers Galway, on their visit to Galway, Ireland in 1963. John was often photographed wearing his ring.

-           Ronald Reagan was also gifted with a Claddagh ring from the people of Galway in 1984.

-           Princess Grace and Price Rainier of Monaco were gifted a Claddagh brooch and cufflinks featuring Connemara marble in 1962.

-           Queen Victoria, Queen Alexandra, King Edward VII and King George V all wore Claddagh rings.

-           Actor Gabriel Byrne wears a Claddagh ring as does Bono of U2.

-           Walt Disney also wore a Claddagh ring and even his statue at Disneyland bears a Claddagh ring on his finger.

-           Bill Clinton, Winston Churchill, Bing Crosby, Mia Farrow, Julia Roberts, Sienna Miller, John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara have all been pictured wearing Claddagh rings.

So you can be just like these famous people and be the proud owner of a Claddagh ring all of your own.  But remember, the only real claddagh rings are made in Galway, Ireland so make sure yours is authentic.  I can still remember the day I became the proud owner of a Claddagh ring.  It is many years ago now but I received a dainty gold claddagh ring from my parents on my 12^th birthday.  It was my first piece of “proper” jewellery and something that I treasured for many years.  I can still remember the trip to the jewellers to get my finger sized and the trill of getting a piece of “expensive” jewellery just for me!  I remember feeling so grown up and could not wait to show all my friends.  So it’s never too early to start wearing a claddagh ring, you can even get them to fit babies! I for one think they are the perfect gift.

Children of Lir

The Children of Lir is an ancient Irish Legend.

It tells the story of King Lir who married Aoibh, daughter of Bodb, the King of Tuatha Dé Danann, and had four beautiful children, Fionnuala, Fiacra, Conn and Aed.  Unfortunately Aoibh died and King Lir seeing how sad his children were decided they needed a mother.  Bodb sent his other daughter Aoife to marry King Lir. King Lir believed that Aoife was kind-hearted and would make a wonderful mother for his children, however he was very wrong.

 Aoife was extremely jealous of the children and the love their father had for them.  She wanted Lir all to herself so came up with a spell and used her magic to turn them into swans.

 “Out with you upon the wild waves, Children of the King!

Henceforth your cries shall be with the flocks of birds.”

The only human thing she left them with was their beautiful singing voices and people would come from afar to hear them sing. The spell banished the children to spend 900 years as swans, with only the ringing of a church bell being able to break the spell. They were to spend 300 years each on Lough Derravaragh, Sea of Moyle and Inishglora Island.   When Lir found out about the spell, he pleaded with Aoife to break the spell but she refused so he banished her from his kingdom. Her father Bodb then cast a spell of his own on Aoife as punishment. King Lir then spent the rest of his life beside Lough Derravaragh, talking to his children until he grew old and died.

While the children were swans, Saint Patrick converted Ireland to Christianity and while on Inishglora Island, the bell of Saint Kemoch rang out, finally breaking the spell. The four swans turned back into humans, but by now they were extremely old and frail. They were blessed by a monk at the church and they died happily together and were buried together, with the oldest Fionnuala in the middle, the youngest Aed resting against her and with Fiacra and Conn on either side.

Of course being a legend there are variations to the endings of this tale. Another of the tales believes that the children spent the whole 900 years as swans and it was only when they did their time and went back to land, that a priest found them and blessed them, turning them back into humans, where they died happily and were buried together.

There is a beautiful jewelry range inspired by this legend called The Children of Lir Collection.  It consists of various pieces including a ring, pendants, brooches and bracelets. It is available in Sterling Silver and 9K Gold and can be purchased online on www.fallers.com

Children of Lir Pendant