Celtic Moment

Clans step out for a good time
THE wee township of Maclean was taken over by the sights and sounds of all things Scottish on the weekend as the 107th Highland Gathering went ahead.

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Bonded by ‘fun and frivolity’
WINCHESTER — If you take your Celtic heritage seriously, but not yourself, you just might be a Sassie Lassie. A hankering for Haggis, thirst for Scotch and deep respect for poet Robert Burns are prerequisites. A Highland brogue helps, but isn’t required.

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Engine steams ahead bearing historic name
PASSENGERS on a heritage railway this summer could find themselves being hauled by a steam engine with a name bearing regional significance – Cock O’ The North.

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The Southern Paranormal investigators team up with guest investigator Andre Frattino to conduct a paranormal investigation at the Chieftains Museum in Rome, GA. Two strange EVP’s and several personal experiences highlight the investigation. Produced and edited by Ross McDuffie.

The history behind the elegant two tone gold jewelry dates back to the birth of Christ. It is known the world over for its beautiful craftsmanship and mesmerizing designs. Some say that the two tone gold jewelry collection is second only to the Egyptian. Let us go ahead and probe further to see what makes this authentic range so unique.

Designed to suit all kinds of customers

The two tone gold jewelry collection is designed and styled in accordance to the whims of its end users. It also reminds us of the Celtic era-this is specially defined in its exclusive range of Celtic earrings. Over here, customers have a choice to give their preferences and take home a collection which blends with their style and class. So, the jewelry is made to compliment both formal as well as informal occasions.

The two tone gold jewelry can be found in museums

Some forms of the ancient two tone gold jewelry are known to be found in museums across Ireland. The designs and shapes compliment the olden times and they are often considered a historic masterpiece. Some of these include torgues, fibulae, collars and brooches. The design is traditional and the presence of the ‘two tone effect’ is prevalent. Notwithstanding the traditional aspect, the art of making two tone gold jewelry is still prevalent and is looked on as a highlight of the modern era.

The presence of Christianity

If you take a closer look at the two tone gold jewelry collection, you would realize that most, if not all, use symbols such as a cross and spiral to enhance their jewelry. This is a clear reminder that the two tone gold jewelry collection was a much sought after range in the ancient past. Now, the cross and spiral is designed in accordance to the Celtic designs and these symbols of eternity are still widely used to enhance the two tone gold jewelry collection. Records from the ancient past show that Celtic jewelry was used as a means of trade and was sent to distant lands which were located in and around the Mediterranean. The records clearly state that the jewelry was considered an epitome of luxury and was given its due importance.

The significance of Christian monks

Two tone gold jewelry is said to have been designed by Christian monks. Using their creativity and unusual powers, the monks came out with an exclusive range which managed to attract the likes of the young and old alike. The details of their craftsmanship are mentioned in various books. Two tone gold jewelry is said to have evolved in the British Isles. The Celts are known to have pioneered this art and spread their wares across the length and breadth of Europe. With time and the coming of the Romans, the Celts were forced to flee and they settled in various parts of England and adjoining regions. The jewelry nonetheless never really suffered and became an instant hit the world over.

In fact, it is still famous the world over and is widely preferred by people from all walks of life.

Originally posted 2010-08-25 15:48:34.

A Tour of perhaps some of the less well know Historic Castle Ruins from around the North East of Scotland. Accompanied by the music Flower of Scotland and Hector the Hero. I hope you enjoy the video.

• Typical Image Size: 8×10″, Print Size: 11×14.
• Decorate with history or give a tasteful gift.
• Only premiere quality framing materials used.

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This is a museum quality, reproduction print on premium paper with archival/UV resistant inks. Date: [no date recorded on caption card]Subject: Notes: No. 10044. This record contains unverified data from caption card. Caption card tracings: Geog.; Castles; Detroit Shelf.Format: SOURCE: Library of Congress… More >>

Historic Print : Warwick England: The castle, from the river

Club of the year
Viet Celts were named Asian Club of the Year 2010 at the annual Asian Gaelic Games in Hong Kong. The Ha Noi-based sent three teams to compete in the region’s premier tournament, which drew 700 players from 24 clubs from all over Asia.

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Fr Murphy’s ladies at Madejski
The Fr Murphy’s and St Anthony’s Ladies were delighted to perform a gaelic football exhibition at half time in the Aviva Premiership game between London Irish and Leeds Carnegie.

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Historic Highland women explored
A historian is to lift the lid on the lives of ‘gentlewomen’ living in the Highlands in the 18th and 19th centuries.

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Jewelry is synonymous to women. It has been in use since times immemorial. In the olden days when man had no means of displaying fashion in a commercial sense, beads made of wood or stone were used as a fashion statement. With time, the use of jewelry transformed from a mere ‘every day use’ product to an item of luxury. At present almost all formal as well as casual occasions are associated with jewelry. Celtic rosary is an important part of fashion and is often looked on as a means of enhancing one’s personal appearance.

It Is A True reminder Of Your Past

Celtic rosary is a symbol of the Celtic art. The shapes and designs which festoon a typical Celtic rosary have been inspired by the designs of the Celtic era. Hence, the product is a reminder of our ancient past and is therefore preferred by people from all walks of life. It is often considered as a living tradition wherein people have the privilege of using an antique design in their present day life.

It Is Related To Symbols Of The Celtic Era

Like the gold and silver jewelry, the Celtic rosary is also known for its strong bonding with the symbols of the Celtic era. If we go back in time then the first Celtic jewelry was introduced well before 450CE. There have also been talks of the Celtic spirals and other symbols being imbibed in the creation of the Celtic rosary. Hence, it is good to remember that the jewelry has a strong link with our ancient generations.

Purchase Celtic Rosary from well known shops

While out purchasing a suitable Celtic rosary, it is advisable that you visit a well known shop or a renowned showroom. Over here, the chances of you getting conned are very less and therefore you have the privilege of choosing an item which is both high in quality and good in looks. Likewise, if you wish to get yourself an ordinary run of the mill stuff, you may opt for an ordinary shop. Likewise, it is advised that you purchase a Celtic rosary after consulting your friends and a seasoned salesman.

You May use The Services Of The World Wide Web

In case you are a busy person and you do not have adequate time on your hands, you may like to use the services of the World Wide Web and get a Celtic rosary delivered to your doorstep. While ding so, you need to remember that a secured site is beneficial in the longer run. Not only would your transactions be secure, you would also have the advantage of procuring a genuine piece of jewelry, which is free from misuse.

Documentations Of Celtic Art

If we go back into the annals of history, then it would not be incorrect to state that Celtic art was appreciated and preferred in the Celtic era. There are numerous instances wherein we find a clear example of the Celtic rosary being documented in the Book Of Durrow, Lindisfarne Gospels and the Book Of Kells. The three books are often called illuminations and are therefore considered an authentic proof of Celtic jewelry.

With Summer coming to a glorious climax, the gardens of Hidden England are in full bloom. For garden enthusiasts the opportunities are endless.

Explore more than 10 acres of wonderful gardens in the process of restoration at Easton Walled Gardens – with a cottage garden, turf maze and auricular theatre all new for 2006.

Relax in the enchanting mix of formal gardens and semi-wild woodland at Grimsthorpe Castle or in the magical Duchess’s Spring Garden at Belvoir Castle where woodland gardens nestle in a natural amphitheatre.

If rare and unusual plants are your interest you can buy them at Barnsdale Gardens, and at the same time explore the fascinating gardens created for television by the late Geoff Hamilton. Or if a more relaxed lakeside walk is your style than visit Belton House or Burghley – and at Burghley you can also explore the 15 acre Sculpture Park created in the previously lost lower garden created by Capability Brown.

For a fascinating insight in how a formal garden is being transformed see the Gardens of Rockingham Castle.

At Rockingham series of new radial yew hedges will provide opportunities for vistas and walkways connecting with the 19th Century Rose Garden.

Work in progress at Rockingham on a series of garden ‘rooms’ designed to contain deep borders of stunning herbaceous andshrub planting, with each room being given a different character.

All the houses and gardens of Hidden England are now open for the Summer Season.

Product Description
This wonderfully photographed volume brings together everything you will ever need to know to enjoy the experience of cooking classic Scottish food with success – the ingredients, the culinary traditions, and the techniques. It is the perfect book for those who wish to experience good, wholesome food, offering inspiration and fabulous recipes for every occasion…. More >>

The Food and Cooking of Scotland: Discover the rich culinary heritage of this historic land in 70 classic step-by-step recipes and 300 glorious photographs

The GPO, Dublin

The GPO (General Post Office) was the headquarters of the 1916 Easter Rebellion when Irish rebels, led by Padraig Pearse, of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) proclaimed Ireland a Republic by issuing the Proclamation of the Irish Republic signed by seven members of the army council; Thomas J. Clarke, Sean Mac Diermada, Thomas McDonagh, P.H. Pearse, Eamon Ceant, James Connolly and Joseph Plunkett  and declaring war on the occupying British Forces from that moment onward.

A short bloody battle took place in different locations throughout Dublin mainly. The British forces attacked the GPO and Pearse and his followers surrendered. They were all executed by the British and, although the Easter Rising was generally deemed a failure by commentators at the time, it ultimately led to formation of a Free State Government some five years later and the Republic of Ireland that we know and live in today.

Today, the GPO is still a fully functional post office, in the centre of O’Connell Street, the main thoroughfare of Dublin City. It stands close to the Dublin Spire and an original copy of the Proclamation can be viewed there.

Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle is one of the most visited historic attractions in Ireland and its importance in Irish history cannot be understated. It is forever associated with the various repressive English occupiers of Ireland over the space of nearly 800 years.

The castle was built by King John in 1204, replacing a wooden structure that was deemed to insecure for English occupation. It was almost totally destroyed by the great fire of 1684 in which a lot of central Dublin building were wiped out. The castle was gradually rebuilt and became the headquarters of the much hated British administration in Ireland until the 1916 Rising that saw the castle attacked and gradually lose its status during the follow-on War of Independence. The last of the British occupiers left in 1921 and Dublin Castle became a centre for records and administration for the new  Free State government of Ireland.

Today the castle is use to house the Irish Revenue Commissioners and other state bodies. It is also used for ceremonial occasions such as entertaining visiting heads of state. Located just off Dame Street, many rooms in Dublin Castle are open for public viewing and guided tours take place daily.

Beal na mBlath, Clonakilty County Cork

Beal na mBalth is one of the most famous locations in Irish history. It was here in August 1922 that Michael Collins, one of the most charismatic leaders in the history of Ireland and Commander in Chief of the National Forces, was killed in an ambush whilst on a tour of inspection of the Free State troops in his native Cork.

Collins had negotiated deal that saw Britain give Ireland independence in 26 of the 32 counties with the Six Counties of Northern Ireland remaining under British Rule. These counties were the original Plantation counties, occupied mostly by Scots as part of the plantation exercise carried out to bring Ireland further under the control of the English. This brought about civil war between Collins and his old comrades, led by Eamon De Valera, who fought for all-Ireland Government. 

Collins stubborn insistence on taking a journey that was unnecessary and dangerous overruled the advice of his own experienced comrades by stating that he would never be killed by his own native people of Cork had fatal consequences on that August evening as he was fatally wounded in an ambush.

Beal na mBlath is situated between the small village of Crookstown and the village of Cappeen on the R585 on the main Cork – Killarney Road (N22) about 70km west of Cork city. The nearest large towns are Macroom and Clonakilty in which a statue of “The Big Fella” as he was known was erected. The site of the ambush has a large memorial in place and volunteer guides will provide the interested visitor with detailed information of the event.

Michael Collins, the film was released in October 1996, directed by Neil Jordan and starring Liam Neeson as Collins, along with Julia Roberts, Aidan Quinn and a host of notable Irish actors. It caused controversy and divided critics in its portrayal of the events of the time and of Collins himself. Jordan claimed that he set out to make a movie based as closely as possible on true events but primarily as a means of entertainment.

The Battle of the Boyne, Oldbridge, Drogheda, County Louth

The Battle of the Boyne, in 1690, was the end game in a war between the Catholic King James and Protestant King William of Orange, who had deposed James in 1688. The battle, won by William, was a turning point in their feud and ultimately helped ensure the continuation of Protestant supremacy in Ireland with ramifications right up to this day.

The battle took place on July 1st 1690, just outside the town of Drogheda at Oldbridge. The armies stood on opposing sides of the River Boyne. William’s forces easily defeated those of James who led an army of mostly raw recruits. The symbolic importance of this battle has made it one of the best-known battles in British and Irish history. It is a key part in Ulster Protestant Folklore and is still commemorated today, principally by the Orange Order Institution on the 12th of July, the day that James forces surrendered.

Vinegar Hill, Enniscorthy, County Wexford

The Irish Rebellion of 1798 against British occupation of Ireland had many significant battles in different parts of the country but the Battle of Vinegar Hill was an on the 21st June 1798 was especially important. 15,000 British soldiers launched an attack on Vinegar Hill outside the town of Enniscorthy in County Wexford, the largest camp and headquarters of the Wexford United Irish Rebels. It marked a turning point in the Irish Rebellion of 1798, as it was effectively the last stand in a nationwide campaign by the rebels to hold and defend ground against the British military. The battle was actually fought in two locations: on Vinegar Hill itself and in the streets of nearby Enniscorthy town.

The British, led by General Lake were determined to crush the rebellion once and for all but was met with stout resistance from the Irish led by William Barker. Nonetheless, the insurgents were overcome by the sheer numbers of the British, which were more than 20,000 in total between Enniscorthy and Vinegar Hill. The Irish were also poorly armed against the superior equipped British. The battle is remembered for the awful atrocities committed by the British after the surrender of the rebels when defenseless women and children were butchered.

Today, memorials at different location around Vinegar and the town of Enniscorthy, mark what was one of the bloodiest battles ever in the long history of British occupation in Ireland.