The role & focus of today's Druids is very different from that of our predecessors. The society in which we live is very different from that of the past and the people of Ireland no longer live within the confines of a class conscious, feudal and strict Celtic Society.
Ireland as a country, was under the control of the UK for approximately 760 years, during that time it suffered greatly, in that it's language As Gaeilge (Irish) was outlawed and survived only by the determination of a few who lived mainly in the West of Ireland. During that period there were several Potato Famines - that vegetable being virtually the sole diet of the Irish people.
The adoption by the people of Roman Catholic style Christianity was an act of independence, against that of the
Protestantism of their overlords. Thus after the Famines both the Church of Ireland & Roman Catholic religionists held a great power over the people of Ireland, inflicting upon them gross levels of fear, which attacked every essence of their physical lives at deep psychological levels; from which many people today have still to break free from.
It wasn't that long ago that those in Ireland who were Druids, shied away from cameras, because of their fear lest their neighbours, employers or even the Parish Priest heard of their beliefs and mocked them.
Today this is changing.
Ireland as a country, was under the control of the UK for approximately 760 years, during that time it suffered greatly, in that it's language As Gaeilge (Irish) was outlawed and survived only by the determination of a few who lived mainly in the West of Ireland. During that period there were several Potato Famines -
The adoption by the people of Roman Catholic style Christianity was an act of independence, against that of the
Protestantism of their overlords. Thus after the Famines both the Church of Ireland & Roman Catholic religionists held a great power over the people of Ireland, inflicting upon them gross levels of fear, which attacked every essence of their physical lives at deep psychological levels; from which many people today have still to break free from.
It wasn't that long ago that those in Ireland who were Druids, shied away from cameras, because of their fear lest their neighbours, employers or even the Parish Priest heard of their beliefs and mocked them.
Today this is changing.
Article continues..
TODAY’S DRUIDS continued.
The movement of the Sun regulates 8 festivals and it is these festivals that are celebrated by today's Druids.
These include the Fire Festivals of Imbolc, Bealtainne, Lughnasadh & Samhain which fall exactly midway between the
Solstices and Equinoxes. In Ireland, as elsewhere in Europe, the Fire Festivals are commonly thought to fall on the same dates each year.
This however is incorrect as the dates were regularised to accommodate the British Crown Assize Court.
The astronomically correct dates for these festivals occur several days later and vary from year to year.
Proof that this is correct is seen within Neolithic structures where the sun's rays illuminate carvings only on the correct days. For example the back wall, deep inside the Mound of the Hostages on Tara Hill, is illuminated by the sun at Samhain, that is on 6th November 2008 and not on 31st October.
The movement of the Sun regulates 8 festivals and it is these festivals that are celebrated by today's Druids.
These include the Fire Festivals of Imbolc, Bealtainne, Lughnasadh & Samhain which fall exactly midway between the
Solstices and Equinoxes. In Ireland, as elsewhere in Europe, the Fire Festivals are commonly thought to fall on the same dates each year.
This however is incorrect as the dates were regularised to accommodate the British Crown Assize Court.
The astronomically correct dates for these festivals occur several days later and vary from year to year.
Proof that this is correct is seen within Neolithic structures where the sun's rays illuminate carvings only on the correct days. For example the back wall, deep inside the Mound of the Hostages on Tara Hill, is illuminated by the sun at Samhain, that is on 6th November 2008 and not on 31st October.