A Land Of Faith And Ancient Magic

Country Road, West Cork,

Throughout its long history, Ireland has undergone numerous changes, and while its culture is often popularized in the media, very few people possess more than a surface-level understanding of the country, which has given us one of the world’s most popular holidays. Approximately 6.3 million tourists visit Ireland each year, drawn to its numerous natural and historical attractions. However, many people are unaware that Ireland was not considered a first-world country until the early 2000s, when it experienced a period of economic growth known as the Celtic Tiger. As someone born in the late 1900s, I have the unique perspective of watching Ireland change rapidly over the course of my life. I have distinct memories of visiting the Cliffs of Moher as a child when the only safety feature atop the 600ft cliffs was a single barbed wire fence and a muddy path. If you were to visit the same place on the cliffs today, you would find a thriving visitors’ center where you can take guided tours, as well as beautifully constructed walls and staircases designed to highlight the spectacular beauty of the cliffs while keeping the public safe. The rest of Ireland has also modernized rapidly over the last few decades. The single lane roads with grass growing up the center, while still common in the more rural areas of the country, have all but vanished from the more populated areas, and multiple lane highways have paved the way for faster travel from one end of the country to the other. Automatic cars are only now becoming popular among the newest generations of Irish drivers.

Many popular tourist destinations in Ireland include areas such as Trinity college in Dublin where you can view the Book of Kells, Down Cathedral, where St. Patrick is buried along with countless monitories and Abbys. These places center around the Conversion to Christianity that Ireland experienced during its time under English occupation. There is an even deeper culture that the modern world has almost forgotten due to the systematic extermination of the Irish culture during this time. Remnants of this ancient magic can be seen in the Faerie circles and Celtic monuments scattered throughout Ireland, though the average tourist often overlooks these places. It’s very interesting to me that Leprechauns are so commonly associated with Ireland, but most people do not stop to think about the times and the people who created those Ancient myths. So, I challenge you to consider the ancient culture behind the country that originated the light-hearted and fun holiday of St. Patrick’s Day.