A powerful feature adorning Nepalese stupas, these eyes are at once calm and penetrating, suggesting meditation and enlightenment.
Often used in Celtic art, the triple spiral comes from the 5,000 year old site of New Grange
A powerful symbol of love and friendship.
This mysterious Celtic Figure adorned a cauldron taken from Ireland by the Vikings.274G
Perhaps the most famous of Irish legends, telling of King Conchobar who kept Deirdre on solitude as his intended wife. She saw and fell in love with Naisi who took her off to Scotland.
There have always been angels, divine messengers and guardians. This angel comes from a 10th century cross at Clonmacnois, Co. Offaly. 218G
For the Celt, the dove is an image of love and harmony, also a symbol of innocence and marital love. From a carving by sculptor Ken Thompson.244G
The oldest of the great Irish high crosses, dating from the 7th century. It stands 10 feet high, dominating a street in Carndonagh, Co. Donegal. The immediate appeal to those seeking a gift for an Irish person is self-evident. The mystery of its powerful symbolism we endeavour to unravel for you. . 396G
Pierre Toulhoat’s work arouses a never-denied approval since middle XXth century. It comes from the large catalogue of jewels signed Toulhoat.
Created in the scriptorium of the monastery on Iona, the Book of Kells was brought to Ireland during the 8th century to evade the Vikings. It is probably the finest work of manuscript illustration ever designed. Birds travel freely between heaven and earth, they are possessors of secrets and are seen as heavenly messengers. 568G
This wild yet controlled geometric pattern is the very heart of Celtic art, showing how the Celts delighted in both order and disorder.
Cats are both homely and mysterious, their eyes shine in the dark and, like the moon, their pupils change from round to crescent. They are sacred to the Moon Goddess, and familiars of the femine.
A spiral uncoils into serpents consuming four heads united by the Celtic circle and cross. Linear/rational pattern at base. Suggests the struggle between such opposites as chaos and reason, the conscious and unconscious, man and woman. 254G
A spiral uncoils into serpents consuming four heads united by the Celtic circle and cross. Linear/rational pattern at base. Suggests the struggle between such opposites as chaos and reason, the conscius and unconscious, man and woman. 104G
The symbol of four is powerfully but simply set within the Celtic spiral pattern in this beautiful cross from Durrow, Co. Offaly. It seeks to discipline the forces of Life and contain them against the unknown, offering comfort 108G
The serenity of this elegant Christ figure shows how the Celts saw Him, a noble figure even in the ultimate humility of the cross. It is based on an 8th century bronze plaque from Co Roscommon. 276G
This brings together two of our most ancient symbols, each uniting pairs of opposites: the tree unites earth and heaven; the cross unites the masculine trunk with the horizontal feminine branches, which bear leaves and fruit, holding a promise of the future.
In the shadow of Bunbulbin, Co. Sligo one of the great high crosses, decoratively carved, stands in the grave yard where W.B. Yeats is buried.696G
Life’s journey brings a multitude of opportunities and personal encounters. These intersections can bring frustration or fulfilment and depend on the most startling chance. This cross is a symbol of importance of life’s meetings. It is from a 500 year old stone in Co. Donegal.686G
`Lead me ffrom death to life, from falsehood to truth. lead me from despair to hope, from fear to trust. Lead me from hate to love, from war to peace. Let peace fill our hearts, our world, our universe.` This prayer is said at noon by people of many faiths.386G
Footprint in stone have always been an indication of God`s presence or that of a holy person. This 10th century example from Lough Derg, Co. Clare, lay on the ground and imcludes the ancient Galeic words `coscrach` and `laignech` meaning `laughter` and `weakness`, which may be interpreted as `victory for the meek`.
At top a cosmic spiral, at centre the world surrounded by four suns, three with concentric circles (the trinity), completed by a fourth circle (the feminine). From Co. Kilkenny.
Meditation alters perception, reduces stress, and may lead to mystical awareness. This serene Christ figure from the renowned Lismore Monastery suggest the power of meditatnion to dissociate from adversity of the cross.408G
When we fully commit to an idea, a person or a group, all manner of unforeseen events, meetings and assistance come our way.480G
This 18th century penal cross is unique to Irish folk art. The arms of the cross are short so that it could easily be hidden up the sleeve.