Each issue of the Saints and Stones Homepage features a journey to take to explore the Saints and Stones of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. This journey is a one-day trip to the Inis Cealtra Monastic Site in County Clare, Ireland. The site is associated with several Irish saints of the 6th and 7th Centuries, most notably St. Caimin who founded a monastery here in the 7th Century. The 50-acre island's dominant feature is an 80 foot tall round tower. There are five churches on the island: St. Caimin's, St. Michael's Oratory, St. Brigid's, St. Mary's, and Teampall na Bhfear nGonta (or Church of the Wounded men), early monastic cells, and a unique graveyard with slabs dating from the 8th Century. Visited in 2008
 Books: The Ancient Books of Ireland by Michael Slavin. The Ancient Books of Ireland features illustrated excerpts from sixteen of the finest examples of early Irish literature. Many of the original manuscripts are housed at Trinity College Dublin, the National Museum of Ireland, and the British Museum and have never been brought into the public domain. Michael Slavin describes the stories and legends in these books and also traces how these 1,000-year-old manuscripts have survived Ireland's tumultuous history. Among the most important manuscripts described are the 6th Century Cathach, the oldest Irish book in the world; the 7th Century Book of Durrow; the 8th Century Book of Kells; the 9th Century Book of Armagh, which contains the earliest accounts of St Patrick's coming to Ireland; and the 11th Century Book of the Dun Cow, the earliest surviving copy of Ireland's most revered stories and legends. Book of Catach: Visited 2009; Book of Armagh: Visited 2009; Book of Kells: Visited 2009.
Publications/Publishers:  Archaeology Ireland provides a constant stream of articles, news and features, covering many areas in archaeology including science, art, architecture, history, geography, economics, sociology, anthropology, religion and more. This magazine offers readers a broad range of well-researched, lavishly illustrated articles on a range of topics at an accessible level to all, whether one has a passing or professional interest. Archaeology Ireland is a key reference guide for students, visitors from abroad, those in the field, and all archaeology fans with an interest in Ireland's archaeological wonders. The magazine was founded 1987 with, among others, Gabriel Cooney, Claire Cotter, Nick Maxwell, Una MacConville and Emer Condit and is one of Ireland's key archaeological resource. Click to see the contents of the latest issue.
Websites and Blogs:  Tuatha. Founded by award-winning archaeologists and travel writers, Tuatha is a "rich source of reliable and in-depth knowledge from leading experts in the field, providing a detailed guide to an Ireland most people never see. A membership with Tuatha helps you to see the sites and monuments of Ireland in a whole new way. As a member you will have instant access to all our content, including our in-depth articles that are filled with the hidden details and incredible stories that make these places special. Our unique filter helps you search by accessibility, public transport, suitability for children and more, helping you to always find a perfect day out. You can also explore further with our exclusive itineraries that feature the iconic landmarks with hidden gems. They come with a map and all the practical information to help you turn a roadtrip into an epic adventure. A great resource especially for the first-time visitor to Ireland." Click here to join. Tuatha is run by Abarta Heritage. See below.
Podcasts: Amplify Archaeology Podcast. Simply the best podcast for Ireland archaeology, it provides the listener with a wide variety of topics including Archaeological Theory and Practice, Excavations & Research Projects, and Site Types, Periods and Places.
Organizations:  Abarta Heritage. This organization's mission is "to make the past, present," and it does an amazing job for those of us interested in Ireland. Its website provides excellent resources including Self-Guided Audio Tours and Audio Guides, Downloadble Walking Tours, and Archaeology and Irish History Audiobooks. To quote the organization again, "...we want to help to advocate for the importance and value of Ireland's archaeological, built, cultural, natural and intangible heritage. We want to make heritage accessible to people by helping them to discover the wonderful stories that can be found around almost every corner of the island, and we want to empower communities to be able to celebrate and protect their own local monuments and stories. This not only provides opportunities for education, but also for sustainable heritage tourism." Sign Up for Abarta Heritage Newsletter.
Art/Photography/Museums:  National Museum of Ireland-Archaeology is located on Kildare Street in Dublin. The museum's archaeological collections are outstanding. To give you an idea of its holdings, click on Top 10 Things to See. The museum also features both permanent and special exhibitions on various topics, the latest being a special exhibition about the Glendalough monastic site. Permanent exhibitions include Viking Ireland, The Treasury, Ireland's Gold, Kinship and Sacrifice, Prehistoric Ireland, and Medieval Ireland, among others. Of interest is the museum's Collection List, which is divided by time periods. Admission is free. Note: for those unable to attend in person, there is a Virtual Visit that highlights the museum's holdings.
Videos: Two videos this month, both about Skellig Michael off the coast of County Kerry. The first, spectacular Drone Footage of the Skellig Islands. The second, The Edge of Europe: The Story of Skellig Michael, an historical documentary that traces the story of early Christian monks who lived, worked, and worshipped on the magnificent isle. Presented by Paddy Bushe and featuring the monks of Glenstal Abbey. Skellig Michael: Visited 2008
Updates: Featuring updates to the Saints and Stones sites visited in the past:
St. Moluag's Cathedral on Lismore Visited 2022
The Book of Deer Project Visited Old Deer Old Kirk 2013
Previous Journeys Pages
Past Journeys Pages
Previous Resources Pages
Past Resources Items
|
![](images/dotclear.gif"){kind=spacer}
