Celtic Symbols Of Ireland Explained
The world is fascinated by Celtic symbols, their meaning, and the different types of design. The Celts used these symbols for different purposes. Celtic Symbols are a huge part of Irish history and stories of times gone by.
Ancient Celtic symbols have become very popular worldwide and especially in the jewellery world, Celtic t-shirts and paintings, and posters are all very popular. There are loads of different Celtic symbols, each one has there own unique design and meaning, some are for luck and others have special meanings.
Who Were The Celts
The Ancient Celts were a group of Caucasian tribes located all over Europe and especially in Ireland. The Celts first appeared in history books around 1200 BC (Iron Age) in Austria. The name “The Celts” actually came from the Romans back in the day! The Celts in Ireland spoke the native language (Gaelic) and old Irish or primitive Irish.
There is evidence that the Celts were one of the dominant groups of society in Ireland. The Celtic Ogham script was used in the Emerald Isle since the fourth century.
This language was a series of strokes and lines to form letters. Ogham gets its name from the word “Ogma”, the Celtic God of Eloquence and Literature. The Celts were great builders and farmers, building large earth-filled banks and primitive-style houses. They farmed the land and kept animals. If you are interested in Ogham style jewellery check out my friend’s website here!
The Meaning Of Celtic Symbols
What do Celtic symbols mean you may what to know? These symbols have many meanings, some were not recorded very well down the centuries. Some Celtic symbols have had different interpretations over the years. Many symbols have interconnected parts and three sections. The Celts believed in three parts of life, this was an important part of the Celtic culture.
The Celts held special meaning to the sea, the sky, and the earth. The three parts of Celtic symbols can mean, the son, the father, and the holy spirit. Some Celtic symbols embody the spirit, the mind, and the body as three interconnected parts.
Popular Irish Celtic Symbols
1 – The Celtic Cross
2 – The Trinity Knot
3 – The Dara Knot
4 – The Shamrock
5 – The Triskelion
6 – The Irish Harp
7 – The Claddagh Ring
The Celtic Cross
The Celtic Cross is an iconic symbol of Ireland and of Celtic design. These old crosses used to be made from wood and then, later on, they were made of stone. There are some beautiful Celtic crosses scattered all over Ireland, one that I like is in County Clare in Kilfenora. The Celtic cross is an ancient Celtic Symbol.
Celtic crosses have many meanings like some other Celtic symbols, there are stories that the Great Saint Patrick introduced the famous cross when he was converting the Pagans to Christianity in Ireland.
The Celtic Cross has symbolic meanings, The arms of the cross offer four different ways, an invitation to know nature, ascension, wisdom, the god and the goddess, and one’s self. There are many different meanings for the design of the cross including, earth, water, fire, and air. It is believed the four sections represent the different seasons of the year. There are many fine examples of Celtic Crosses in old churches, graves yards, and historic sites all over the Emerald Isle
The Trinity Knot
The Trinity knot or the Triquetra is taught to be a symbol of spirituality. The Triquetra is a Latin word for triangular. The Triquetra is featured in the Book Of Kells. The Trinity knot is believed to be a symbol of Family. There are other Celtic knots that symbolize family unity, love, strength, and everlasting love.
This beautiful knot is also called the Celtic Triangle and is featured in many Celtic jewellery pieces. I particularly like the Celtic tree design jewellery myself, that’s just me!
In the Christianity religion, the three parts of the Trinity Knot symbolize the holy trinity, the father, the son, and the holy ghost. The Trinity Knot is seen in many paintings, on stained glass in churches all over Ireland, and in some Christian sculptures the knot features.
The Dara Knot
This famous Celtic knot has an in-tricked design of a woven type. The Dara knot gets its name from the Irish word “Doire” which translates to “Oak Tree”. The Dara knot has a cool design of interconnected woven loops.
The Dara knot is a symbol of the root system of the oak tree. They are a few different versions of the Dara knot. The oak tree was an important part of the Celt’s beliefs, they saw the oak tree as a symbol of leadership, power, strength, and wisdom. Some other Celtic knots include mammals, birds, men, fish, and reptiles. The Dara knot was used by the Celts during hard times to provide strength, leadership, and wisdom.
The Shamrock
The Shamrock is a huge symbol of Ireland and it’s known worldwide. On Saint Patrick’s day, the Shamrock is displayed all over the world as a symbol of Ireland. Shamrock grows all over Ireland in our many lush green fields!
The Shamrock symbolized the Druid symbol of three shaped leaves representing the Triad. The story goes that the great Saint Patrick used the shamrock to symbolize and explain the three parts of the Holy Trinity. The word Shamrock meaning in Irish is “seamróg” and means young clover. The wearing of Shamrock dates back to the 17th century. The famous shamrock is one of Ireland’s iconic images!
The Triskelion
This cool Celtic symbol is really old and dates back to the Neolithic period, around 3000 years ago. The symbol is also known as the Triskele, and it has featured on many coins and old artifacts in Europe and all over Ireland. The design features three spiral parts and the Celts believed that all things three are important. The Triskelion is featured in Celtic mythology.
The Triskelion features in many Celtic jewellery pieces and is seen in New Grange in County Meath Ireland. The Triskelion is seen in Greece and has been dated to the Bronze age period. The turning design is almost like a labyrinth design, curling, and twisting.
The Irish Harp
The harp is all over Ireland. It’s one of our national symbols it’s not a Celtic symbol. The Harp is an Irish musical instrument! Features in our coins, Guinness uses the Harp as part of its logo. The Harp is the national emblem of the Emerald Isle.
The Harp is widely used in Ireland and it’s one iconic image of Ireland, the Harp is shown in many books and Irish artefacts. It is believed the High King Brian Boru was a very good player of the Harp and his musical skills were held in high esteem. The Harp has a long history in Irish music and culture.
The Claddagh Ring
The Claddagh ring is a piece of jewellery designed with two hands holding a heart with a crown. This traditional Irish ring has a special meaning, it embodies love, loyalty, and friendship. The heart stands for love, the hands for friendship, and the crown symbolizes loyalty.
The Claddagh ring is available in a few different types of gold and silver, and it’s sold in many jewellery shops in Ireland and all over the world online. It is believed the ring was named after the small fishing village Claddagh in Galway.
The ring is worn in different ways for single people and people in relationships. If you are engaged you will wear the ring on your left hand with the heart facing toward your fingers. Single people will wear the Claddagh ring on their right hand with the tip of the shiny heart facing inwards towards their fingers.
Check out my Ireland Travel Guide post here!
See some of my other posts here that you may be interested in below
The Harp Celtic Symbol Ireland Meaning and Explained
The Claddagh Ring Explained And Its Meaning
The Celtic Cross Meaning and Explained (by an Irish lad)
Things To See and Do in Waterford
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