Page 9 - eMuse Vol.9 No.03_Classical

Under English rule Celtic social order was on the wane and as
the decades past, harpers lost much of their status, and their num-
bers declined. Some became travelling musicians, playing their
harps and singing where people would listen. Rich patrons no
longer retained them .
English accused the travelling musicians as being spies. Queen
Elizabeth and later Oliver Cromwell had the harp banned and harp
players could be executed. Eventually in Belfast in 1792 a meeting
was held to revive as much Irish harp music as possible. Although
much of it was lost forever, harp music made a partial recovery.
The Triskel
In keeping with the Celtic at-
There was a time when one third or more of us Australians could traction to the number three, this
claim Irish ancestry. Although our 2016 census indicates that fig- symbol, the Triskel, is well known
ure is now much less, I wonder if that’s an error brought on by throughout Ireland, other Celtic
the wording of the relevant question. Many people registered as countries, ancient Greece and Nor-
Australian, which is great but it gives no information about ethnic way. Examples have been recorded
origins . in Malta from 4400 — 3600 BC and at
Anyway, in spite of the census, a large percentage of us do have the megalithic tomb of Newgrange in
Irish roots even if that means going way, way back generations be- Ireland built around 3200 BC.
yond living memory . Although the Triskel predates the Celts, they used it extensively .
The Irish are part of a group of the remaining Celtic Nations: From their conversion to Christianity it took on a new meaning.
Scotland (Alba); Ireland (Eire); Isle of Man (Mannin); Wales (Cym- Like the shamrock it represented the Blessed Trinity and also eter-
ru); Cornwall (Curnow); Brittany (Briezh. nity. Adapted from the pagan Celts, its popularity continues to-
Other schools of thought include a seventh nation into the set. day as a decorative symbol of faith for Christians of Celtic descent

Galicia, in the northwest corner of Spain. Galicia has a strong Celtic around the world.
identity, including stone circles and forts and the use of bagpipes in The Triquetra
local music. Unlike the other six Celtic Nations, however, no Celtic Like the Shamrock and the
language has been spoken in Galicia since the middle ages . Triskel, the Triquetra is adapted
Although hotly contested, a possible eighth Celtic nation similar from the pagan Celts and now
to Galicia, exists in north Portugal . connected to the Blessed Trinity .
Having recognised the other Celtic Nations, let’s now concen- Sometimes known as the “Trinity
trate on Irish symbols and icons knowing that sometimes they are Knot” it can be represented inside
also found in their neighbouring countries and beyond. a circle. It is similar to the valk-
The Shamrock nut, a Norse/Germanic symbol of
Ancient pagan Irish, like all Celts three interlocked triangles .
had a fascination with the number This widely recognised knot has been used as a singular symbol
three. In many ways it carried over for the past two centuries by Celtic Christians, pagans and agnostics
into their Christian conversion. Could as a sign of special things and people
this be connected to devoted adher- that are threefold. It is still a popular
ence to the legend of St Patrick using design for modern jewellery.
it to explain the Blessed Trinity? Many The Celtic Cross
believe the Shamrock is the National The Celtic Cross is seen in all Celtic
symbol of Ireland. Not quite. It is ac- countries especially Ireland and the
tually their National floral symbol. image is seen in many other countries
The Harp where Celtic influence is strong.
Ireland’s National symbol is actually the harp (or clairseach or One would imagine this is a very
in Scottish Gaelic clarsach). Early harps recorded in ancient Egypt Catholic image . These days that kind
went through a series of developmental changes in a wide variety of thinking would be correct but it
of cultures before they reached the wasn’t always that way.
shores of Ireland. Celtic harps are said It is popularly believed St. Patrick
to have been influenced by smaller introduced the Celtic Cross to Ireland, during his conversion of the
more portable harps from Asia. By the kings from paganism to Christianity. Other schools of thought claim
year 1000 AD harps were well estab- it was either St. Columba or St. Declan . Then there is the theory its
lished in Ireland, Wales and Scotland. all a matter of site construction strength to the design – the circle
Irish King, Brian Boru, according strengthened the cross beams, preventing breakage or destruction
to legend, was an accomplished harp by the elements or time.
player. His countrymen’s reputation Opinion is divided about the significance of the distinctive ring.
with the instrument was also admired Those favouring the cross as a purely Christians image, of course,
by many from abroad. Irish harp players of that era enjoyed high claim it is the halo of Jesus Christ. Then some hold firm in the belief
status and special privileges among kings and chieftans. of pagan origins like it stands for the sun or even the Roman sun-
In the constant ebb and flow of battles and invasions, harp mu- god Invictus.
sic survived. When England’s Henry VIII declared himself King of Celtic Crosses were popular in the 8th, 9th and 10th centuries
Ireland in 1531, the harp was chosen as the official national symbol in Ireland, and were often built to memorialize famous people or
of Ireland and stamped onto the coinage of his new realm. places .

March 2020 eMuse 9