Historical Society
Wicklow Historical Society recently held their Christmas get together and had a fine night of dining and craic.
The Winter Series of talks will continue on the last Monday of January, January 29, at 8 p.m. in the De La Salle Pastoral Centre Wicklow. Entrance may be gained from opposite St. Patrick’s Church.
Admission is free and a voluntary donation box will be available for donations to help offset costs.
The speaker will be Wicklow Historical Society Secretary, Stan J O’ Reilly who will speak on ‘Wicklow in Antiquity and Folklore - Pre-Christian Wicklow and the coming of the Early Saints.’
This talk will explore pagan Wicklow and the Druidic power of the priests and the local pagan chieftains such as Nathi of Wicklow and Naoi of Rathnew. Up for discussion will be how they lived, where they lived, Druidic activity and the role played by the areas now known as the Church Banks and Knockrobin Hill, along with Rathnew.
What evidence survives of Pagan occupation on the east coast and why was it seldom written about after the arrival of Christianity will be touched upon.
Their family connections will also be explored as will the encounters of Nathi with future Saints Palladius, Patrick and Mhantain.
Why should Wicklow people never refer to the rocks where St. Patrick attempted a landing, as the ‘Paidin Rocks?’
Why is this ancient place name derogatory? Who were the successors of Nathi and where did they end up after they left their fortification in Wicklow Town? Who were the early saints? What were their powers?
Other questions asked will be How did they convert the pagans to Christianity, what kind of foods were they all eating, How did the early saints survive as hermits in isolation, Why were they classed as the very holy, the holy and not so holy and What kind of powers did they have which survived in folklore?
Why they moved around so much while others did not move at all will be explained.
A focus will be placed on early saints such as Degan, Baoithin, Lavinius, aka Molibba of Glenealy, Berach and the man credited with Berach and Kevin of Glendalough with turning the monastic city of Glendalough into a centre of learning, Mochorog of Delgany, Enniskerry, Kilmacurragh and Glendalough fame.
Find out about where Mochrog originate from and what his family connections were. The effect early saints had on the local communities and landscape will also be discussed.
Why were they not written about until hundreds of years after they died?
All these questions will be answered on the night. Why not escape for a while into a Wicklow past shrouded in the mists of time? All are welcome on the night. first Wednesday of the New Year with the novice tutorial hour starting at 6.30 p.m.
As always members wish to express their thanks to the Dominican Sisters for the use of the comfortable facility they enjoy the use of every Wednesday evening to bring and share the joy of playing bridge week in week out throughout the season in a friendly and relaxed manner.
Wishing the Dominican sisters and all fellow members and friends a very peaceful and happy Christmas and New Year.