Ireland’s Bronze Age dates from around 2000 B.C. until the arrival of the Celts in 500 B.C.  During this time Irish art takes on a distinctive style.  Ireland, being on the edge of Europe, was not as exposed to the influence of the Mediterranean as continental Europe was.    As such, the artistic influences remained contained within the island’s own heritage. The Irish design styles in the Bronze Age period are very similar to the Neolithic patterns and motifs found in the stone carving of that period. There are examples of this on artifacts such as the Petrie Crown, which includes a variation of the triskele.

Photographer unknown, Date unknown, “Petrie Crown,” first century A.D.

During this period, bronze was used to manufacture many different items ranging from weapons to adornments.  The Irish used clay molds to cast the bronze into different shapes.  Several examples of flat axes and swords survive to this day. However, the largest collection of Bronze Age musical instruments hails from Ireland with a total of 104 horns and 48 bells.(1)

Photographer unknown, Date unknown, Bronze Age Horns

At this time, Ireland had a thriving goldsmith trade, and many ornamental objects found their way to Britain and continental Europe.  Gold proved to be an ideal surface for embossing the intricate designs such as the concentric circles, hatched triangles and the spirals unique to the Irish artwork of the time.  The craftsmen of this time became so adept at this technique that the complicated workmanship is nearly impossible to replicate today.

1. Seamus, Mac Annaidh, Irish History – Micropedia, Parragon, Bath, England, UK

The opulence of Irish lore goes beyond the religious practices of its pagan traditions. One of the richest elements in early Irish legend is that of dinnseanchas,(1) a Gaelic term meaning “lore of the place.” Stories were invented to explain how certain geographical phenomena came into existence. An example of this is Giant’s Causeway on the coast of Antrim in Northern Ireland. Giant’s Causeway is a formation of volcanic basalt columns that is also present on the coast of Scotland directly across the North Channel.  According to legend, the giant Finn McCool was engaged in an altercation with a Scottish giant. During the fight, the Giants were throwing stones at each other, which piled up on either side of the channel creating the causeways.

Unknown photographer, unknown date, “Giant’s Causeway”, Co. Antrim, Ireland, Micropedia – Irish History, Parragon

There are many examples of dinneseanchas throughout Irish history, and in some instances, even manmade structures took on mystical attributes. Such is the case with the Dolmens of the Irish Bronze Age. Dolmens are ancient tombs that are constructed of three standing stones with one large flat stone balanced on the top, creating a tent-like structure.  It is believed that earth mounds, which have eroded over time, initially surrounded these structures.  The Dolmens were built as tombs, however, in folklore, they were believed to have been the gateway to the underworld, a literal doorway into the mystical realm of the Gods.

 Jon Sullivan, 2005, Pulnabrone Dolmen, Co. Clare, Ireland.

(1) Dinnseanchas –  (Dinn-shawn–cus) Gaelic – short poems which describe how places in Ireland got their name.