Grianan of Aileach ring fort, Donegal, Ireland
© Lukassek/Getty Image
Ireland's spiritual crossroads. Happy St. Patrick's Day!
St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Roman Britain around the late 4th or early 5th century. According to legend, at 16, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and brought to Ireland as a slave. After escaping, he returned home and later became a missionary, spreading Christianity across the island. He is famously associated, according to later tradition, with using the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. His legacy of faith has made St. Patrick's Day a global celebration.
Today, we find ourselves in County Donegal in the northwest of Ireland. While not St. Patrick's birthplace, the area is rich in Ireland's spiritual history. Grianan of Aileach, an ancient Iron Age ring fort that was once home to the kings of Ulster, stands here. Its walls remind us of Ireland's ancient Celtic traditions that predate the Christian faith later spread by St. Patrick. Now, St. Patrick's Day is a shamrock-filled celebration of Irish culture, faith and the timeless spirit of a nation that continues to inspire worldwide.
Related Images
An old farm in the Shetland Islands, Scotland
Leopard snoozing in a tree in Namibia for National Nap Day
Lake Dobson in Mount Field National Park of Tasmania
For International Beaver Day a beaver swimming in Grand Teton National Park
Water wheel in the Tashkurgan Grassland, Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County, Xinjiang, China
Wildflowers in bloom at Lost Dutchman State Park in Arizona
Circular agricultural fields in Morgan County, Colorado
Almond orchards in bloom, Sacramento Valley, California
Bing Today Images
