Early Christian Ireland and Pagan believes
             In the beginning of the Christianity movement in Ireland the priests and teachers of Christianity had to be creative in their teachings. They had to spread the word of the one God in terms and symbols that the Celts would understand. Amazingly enough, there were some similarities between the one true God and that of the Celtic Gods and their society. This paper will briefly look at those similarities and differences that existed between the two religions and cultures.
             A good place to start is with the similarities of the notion of an after life. The Celts were thought to have been such fierce warriors because they had no fear of dying. They had the belief of going to the place of Tir Nan Og. This was their heaven, the place they go after death.
             "It is the land of the eternal youth, the place of laughter and feasting" (78) as described by Osian. The likeness to the Christianity's life after death and living in the light of the lord in heaven was a great tool for the priests. The similarities were close enough that the Celtic people understood this part of the new religion relatively easy.
             Another aspect of similarity is the fact that the Catholic religion had a place for women. Initially it might not have seemed that way but as Osian had pointed out " The mother Mary and sisters Martha and Mary and the Magdalene. He surrounded himself with the creatures; he listened to them and argued with them and feasted with them and kept them in his circle of friends. And when they were right he did as they asked him to do." (171). This of course was consistent with the Celtic way of life. Women were respected and valued as equals among there society. Along this same vein of thinking The Celtic Druids had wives and families. As for the Catholic priests of this time it was pointed out that some did and others did not as in Ainfean's statement to Patrick's statement of "We have no ...