The Snake - slate coaster

Snakes, (Nathair in the Irish language), are not native to this country and never were, yet this reptilian creature is synonymous with the story of Ireland. Probably, every child in school in Ireland, has learned the most famous of the snake stories, that of St. Patrick banishing them from our shores. It is sometimes said that he was attacked upon the holy mountain of Craogh Patrick by snakes and thus rid the island forever of their menace. From a more critical analyses of this tale, it is actually believed that the “snakes” were a metaphor for the pagan customs of old Ireland as Patrick set about on a rather zealous mission to convert the country to Christianity. Before that era, the Celts of continental Europe worshipped the Serpent God, Nathair, still in use as the word for snake in Irish and there are many legends here alluding to battles fought against large snake like creatures, more associated with water than land. These beasts, as monstrous they truly were, known as a Péist (the Irish for worm). It is said Fionn Mac Cumhall battled many the large snake like creatures throughout the land and lakes of Ireland. The snake also appears in decorative form in ancient jewellery, such as the Tara brooch, where the pin is fashioned from a serpentine shape.
Snake sign in Celtic Animal lore calendar: Feb 18th – Mar 17th. Tree lore equivalent: The Ash.

Illustrated by Margaret McKenna