Wyrd Designs – In the News: Priest Honored for Saving Dublin’s Viking Past

Last updated on: June 4, 2010 at 10:49 am by wyrddesigns

Wyrd Designs – In the News: Priest Honored for Saving Dublin’s Viking Past 2010-06-04T10:49:35-04:00 wyrddesigns

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Far too often, most of us who have come to some form of paganism came so through experiences from Christianity. Unfortunately, the issues that made us leave that religion behind us to find and embrace this new one follows us around like baggage sometimes. But sometimes we also need to remember that without the steps on the journey that led us to this path we may not have found it in the first place.

A recent news article I stumbled across reminded me of this, that as much as we sometimes blame Christianity for the destruction of the old ways… sometimes we also need to recognize in certain cases it’s help us to preserve knowledge too.

In the 1970’s, an amazing Viking settlement was found in the Dublin area of Ireland. However plans by the Dublin Corporation were about to destroy the data rich settlement for the sake of progress. Augustinian priest Francis Martin led an exhaustive struggle against the company fighting to preserve the historic past. He waged war in the court, and time after time managed to buy crucial and critical delays. While in the end, some portions of the site were lost, his delays still enabled archaeologists to conclude excavation on those areas before building commenced. Even in defeat there was some victory… and his efforts did manage to help preserve some things from being destroyed, like part of the original stone defensive wall for the Viking-Age city of Dublin.

Director of the National Museum Dr Pat Wallace, who was the chief archaeologist at the time states, “what was found there was the best evidence of town layout and urbanisation from 920 to 1100. It’s the story of the beginning of mainstream European urbanisation. That’s what was found and documented, which would have been lost had Fr Martin not led those marches and taken those court cases.”

Martin, who died in 2000 is being honored by an exhibit this summer at the National Library in Ireland for his efforts in preserving Dublin’s Viking past.

If you would like to learn more you should check out the story at the Irish Independent.

Previous Post

June 4, 2010

A Ritual to Connect With Your Ancestors

Next Post

June 5, 2010 The Development of Contemporary Heathen Culture - Part I.

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category alexandrian asatru astrology ATW Audio books btw ceremonial magick chaos classics community conversion cosmology dianic discordian druid dvd eclectic equinox ethics family feri festivals film Fully Inclusive Events gardnerian gender issues glbt heathen hellenismos history humor initiation interfaith magick meditation Military movies music mysticism myth networking news Open Thread Pagan Pagan 101 Paganism passings polytheism Polytheistic Religion polytheology praxis Reading List religio romana review ritual sabbats santeria service solstice symbols tools values wicca witchcraft

Select a Month July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "Let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Israelites Egyptians People of Babel Chaldeans