Few places on the planet are as crammed with history as Ireland. Everywhere you look there
are castles, houses and monuments, some even older than the Pyramids. In Ireland the past
is part of the present, part of the people and part of its vibrant culture.
The earliest Irish art is found in carvings on megalithic monuments dating from 2500 - 2000 BC.
In early historic times, Celtic art predominated, reaching its peak in illuminated manuscripts
such as the Book of Durrow and the Book of Kells. While the basic Celtic patterns remain,
European influences such as Viking, Romanesque and Gothic styles are seen in work executed
later than the 9th century. The large, distinctly Irish, stone crosses, seen across the
country date from the 9th and 10th centuries.
From the mid-17th century, decorative arts and large-scale building flourished under the
influence of contemporary European trends.
