County Meath, meaning "the middle kingdom," was one of five ancient provinces of Ireland. It was created by Tuathal Techtma (ancestor of the O'Neill) as the seat of High Kingship: a place to exercise rule which favoured no single kingdom.

Victoria Embankment, London 1874 - John O'Connor

Born in Derry, O'Connor was greatly popular for his iconic scene paintings.

Evening in Ludgate, London by John O'Connor, 1887 with St Paul's and the Wren church of St Martin's.

Rome, the Bridge of Sant'Angelo by John O'Connor.

The monasteries founded by St Columba produced some of the finest Insular art ever created - The Book of Durrow, c. 650-700

Book of Durrow, Carpet Page [fol. 3v], showing the cosmic spirals and interlace characteristic of early Irish artwork.

17th February is the feast of Saint Fintan of Clonenagh, “Father of the Irish Monks”: Irish hermit, ascetic, disciple of St Columba, founder-Abbot of Clonenagh, and patron saint of County Laois, where he died on that day in c. 603.

Was late with these backed up posts.

The Irish Script is unique in that it was a deliberate new creation derived from Greek and Latin learning. Other medieval noscripts, Visigothic, French, Beneventan etc, come from the degenerated cursive writing of the late Romans.

[Irish vs Visigoth]

Clondalkin village Dublin today in the snow - The Round Tower dates from the 7th century and was founded by St Mochua.

The Blessed Virgin 'neath the wintry-bare trees of the local convent garden.

Clondalkin, Dublin.

In the spirit of the weather in Ireland lately.
Harry Clarke’s ‘the Snow Queen’, one of Ireland’s greatest illustrators

Connemara snow scene by J.P. Rooney
http://www.jprooneyartstudio.com/m/-/galleries/the-shop-index