Ireland is called the Land or Island of Saints and Scholars. It is land of saints because of the rapid foundation of Christianity after its arrival in 400 A.D. As a result, monasteries and clerical institutions rose from the local stone throughout the late 5th through 9th Centuries. Pictured in the accompanying video, some of the surviving buildings are the 6th Century Reask Monastic Site, the 7th/8th C. Gallarus Oratory, and the 12th C Kilmalkedar Church.
It is an island of scholars, not only from its renowned poets and writers, but because Christian monks, scribes, sculptors and illustrators/calligraphers set to work recreating gospels, illustrations and documents of their faith. Often, they combined traditional Christian symbols with Celtic (Irish) designs. If you look closely during the video, you can see them in graveyard headstones and in the Book of Kells (poster-size reproductions.) This Book, (sorry, but no photographs of the real document are allowed,) remains the best known example of an 9th century illustrated Gospel and it is housed at Trinity College in Dublin.
The blending of Christian and Celtic designs is a unique tradition in the world and is completely Irish – the Island of Saints and Scholars.