“A great obnubilation was conjured up for the bard so that he slept a heavy sleep, and things magic-begotten were shewn to him to enunciate, apparently in his sleep. This was called “illumination by rhymes,” and a similar method was used in Wales. When consulted, the seer roared violently until he was beside himself, and out of his ravings the desired information was gathered. When aroused from this ecstatic condition, he had no remembrance of what he had uttered. Giraldus reports this, and thinks, with the modern spiritualist, that the utterance was caused by spirits.” – J.A. MacCulloch (Art by Herbert Norris)

“Members of the learned caste or priestly profession in Celtic and early Irish culture. The word ‘druid’ is probably derived form the Celtic dru-wid, which would have meant ‘very knowledgeable’. The Greek and Latin writers attest to the importance of the druids among the Celtic Gauls. They were at the centre of society, making decisions on matters of tradition, custom and law and also on general questions concerning nature and human life.” – Dáithí Ó hÓgáin (Art is ‘The Bard’ by Thomas Jones)