BBS, you sort of have it right with regard to the Church adopting pagan customs, goddesses, stories, etc., but not entirely. The early missionary church led by Patrick and others, in fact did incorporate/appropriate those practices and festivals which they felt they could within the boundaries of their religious doctrines. At some point in the history of the Catholic Church in Ireland, the Irish rites were different enough that the Roman Church ensconced in the Vatican sent emissaries and threatened them with excommunication if they didn't abandon their erring ways. Once upon a time, Morgan Llywelyn sent me a brief explanation of the differences and a reading list on the differences and various studies of the Irish Catholic Church prior to this time. Unfortunately I had a crash and lost the list. As this shame has spread I cannot help but wonder what would have been different had the Irish Catholic Church, with it's more Celtic view of life, survived.

All the best,

Mick