Northern Ireland's FIrst Pagan Priest

You may be familiar with Carberry from the January vandalism of the Manannan Mac Lir statue which was later found in February about a mile form its original location. 

Belfast Media Group: "Patrick Carberry, who’s based in Glengormley, applied to Stormont five months ago to be certified as a holy man and officials have now got back to him to say he can now carry out religious ceremonies for people who follow Irish pre-Christian religions.  Patrick, who has been attacked in the past for his beliefs, says he hopes the fact that pagans have official recognition means they will now be more readily accepted in society."

Metal Gaia: “In 2009 I set up a church called the Order of the Golden River but the members and I agreed to keep it underground because the people were afraid of being targeted.”

Apparently this fear is well founded. Patrick was assaulted at a small outlet he opened in the Park Centre last September. But he says he’s now happy to announce he is a full-time priest in the pagan religion, now that he has official recognition.

“I’m not in the slightest bit bothered. I am a full-time pagan priest and it’s as simple as that. That’s what I do. Other people have jobs and do their paganism outside of that but I am the same level as any priest or reverend and I have now been recognized as such.”


To read more on this story, you may also visit The Wild Hunt.

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