Good question, Todd. It’s unique isn’t it? I had asked Robin about it. He told me their group uses the symbol of curragh as their logo for the Causeway Coast Maritime Heritage Group. Just outside Bantry, County Cork there is Celtic pillar stone near Kilnaruane where a monastic group resided.
Some believe it’s the remaining shaft is the remains of a Celtic Cross. There are several Christian carvings on the shaft. One is a curragh carved horizontality on the shaft. There is one steersman and you can see 4 oarsmen. There would be 4 more oarsmen on the other side for a total of nine monks. Columba went to Scotland with 12 other monks. Robin’s group expanded the number of oarsmen to fit the Columba tradition. I am copying a photo of the Kilnaruane pillar stone. If you look closely you can see the curragh (The Bantry boat). Some say the steersman represents Christ or St. Brendan.
I’m showing below the CCMHG symbol, “Columba” and the Bantry boat plaque representation on the cross. I have one of these at home.
The green of the flag represents green martyrdom of the Celtic monks. Green martyrs lived as hermits on mountaintops or lonely islands leaving the comforts and pleasures of their homes and families.
Kilnaruane pillar stone
CCNHG Columba Curragh
Bantry Boat
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