Walsh Ranch House

 Built in 1910 

 Reese River Valley

   Lander County, Nevada 

  Celtic Cross 

Origins 

Although the Celtic cross is tightly associated with Christianity today, this was not always the case.  In fact, the Celtic Cross pre-dates Christianity, and has its origins in an older religion. 

As Ireland converted to Christianity, the cross remained an integral symbol, and as such, it took on new meaning.   

 It is generally thought that St. Patrick and others responsible for Ireland’s conversion to Christianity sought to use symbols that the Irish were already familiar with, thus making the transition easier and more accepted.

         transfixus sed non mortuus        

The Walsh Name   

The ancient name Walsh is found throughout Ireland and is especially prominent in Counties Mayo, Galway, Cork, Wexford and Kilkenny. The Walsh Mountains are located in County Kilkenny and there are as many as 24 place-names associated with the Walshs throughout the country.

This is one of a number of names that have their origin in the Anlo-Norman invasion of the twelfth century, led by the famous Strongbow. The name Walsh means 'welshman' and is rendered as 'breathnach' in Gaelic. Thus it is easy to see how a number of variants of the name have come into existence including Walshe, Welch, Welsh, Brannach, and Brannagh.

An original bearer of the name was Haylen Brenach who was the son of 'Philip the Welshman', and who was one of the first invaders of 1172. This individual was not the only originator of the name however with several other of the new arrivals being labelled 'the welshman' after they arrived and settled in the country.

No prominent Gaelic sept was formed which is somewhat unusual as most of the invading families eventually integrated into Irish society and formed septs along Gaelic lines. The families descended from 'Philip the Welshman' settled at Castlehowel in Kilkenny and at Ballykileavan in Leix, as well as at Bray and Dublin. The County Mayo Walshs are derived from Walynus who arrived from Wales in the year 1169.