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The 'Papar' (from Irish ''pap'', ''father'' or ''pope'') were, according to early Icelandic historical sources, a group of Irish monks that inhabited Iceland at the time of the arrival of the Norsemen. However, no archeological proof of their existence has ever been found.
The Scandinavians began settling in Iceland in the 9th Century, but the oldest source which mentions the existence of the Papar was only about 250 years later, in the ''Íslendingabók'' ("Book of the Icelanders"), written between 1122 and 1133. They are also referred to in the ''Landnámabók'' (the Icelandic Book of Settlements) which mentions that the Norse found Irish priests in Iceland when they arrived, together with bells and crosiers.
An earlier source that could possibly refer to the Papar is the work of Dicuil, an early 9th century Irish monk, which discussed the wandering of "holy men" to the lands of the north. However, it is not known whether Dicuil is speaking about Iceland, as Celtic hermits also settled in other islands of the north such as Orkney and Shetland.
Several Icelandic toponyms (see Toponymy) have been linked to the Papar, including the island of Papey, but no archeological proofs were found that would link the two names.
Another theory is that the two sources were conflated and that Ari Thorgilsson, the author of ''Íslendingabók ''also based his history on the writings of Dicuil. The traditional accounts have stated that the ''papar'' left when the Norse arrived, but it has been theorised that their influence may have helped Christianity spread in these areas.

Contents

''Papar'' in the Faroes

''Papar'' in the Shetland Islands

''Papar'' in the Orkney Islands

See also

References

''Papar'' in the Faroes

There are also several toponyms relating to the papar in the Faroe islands.

''Papar'' in the Shetland Islands

The Shetland Islands have many commemorations of the ''papar'' including the islands of Papa (one of the Scalloway Islands, lying north west of Burra and east of Oxna, connected to West Head of Papa), Papa Little and Papa Stour (Great Papa).

★ Papil, West Burra

''Papar'' in the Orkney Islands

The Orkneys also have many such commemorations:

★ Papa Stronsay

★ Papa Westray

★ Holm of Papay
==''Papar'' in the Outer Hebrides==
The Outer Hebrides have many examples of the ''papar'', but with the crucial difference that the Norse language died out early in this area, and it is arguable whether Scottish Gaelic ever died out at all. There are at least three islands originally named ''Papey'', now spelt "Pabbay" (Gaelic: 'Pabaigh') in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland:

★ Pabbay near Barra lying in the Bishop's Isles

★ Pabbay near Harris

★ Pabbay, South Uist
Pabay, is in the ''Inner'' Hebrides, near Skye.

See also

★ Culdees

★ Celtic Christianity

★ Iro-Scottish monks

★ Norse-Gaels

★ Christianization of Scandinavia

References

★ Axel Kristinsson, Is there any tangible proof that there were Irish monks in Iceland before the time of the Viking settlements?