What was the Celtic religion called before the Celts embraced Christianity?

History credits the English-born Roman Catholic missionary with bringing a 'nominal' form of Christianity to Ireland during circa 5th century AD. Here it is said he encountered the pagan 'Irish gods' (Celtic and Druid) which had bonfires in their honor and other symbols which Patrick is said to have adopted these to Easter celebrations, the Irish cross and some believe he used the shamrock to attempt to explain the Trinity.


History on the other hand has documents indicating that the Apostle James visited Ireland centuries before Patrick, preaching the gospel of the 'Good News' that Jesus gave His new church and disciples. Other historical documents indicate that Simon Peter, Simon Zelotes, Paul and others brought the original Christianity of Jesus to these European Western Isles in the 1st Century - about 400 years before Patrick brought his understanding.

Lastly, long before the Apostles brought the true gospel to Ireland, some language scholars argue the term 'Iberia' for Spain to be a variation of 'Hebrew' which these (Celts and the Scythians) believe migrated via the Lost Ten Tribes through the Caucasus Mountains to Western Europe and eventually the Isles. Later the Anglos and Saxons (possibly other Lost Tribe groups) came and settled in England primarily.