Irish Mythology and Folklore :: Irish CultureA Guide to Irish Culture on the Web

A Guide to Irish Culture
on the web

Mythology & Folklore

Storytellers of Ireland/Aos Scéal Éireann The ancient art of the Seanchaí, the storyteller of the past, has experienced a revival in the last 20 years. People of all ages and backgrounds have begun to retell stories old and new./ Le fiche bliain anuas, tá borradh agus fás tagaithe ar shean-ghairm inste scéal. Tá clú agus cáil ar na scéalta ársa agus ar an seanchas atá le fáil i nÉirinn. Le déanaí tá siad arís i mbéal an phobail, idir óg is sean, is i ngach áird is aicme.

The Fabrication of ‘Celtic‘ Astrology The Celtic ‘tree zodiac ‘fabrications, the direct result of Robert Graves’ invention of a ‘tree calendar‘, have become an almost insurmountable barrier to any serious study of the forms of astrology that were practised by pre-Christian Celtic society. By Peter Berresford Ellis.

Animal Symbolism A paper for Religion 375 at the University of Michigan by Lars Noodén, 22 November 1992

Brigid: The Survival of a Goddess One of the most complex and contradictory Goddesses of the Celtic pantheon, Brigid can be seen as the most powerful religious figure in all of Irish history. Known variously in Ireland, Britain and the Continent as Bride, Bridey, Brighid, Brigit, Briggidda, Brigantia, etc

Encyclopedia of the Celts ‘The main purpose in compiling an encyclopedia of this kind is to give the reader access to a fragment of the contents of some of the greater and lesser know works of Celtic literature; including works of mythology, legend, fiction and history.‘– from the introduction to his encyclopedia by Knud Mariboe, who died in 1998. The encyclopedia is now hosted by his friend, Steven A. Culbreath

Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry Edited and Selected by W. B. Yeats [1888] ‘In the Parochial Survey of Ireland it is recorded how the story-tellers used to gather together of an evening, and if any had a different version from the others, they would all recite theirs and vote, and the man who had varied would have to abide by their verdict. In this way stories have been handed down with such accuracy, that the long tale of Dierdre was, in the earlier decades of this century, told almost word for word, as in the very ancient MSS. in the Royal Dublin Society.‘ – from Yeats’ introduction. This e-text is hosted by Sacred Texts.com

Irish Folklore part of the Celtic Folklore section of Sacred Texts.com
including
The Voyage of Bran trans. by Meyer Kuno [1895].Old Irish saga of a voyage to the pagan Celtic otherworld
The Second Battle of Mag Tuired the epic battle between the mythical Tuatha De Danann and Fomoire for Ireland.
The Cattle-Raid of Cooley (Táin Bó Cúailnge) The central epic of the Ulster cycle:
The Destruction of Dá Derga’s Hostel Translated by Whitely Stokes [1910]
Heroic Romances of Ireland (2 Vols.) by A. H. Leahy [1905-6]
The Courtship of Etain, the Boar of Mac Datho, the Sickbed of Cuchulain, and the five ‘Tains‘ or Cattle-Forays, including the bizarre Tain bo Regamna, The Apparition of The Great Queen to Cuchulain.
Cuchulain of Muirthemne by Lady Augusta Gregory [1902]
Gods and Fighting Men by Lady Augusta Gregory [1904]
A Book of Saints and Wonders by Lady Augusta Gregory [1906]
Visions and Beliefs in the West of Ireland by Lady Augusta Gregory [1920] etc ...

Aughisky is the Irish Water-horse, which comes out of the water in the evening to graze on the land (Monstropedia)

Banshee the Bean Sidhe, popularly known as the Banshee, foretells a death by wailing. The word is derived from the Old Irish ben síde, modern Irish bean sídhe or bean sí, In east Munster and Connaught she is called a bean chaointe (a female keener). (Monstropedia)

Cailleach* is a powerful hag often identified with a deity or the elemental powers of nature .(Monstropedia)
see also
Cailleach Beara (photo) Legend has it that this rock represents the fossilized remains of the face of the Cailleach Beara awaiting her husband Manannan, God of the Sea. (Geograph.org)
see also
Cailleach In the Irish Triads, the Cailleach is considered one of the three great ages:the age of the Yew Tree, the age of the Eagle, and the age of the Hag of Baere (Blue Roebuck )

Dullahan (also Durahan, or Gan Ceann meaning ‘headless‘) is headless, usually seen riding a headless black horse and carrying his head under one arm. In some versions he rides a coach. The myth may have inspired The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. .(Monstropedia)

Fairy Animals Many animals roam the fairy underlands and water ways, and frequently they stray into mortal realms
including
Fairy Changelings When a mother finds a scrawny, ill-tempered, foul-mouthed yellow-faced little man in the cradle, she knows instantly that the fairies have traded her boy for this thing
including
Leprecauns & Cluricans The leprechaun is a solitary creature avoiding contact with mortals and other leprechauns--indeed the whole fairy tribe.
including
Merrows & Selkies Good or bad weather, the male merrow sits on a rock, scanning the sea for cases of brandy lost from wrecked ships. The female merrow (mulrruhgach), also called a mermaid (murúch) or a sea-maiden (maighdean mhara), is lovely and graceful.
including
Pooka The pooka comes out at night, sometimes as an eagle flinging a man on his back and flying to the moon.
including
Red Haired Man, Dark Man, Grey Man and Man of Hunger In the fairy realm lives a red-haired man who, for no clear reason, has a liking for the mortal race. The Dark Man or Far Dorocha is the chief agent in mortal abduction. The Grey Man or Far Liath appears as a fog and covers land and sea with his mantle.
including
The Demon Bride According to legend, at funerals the spirit watches for the person who remains last in the graveyard.
including
The Lianhan Shee and the Gonconer The lianhan shee is a fairy mistress of dreadful power, for she seeks the love and dominion of mortal men--if they refuse her, she is their slave and if they consent they are hers. Anna’s Irish Folklore Page

Mystery animals of Ireland Mighty creatures, the likes of which no mere line nor net can take, have longed been reputed to inhabit lakes and rivers throughout Ireland.

MYTHOLOGY & FOLKLORE (2)

A Guide to Irish Culture on the web

A Guide to Irish Culture
on the web