‘Day of the Wren’ and the Wren Boys
Wren Day (Lá Dreoilín) is a traditional Irish custom where the bold and mysterious ‘Wren Boys’ perform a ceremonial ‘Hunt of the Wren’, which takes place on Christmas Day or…
Gaelic Gods and Goddesses | Psychology and Irish Mythology
Are myths just fireside stories? What can they teach us about the past and ourselves today? Join me as we explore some the archetypal symbolic meanings attributed the various Gaelic…
From Éire to the Republic of Ireland
The name of the State is Éire, or, in the English language, Ireland. - Constitution of Ireland, Article 4. Ireland was once called Ériu after a goddess queen of the…
Ireland, The Land of A Thousand Welcomes
Céad Míle Fáilte, this common Irish greeting for travellers arriving at these shores literally translates to mean ‘a hundred thousand welcomes’. But this affectionate name for Ireland is due in…
Ancient Icelandic Law in Reykjavik
At the start of October, I had the dual pleasure of making my first trip to Iceland, where I also got to hear eminent scholar David Friedman's analysis of ancient…
Ireland: The Emerald Isle
The Emerald Isle The following verse contains the first printed example of the term ‘Emerald Isle’ being used in reference to Ireland. William Drennan, a Belfast born poet, was also…
Ireland, The Island of Saints and Scholars
Though there were some Christians already in Ireland before the coming of Saint Patrick in 432 A.D., it was the success of his mission converting the island that the Irish…
Mná na hÉireann | Women of Ireland in History and Mythology
Were the rights of women really so good in ancient Ireland? You will hear this fact repeated often, but is it true? With a bit of research we find the…
14 Ancient Names for Ireland (Video)
The Names of Ireland An Ainmneacha na hÉireann With a land as ancient as this, it should come as no surprise to learn that the place we call ‘Ireland’ was…
Under the Brehon Laws: Family, Children, and the Status of Women in Early Ireland
Ireland's Brehon Laws teach us about the central importance of the family, the role of children, and the rights of women in ancient Irish and medieval history. The Brehon Laws…