The Case of Tanistry
First of all, what is "tanistry"? You may be aware that today Ireland uses old Irish titles for leaders of government. For example, the prime minister is referred to as…
Irish Fairy Beliefs – The Changeling
The Reverend John O’Hanlon wrote on the topic of the native Irish belief in the fairy-folk in his article titled Fairy Beliefs – Irish Folklore saying they were regarded “by the…
Irish Claddagh Ring – A Symbol of Love, Loyalty and Friendship
With Valentine's Day upon us, I thought it would be a good idea to take a moment to consider the Claddagh ring, perhaps the most famous and powerful Irish symbol…
‘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…
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 Irish Anarchy at Hackers Congress 2016
For thousands of years, Ireland lived under a native set of laws and customs, known today as the Brehon Law. During this time, Ireland was ‘stateless’, there was no central…
Three Things A False Judge Deserves
Every false judge deserves a short life, removal from office, and death without an heir. In this triad the brehon (or judge) is reminded of the consequences should they err…
Ancient Irish Olympics – The Lughnasa Games at Telltown
The Telltown or Tailtiu Games were said to have been instituted by the Gaelic god Lú Lamhfada Samildanách – Lugh the Long-Armed Master of the Arts, and are considered to…