The Fairy Lore of Ireland
The Fairy Lore of Ireland is drawn from a chapter of the "Traces of the Elder Faiths of Ireland: A Folklore Sketch; a Handbook of Irish Pre-Christian Traditions", published in…
86 Old Irish Names for Women and Girls
Here is a list of 86 names for girls and women from John O'Donovan's Origin and Meanings of Irish Family Names. Some of these names are still in use today,…
A Man is Better Than His Birth – Is Ferr Fer a Chiniud
The Brehon ideal holds that no individual should be hindered or restricted, in any way whatsoever, in his or her personal and individual development merely because of the circumstances birth.
Meanings and Origins of Imbolg
Traditionally, Imbolg (or Imbolc) was celebrated on the 1st-2nd February to mark the beginning of Spring and the midway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox in early Gaelic society.…
Irish Mythology: Na Fianna – An Elite Warrior Guild
The Fianna was made up of many battalions called cathas, each with 3,000 warriors. In peaceful times, the main body of the Fianna was made up of three cathas, or…
From the Ashes: The Role of Culture and Heritage in Irish Transition to Independence
In living memory alone, many countries have experienced drastic changes to its cultural and political constituents, going through a state of transition from one form of government, laws, and ideology to another.…
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…