Celtic Mythology: Myths of the Ancient World Elizabeth I and Grace O'Malley: The Meeting of Two Irish Queens Why Did So Many Irish People Emigrate to America? Blood of the Irish: What DNA Tells Us About the Ancestry of People in Ireland...
It’s not always obviouswhysomeone might use horse bones within the home. Others were found in Sweden, Finland, and Ireland. At least the Swedish example might offer an explanation. There, a document explained the horse skull in a fireplace was to guard against fire (Davies 2018: 79). Nor...
Britain and Ireland, the latter where it was probably introduced by the English in the 17c, are home to one species of pike: the northern pike (Esox lucius). The English common name “pike” is an apparent shortening of “pike-fish”, in reference to its pointed head, Old English píc...
history that has led to many traditions, fantastic music, and captivating stories. Readers of this blog can discover the origins of Scottish music and its close ties with Ireland, and other Celtic lands Traditional folk ballads tell tales of mystery and epic battles, evoking a sense of wonder....
The world over has its legends of goblins, ghosts and giant snowmen. Tales abound of beasts and brides of the sea. Here in Ireland, we have our own magical creatures. Banshees, leprachauns and, especially, fairies still inspire respect in Ireland. ...
You hear a lot about Ireland’s relationship with the Church, but beyond Catholicism and Protestantism, there is another set of beliefs which, in some corners, still prevails; an older, stranger set of superstitions rooted in the land and the country’s pagan past. ...
Let us explore some notable examples of folklore from different regions: Irish Folklore Ireland is renowned for its rich folklore, which is deeply rooted in Celtic mythology and traditions. Irish folklore includes tales of mythical creatures like leprechauns, banshees, and fairies. These stories are ...
Originally considered fairies, their Irish name, bean sídhe, means “woman of the mounds,” those mounds (sídhe) being the ancient burial mounds believed in Ireland to be the home of fairies. The banshee’s wailing, which betokens imminent death of a blood relative, is probably based upon...
The Myrmecoleon, or Ant-lion, is a tale of two creatures and many translation errors. Druce distinguishes between the Eastern myrmecoleon, a hybrid of lion and ant, and the Western myrmecoleon, a carnivorous insect. These are one and the same, but the vagaries of translation led them down...
were seen there first. Many countries after Ireland soon began to report the sightings of these magical beings, but in Ireland "fairies were almost a political and cultural necessity" (Silver 34). Many legends and stories originated from them and began to expand into the whole culture of ...