Rebuilding Lives in Northern Ireland
Posted in Irish Folklore on Jun 23rd, 2016
Good or bad weather, the male merrow sits on a rock scanning the sea for cases of brandy lost by wrecked ships. He’s a friendly fellow with a red nose, probably the result of too much drink. He is a bringer of good luck, wears a red cocked hat and has a green body, green […]
Posted in Irish Folklore on Jun 22nd, 2016
One of the most famous creations of Irish folklore are the leprechauns. These “little people” are solitary creatures, avoiding contact with mortals and other leprechauns. The leprechaun pours all of his passion into the concentration of carefully making shoes. A leprechaun can always be found with a shoe in one hand and a hammer in […]
Posted in Irish Folklore on Mar 29th, 2016
Legend says that after St Patrick fasted for 40 days and nights, he threw a bell from the top of the mountain to the land below. It hit a demon on the way down and drove all the snakes from Ireland (snakes being symbolic of his converting the pagans to Christianity). On his travels, Patrick […]
Posted in Irish Folklore on Oct 22nd, 2015
The Celts believed in a world of the spirit or that spirits could exist in this world by inhabiting the bodies of people, animals, plants or trees.
Posted in Irish Folklore on Sep 28th, 2015
To the Celts animals were living links between the known world of form and reason and the hidden world of intuition and spirit. The raven and the owl brought secret knowledge. The cat was a revered familiar and treasured companion. The snake and the dragon foretold a coming transformation.
Posted in Irish Folklore on Jun 21st, 2015
In Celtic mythology is a goddess of summer, wealth, love, growth and cattle. She is a Sun Goddess and the feast of Midsummer Night was held in her honor, for in mid-summer farmers would walk through their fields and wave torches in the hope that Aine and her sacred fire would grant them an abundant […]
Posted in Irish Folklore on Mar 30th, 2015
The Celts called the goddess of Spring ‘Eostre’ which then became the holy day of Easter. She was associated with sunshine and rebirth, and the sacred animal was the hare because in the Spring they love to frolic in the grass and mate.
Posted in Irish Folklore on Feb 26th, 2015
According to folklore, Ireland was not always ruled by humans. Many different races were said to call Ireland “home.” The most important of these were the Tuatha De Danann. They had tremendous powers and fought many battles while in control of Ireland.
Posted in Irish Folklore on Feb 12th, 2015
The Kelpie is a mythological, shape shifting horse that lives in the lochs of Scotland and can appear in human form. He is described as gre or green with seal like skin and said to have sea weed (or kelp) in his hair. He cannot escape the water and is said to lure humans to […]
Posted in Irish Folklore on Jan 12th, 2015
A picture of the famous ‘Grey Lady Ghost’ has been taken at a “Game of Thrones’ site at the Dark Hedges in Co Antrim. The ‘Grey Lady ‘ is said to haunt the spooky road where a young girl disappeared hundreds of years ago. The Dark Hedges are one of the most photographed natural phenomenon […]
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