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Gifts from the ‘Hell-Mouth of Ireland’ #Samhain
Are you brave enough to enter the 'Hell-mouth of Ireland'? That's Oweynagat, the Morrigan's cave at Cruachan, birth-place of Queen Medb.

Ali Isaac
Nov 6, 20175 min read


Planning Your Visit to Ireland? 4 Spooky Ancient Sites Associated with #SAMHAIN
If you are in Ireland for Halloween, consider creating your own bespoke Samhain tour. Here are my top 4 spooky Samhain ancient sites.

Ali Isaac
Oct 30, 20174 min read


Planning Your Visit to Ireland? Trek Along the Iron-Age Trackway at Corlea
This great wooden road, known as togher in Irish, was discovered in 1984, when Bord na Mona were digging turf to supply a power station.

Ali Isaac
Oct 23, 20175 min read


Planning Your Visit to Ireland? ENTHRONE YOURSELF in the Witches Chair.
The Witches Throne is a huge kerbstone carved with armrests at the base of cairn T at the highest point of Loughcrew, in Co. Meath, Ireland.

Ali Isaac
Oct 16, 20172 min read


Planning Your Visit to Ireland? Stay in the Most Haunted Castle in Ireland.
Ross Castle in Co. Meath, is said to be the most haunted castle in Ireland. Are you brave enough to spend a night there?

Ali Isaac
Oct 9, 20173 min read


the peculiar case of the burning of bridget cleary
In 1895, Bridget Cleary was the last woman in Ireland to be burned as a witch.

Ali Isaac
Oct 2, 20176 min read


Planning Your Visit to Ireland? Walk in the Footsteps of St FéichÃn at Fore
Fore comes from the Irish Fhobhair, meaning ‘the town of the water springs’. The monastery was founded there by St FéichÃn in 630AD.

Ali Isaac
Sep 25, 20173 min read


planning your visit to ireland? see the oldest tree in ireland.
The oldest tree in Ireland is said to be a yew located just within the grounds of Maynooth University & estimated to be around 800 years old

Ali Isaac
Sep 11, 20172 min read


planning your visit to ireland? take a walking tour of tara with treasa
A visit to Ireland would not be complete without a walking tour of the Hill of Tara with Treasa. A unique way to experience this iconic site

Ali Isaac
Aug 28, 20172 min read


Planning your Visit to Ireland? Deerpark Forest
Deerpark Forest was established by the second Lord Headfort, Thomas Taylor, in the early nineteenth century.

Ali Isaac
Aug 14, 20172 min read


Planning a Visit to Ireland? The Split Rock of Easkey
Welcome to a new feature on Aliisaacstoryteller. Are you planning a visit to Ireland? Over the coming weeks, I’ll be featuring places in...

Ali Isaac
Aug 7, 20172 min read


lughnasadh, a celebration of fertility?
One of 4 ancient pre-Christian festivals, Lughnasadh was celebrated midway between the summer solstice and autumn equinox, around Aug 1st.

Ali Isaac
Jul 30, 20176 min read


the virgin births of irish myth
The virgin birth is not just an Irish Christian ‘thing’… weird and wacky birth stories exist in ancient cultures from all around the world.

Ali Isaac
Jul 3, 201710 min read


who was the old woman of beare?
Who was the Cailleach Bheara? She appears as a shadowy figure hovering on the edges of Irish folklore & myth, yet little is known about her.

Ali Isaac
Jun 12, 20178 min read


Mogh Ruith, the Blind Magician
One of the most mysterious figures from Irish mythology is the blind Munster Druid known as Mogh Ruith who lived on Valentia Island.

Ali Isaac
Mar 13, 20175 min read


Pangur Bán, the White Cat, and Other Pets in Irish Mythology
Did our ancient ancestors form the same relationships with their animals as we do, or did they see them merely as food and beasts of burden?

Ali Isaac
Feb 27, 20176 min read


The Encounter of LÃadain and Cuirithir
The Encounter of LÃadain and Cuirithir is a romantic tragedy, told, as many old Irish stories are told, in both poetry and prose.

Ali Isaac
Feb 20, 20174 min read


For the love of GOLD
The earliest evidence of metal mining in Ireland is provided by Bronze Age copper workings at Ross Island, Co. Kerry in southwest Ireland.

Ali Isaac
Feb 13, 20174 min read


curadmÃr | the champion’s portion
In Irish mythology, the champion’s portion was all about honour amongst warriors.

Ali Isaac
Jan 30, 20175 min read


The Wild Boar in Irish Mythology
The wild boar features significantly in Irish myth. Although a shy, placid creature, its mythic characteristics were ferocity and courage.

Ali Isaac
Jan 23, 20175 min read
Ali Isaac is an author and blogger specialising in Irish mythology. Through word and image, she tries to draw the human story from Ireland's landscape and tumbled stones, with a particular focus on the women history has abandoned, and legend only half remembers.
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