Ali Isaac
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.
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Ali Isaac
Jun 12, 20178 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
Mar 13, 20175 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
Feb 27, 20176 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 20, 20174 min read
The Encounter of Líadain and Cuirithir
The Encounter of Líadain and Cuirithir is a romantic tragedy, told, as many old Irish stories are told, in both poetry and prose.
Ali Isaac
Feb 13, 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
Jan 30, 20175 min read
curadmír | the champion’s portion
In Irish mythology, the champion’s portion was all about honour amongst warriors.
Ali Isaac
Jan 23, 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
Dec 5, 20166 min read
the stone of the big man
Clochafarmore, or Cloch an Fhir Mhóir in Irish means ‘the stone of the big man’, and is located in the townland of Rathiddy in Co. Louth.
Ali Isaac
Oct 31, 20167 min read
The #Halloween Legacy of Ireland’s Witches
It’s a popular enduring image of Halloween. How many little girls will be donning black, and a wide-brimmed pointy hat, painting their...
Ali Isaac
Oct 24, 20163 min read
Halloween or Samhain?
I recently watched a video on Youtube where the expert in the film kept pronouncing Samhain as it looks… Sam-hain. An easy mistake to...
Ali Isaac
Oct 17, 20163 min read
From Goddess to Grotesque
The word ‘sheelanagig’ first appeared in the Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 1840–44 referring to a stone carving in Co. Tipperary.
Ali Isaac
Oct 10, 20166 min read
The Fairy Folk of Ireland
In Irish folklore, the Sidhe are often referred to as ‘the Fair Folk’ (hence fairy), and descend from the magical race of Tuatha de Danann.
Ali Isaac
Oct 3, 20165 min read
Were There Giants in Ancient Ireland?
The Tuatha de Danann were said to be tall, slender and powerful, although they were never described as giants.
Ali Isaac
Sep 25, 20166 min read
Mythology and Folklore | What’s the Difference?
What’s the difference between mythology and folklore, does it matter, and who cares anyway? They’re just a bunch of old stories, right?
Ali Isaac
Sep 19, 20164 min read
maynooth | plain of nuada and seat of learning
Lectures start today. That’s right, at nearly fifty, I’m going back to school. Maynooth University, to be precise.
Ali Isaac
Sep 12, 20164 min read
peculiar pregnancies in irish mythology
There is not much mention of pregnancy in Irish myth, but those which are prove most spectacular indeed.
Ali Isaac
Sep 5, 20164 min read
Irish Tree Lore | The Rowan
Once revered by the Druids, it is hardly surprising that the Rowan later became associated with witchcraft, paganism and the supernatural.
Ali Isaac
Aug 29, 20163 min read
hill of slane | faces in strange places
The Hill of Slane is famous for its role as the place from which St Patrick first defied the pagan Kings.
Ali Isaac
Aug 22, 20164 min read
The Curious Phenomenon of the Irish Fairy Tree
In Irish, the hawthorn is known as Sceach Gheal, from sceach meaning ‘thornbush/ briar’ and geal meaning ‘bright/ lumnious/ radiant’.
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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