Ali Isaac
manannán’s land: irish myths of the sea
Being a small island, the lives of the people of Ireland have been dominated by the sea. According to legend, Manannán mac Lir was Sea Lord.
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Ali Isaac
Aug 1, 20163 min read
The Wolf King of Tara
According to legend, Cormac mac Art was the High King of Ireland at the same time as Fionn mac Cumhall was the leader of the Fianna.
Ali Isaac
Jul 18, 20164 min read
The Sacred Stones of the Hill of Tara
According to legend, these two standing stones in the Hill of Tara graveyard are known as Bloc & Bluicne, & were part of a kingship ritual.
Ali Isaac
Jul 11, 20164 min read
knossos, capital of ancient crete and the legend of the minotaur
I visited Knossos whilst I was in Crete recently. Knossos is said to be the ancient capital of Crete, home to legendary King Minos.
Ali Isaac
Jul 4, 20163 min read
The Giant Irish Elk That Wasn’t
The Giant Irish Elk was neither Irish, nor an elk, but a species of Megaloceros, and was the largest deer that ever walked the planet.
Ali Isaac
Jun 27, 20163 min read
gleninagh castle, co. clare | the wild atlantic way
Gleninagh comes from the Irish Gleann Eidhneach, which means ‘valley of ivy’. The castle itself stands overlooking Galway Bay.
Ali Isaac
Jun 20, 20164 min read
corcomroe abbey | the wild atlantic way
Corcomroe Abbey was founded in 1194AD for the Cistercian order by the King of Munster, and was known then as St Mary's of the Fertile Rock.
Ali Isaac
Jun 13, 20163 min read
Newtown Castle, Co Clare | The Wild Atlantic Way
Newtown Castle was built c.1550 AD for the O’Brien clan, but just over a century later, it became the property of the powerful O’Loughlins.
Ali Isaac
Jun 6, 20164 min read
St Colman’s Holy Well, Co Clare | The Wild Atlantic Way
St Colman was brought up in a religious community, where he became a hermit. He travelled to the Burren in search of greater solitude.
Ali Isaac
May 30, 20164 min read
Legends of the Burren | The Wild Atlantic Way
The Burren is an expanse of karst landscape located in Co Clare, stretching some 250 km between the villages of Ballyvaghan and Lisdoonvarna
Ali Isaac
May 23, 20166 min read
6 Sacred Rites of Kings
Here are 6 sacred rites of kingship in ancient Ireland according to the old myth stories, and not one human sacrifice among them.
Ali Isaac
May 20, 20161 min read
Twelfth Century Propaganda
A little video in which I explain why Gerald of Wales's writing should not be taken seriously (or literally!).
Ali Isaac
May 9, 20166 min read
The White Horse in Irish Mythology
In Irish mythology, the white horse is mentioned often. Aonbhar of the Flowing Mane was a white horse belonging to the Sea-God Manannán.
Ali Isaac
May 5, 20165 min read
the land of the ever young | pt 2
In my last post, The Land of the Ever Young Part One, we talked about Manannán’s Land, a mythical island kingdom of eternal summer and...
Ali Isaac
May 2, 20164 min read
the land of the ever young part one
In Irish mythology, there is much mention of a place referred to as the Otherworld. But where and what actually is it?
Ali Isaac
Apr 25, 20166 min read
speaking in tongues of fire
In ancient Ireland, a poet was expected to be able to raise a satire so powerful as to raise blemishes, ie boils on the face of the accused.
Ali Isaac
Apr 18, 20166 min read
the fosterling in irish myth
In ancient times, fosterage played an important role in Irish society, but the process was governed by strict and complex rules.
Ali Isaac
Apr 13, 20165 min read
6 most tragic love stories in irish mythology (part two)
Who doesn't love a tragic love story? Read here the Irish myths of Fionn and Sadbh, Diarmuid and Grainne, and Tristan and Iseult.
Ali Isaac
Apr 11, 20166 min read
6 Most Tragic Love Stories in Irish Mythology (Part One)
The Brehon Law recognised ten types of relationship between men and women, but doesn’t mention LOVE, yet the myths are full of the stuff!
Ali Isaac
Apr 4, 20168 min read
A Fire in the Head | Shamanic Use of Amanita in Irish Mythology
The Irish called it Agairg Cuileoige, but it’s more popularly known as Amanita Muscaria, or Fly Agaric.
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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