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Donn, Lord of the Dead
Halloween is the Christian overlay of a celebration far more ancient, a pagan Celtic festival called Samhain. Halloween is thought to be...

Ali Isaac
Oct 20, 20144 min read


Hy-Brasil | Mysterious Lost Island of Irish Mythology
Legend has it that Hy-Brasil is an island which lies shrouded in mist just off Ireland's coast, and thus remains shielded from mortal eyes.

Ali Isaac
Oct 13, 20146 min read


cliamh solais, the sword of light
In the Lebor Gabála Erenn (the Book of Invasions), the Sword of Light was brought to Ireland by King Nuada of the Tuatha de Danann.

Ali Isaac
Oct 6, 20146 min read


where do you go to see the book of kells?
The famous Book Of Kells is an illuminated manuscript of the four gospels of the New Testament written in Latin and highly decorated.

Ali Isaac
Sep 25, 20143 min read


Sacred Spaces | A Poem
A poem about the extraordinary devotion which leads men to build monuments to God, only for them to crumble pointlessly away into nothing.

Ali Isaac
Sep 24, 20141 min read


imbas forosnai | poetic inspiration of the irish filidh
Imbas Forosnai, or 'knowledge which illuminates', is the act of looking into the future and chanting prophecy in the form of poetry.

Ali Isaac
Sep 22, 20145 min read


tara | ancient seat of the high kings of ireland
The Hill of Tara, also known as Teamhair na Ri in Irish, is located on the River Boyne near Navan in County Meath.

Ali Isaac
Sep 18, 20144 min read


Geis | The Curse in Irish Mythology
The geis is Irish for curse or taboo. Irish mythology is awash with geisa, almost every hero being afflicted by at least one, if not more.

Ali Isaac
Sep 15, 20145 min read


teltown | legendary home of tailtiu, last queen of the fir bolg
Teltown (Tailteann, in Irish) is an area located between Navan and Kells on the River Blackwater in Co Meath. Today, there is not much left.

Ali Isaac
Sep 11, 20143 min read


The Power of Water in Irish Myth
Ireland is full of lakes and rivers, each of them with their own legends attached. Co. Cavan is said to have a lake for each day of the year

Ali Isaac
Sep 8, 20145 min read


uisneach | ancient ceremonial site of the bealtaine fires
The Hill of Uisneach stands 183 metres tall, and is located between the villages of Ballymore and Loughanavally in County Westmeath.

Ali Isaac
Sep 4, 20144 min read


The Serpent in Irish Mythology
Ireland has no indigenous snakes. The story goes that they were banished by St Patrick from Croagh Patrick mountain after 40 days of fasting

Ali Isaac
Sep 1, 20145 min read
The Tuatha de Denann | Were they Irish Gods or Aliens?
You can read my latest article, The Tuatha de Denann | Were they Irish Gods or Aliens on Irish Central… if you’re interested! Ali xxx...

Ali Isaac
Aug 28, 20141 min read


Lough na Suil | Mysterious Disappearing Lake of Irish Mythology
It is said that once in every hundred years the lake mysteriously empties overnight and refills. Strangely, records actually confirm this.

Ali Isaac
Aug 28, 20144 min read


the ancient origins of the irish road
In Irish mythology, there were five great roads, or 'slighe' radiating out from the Hill of Tara to various parts of Ireland.

Ali Isaac
Aug 25, 20145 min read


Knowth
Knowth is part of the Newgrange complex at Bru na Boinne, on the banks of the River Boyne in County Meath. These grand monuments were...

Ali Isaac
Aug 21, 20142 min read


The Lia Fail | Ancient Ireland’s Sacred Stone of Knowledge
The Lia Fail stands at the top of the Hill of Tara in Co Meath, a much weathered column of grey granular granite 1m in height above ground

Ali Isaac
Aug 18, 20143 min read


Heapstown Cairn
Heapstown Cairn is located near Castlebaldwin in County Sligo, and is a passage tomb 60 metres in diameter and 6 metres high.

Ali Isaac
Aug 14, 20141 min read


Dindsenchas | Ireland’s Lore of Places
There is an ancient Irish text called the Dindsendchas, meaning ‘lore of places’, which contains 176 poems, dating to the eleventh century.

Ali Isaac
Aug 8, 20143 min read


ai | irish poetic inspiration
The composition of poetry in ancient Ireland was very different than it is today, and was governed by very strict rules known as Dan Direach

Ali Isaac
Aug 1, 20142 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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