Bealtaine is a tradition that goes back to pre-Christian times. Much of the traditions have continued into Christian times and the modern day. After all Bealtaine is the name of the 5th month (May) and Lá Bealtaine (May Day) is a day celebrated in Irish tradition along with Oíche Bhealtaine (May Eve). The Irish tradition has been adopted and mutated as the international celebration of Beltane, but Beltane is not Irish, it is all things to all people, although it might still have themes inspired by or linked to this ancient Irish fire festival. Uniquely Bealtaine has 2 fires not 1, unlike the 8 other major events in the Pagan calendar. Fires were lit at solstices and equinoxes and also at Imbolc (fire is linked with Brigid), Lughnasadh and Samhain. The tradition of the bonfire is still very much in existence in modern Ireland today. It is a time of purification, Aos Sí (the fairies) of marriages, of fertility, the arrival of summer and the blessing of animals and tools for work. In rece

Published in Issue 11 of Pagan Ireland (Spring 2024). Get a copy of this issue here: https://paganireland.com/buyissues Airmid, an Irish Goddess of healing, has become a Patroness of Herbalists. She is a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the Tribe of Danu, and the daughter of Dian Cécht, an Irish God of Medicine. Her brother is the healer Miach. She is mentioned in the Cath Maige Tuired (the Battle of Moytura) as one who assisted in healing during the battle. She was a skilled Druid for her tribe. Airmid and her brothers helped build the Well of Sláine (the Well of Health) which was created to bring warriors killed during battle back to life. A wounded warrior would be dipped into the well and be healed, making him fit for battle once more. During the second Battle of Moytura, the opposing side filled the well with stones to stop the Tuatha Dé Danann from healing their warriors. When King Nuada’s arm was severed from his body, he called upon his Druid physician Dían Cécht to heal him, be

Win not one, not two, but three fabulous prizes in our brand new competition. The competition is open until Bealtaine (1 May) - all you have to do is buy any item and you will be entered into the draw to win these. Competitions are now a regular feature through the year, some being just a draw and others with a question to answer. To enter all you have to do is buy something from the website. The winner will be announced when our next issue (Summer 2025) is published and then the book will be posted out. As buying the recycled paper magazine is relatively expensive for some, we now have a range of e-mag options available from €2.67 to €4 per copy.

Published in Issue 10 of Pagan Ireland (Winter 2024). Get a copy of this issue here: https://paganireland.com/buyissues A Very Short Introduction to Ogham Practice Hey, it’s not just about trees, ya know. “Sound and matter” says the Auriacepts na n-Éces (The Scholar’s Primer), a seventh century Irish grammar text, “Is the mother and father of the Ogham,” The authors tell us the mythological foundation of this fascinating writing system: Lugh’s wife, being in terrible danger from being carried off into the Otherworld, is given a protective charm by the Tuatha Dé’s champion, Ogma, comprised of the ogham fid (character) beith, carved into birch wood, linking the alphabet firmly with Otherworldly origins. The archeological evidence shows that the Ogham was used on boundary and grave markers in Ireland and symbol stones in Pictland, the earliest of which are thought from the Christian Era. To me, though they feel far older, as though they were first carved by our ancestors on wood, not ston

Beannachtaí Cónocht an Earraigh ort. Equinox blessings to you. After almost six months of terrible weather, it is wonderful to see the sun in Ireland again! We've been lashed by storms, endured snow and -10C temperatures and almost endless rain - but finally the landscape is waking up, with a decent bit of sun at last. This photo of An Grianán Ailigh (The Grianán of Aileach) on the Inishowen Peninsula (Donegal) is by Gareth Wrey. It was massively repaired in the 1800s but was probably built in the 6th century CE but the Uí Néill (O'Neill) on top of an existing neolithic site (tumulus and well). It is said that the origins of this impressive fort hark back to the Tuatha de Danánn, but there is little remaining evidence to prove a connection. According legend, it is closely associated with the Dagda (the Good God), one of the godly leaders of the Tuatha. After his son Aodh was killed, the Dagda had a stone fort (now known as Grianán of Aileach) built as the burial place. The Metrical Din

Published in Issue 9 of Pagan Ireland (Autumn 2023). Get a copy of this issue here: https://paganireland.com/buyissues As discussed in O’Reilly (2022) Pagan Ireland winter edition, witchcraft, magic and superstition has aroused much interest over the centuries due to the number of individuals (approx. 40,000) executed during the European ‘witch craze’ or ‘burning time’ between the 14-18th century (Levack 2002). However, researchers investigating witchcraft and folk magic often focus on the historical information involving accusations, trials and executions whilst the material evidence associated with supernatural beliefs among folk populations is often neglected, with the exception of a few systematic studies such as Merrifield (1999), Manning (2014) and Hoggard (2019). These authors discuss the ritual use of concealed objects in Europe including dried cats, chickens, shoes, horse skulls and witch bottles, which were used to ward off witchcraft and evil spirits. Evidence from antiquari