So, as you all know, we're coming up to Halloween, which is on the 31st of this month. Now, a lot of people would not know what Halloween is really about or what it's based on. So, I’m going to try to explain that in a short blog post. So Halloween it is basically means All Hallows’ Eve. So it’s the night before uh All Hallow's Day, otherwise called All Saints' Day, which is one of the most holy days in the Roman Catholic calendar and that was carried forward sort of into the Protestant calendar as well in an unofficial way, but its origin is in the Catholic church. Som following on from All Hallow's Day, the following day (2nd November) is All Souls’ Day. So, you have these two holy days put together. And it's no accident where they fall - to coincide with an ancient Irish Pagan festival - because um at this time of year (dates can vary. anything between 20th of October through to the 7th November), you have a much older Pagan festival called Samhain, which originates in pre-Christian

Published in Issue 6 of Pagan Ireland (Winter 2022). Get a copy of this issue here: https://paganireland.com/buyissues It was early morning, November 6th 2007. We had spent the night travelling over the Sea from the UK to Ireland. We were starting a new chapter in our lives and were looking forward to what it would bring. We had chosen to move to The Republic as my husband’s father was born there, as were most of his relatives and I had always wanted to learn more about the beauty of the country and its people. As I opened my eyes I saw before me in the distance the most perfect and biggest pair of breasts I had ever seen! The hills were literally in the shape of a woman’s breasts, complete with what appeared to be nipples on top! I rubbed my sleepy eyes and turned to my husband and said, ‘are you seeing what I am seeing?’. Yes, he replied with a smile. As the road snaked around, I could still see her. When I looked closer I could see that the whole mountain range looked like a woman o

Published in Issue 5 of Pagan Ireland (Autumn 2022). Get a copy of this issue here: https://paganireland.com/buyissues Situated some 48 kilometres north-west of Dublin in County Meath is one of Ireland’s most sacred sites – the Hill of Tara. This hill, together with the surrounding area that stretches over two kilometres, has been inhabited since Neolithic times and in true Irish fashion, is associated with many myths and legends. On a clear day it is said that from the top of this sacred hill, you can see half the counties of Ireland. Due to the history of this area, it is little wonder that 19th century antiquarian, William Wilde (the father of Oscar Wilde) included the following romantic view of Tara in his writings: “Standing at the top or southern extremity of this remain, and bearing in mind the various prose and bardic histories of the Irish annalists, one cannot help reverting to ancient heroic times, and again, in imagination, peopling it with its early occupants. Here sat in

A possible site where a High King was slain Published in Issue 4 of Pagan Ireland (Summer 2022). Get a copy of this issue here: https://paganireland.com/buyissues There is an unremarkable standing stone in the townland of Ballinver, near to the village of Grangemockler in Co. Tipperary. It stands forlorn and forgotten in a field that lies near to the Lingnaun River in the shadow of Slievenamon. It has stood untouched in the same spot for centuries. Every standing stone has a sort of stalwart presence of its own and although I am not an archaeologist, I’m convinced every standing stone is aligned with something, another stone, a mountain peak, some feature on the landscape and or they mark an ancient boundary or a site of significance, like a burial for example. And for an unremarkable standing stone, this one maybe quite remarkable, it may in fact be the place where the Druid Ferchais killed the High King Lughaid Mac Con. “There stands here, in a fence, a pillar stone of large size and

Blessings of Lughnasadh to you. May all your endeavours bare fruit. This is the traditional time for harvesting wheat and other cereals. In modern Irish it is called Lúnasa, which is also the name of the month of August. The significance of Lughnasadh lies not only in its agricultural implications but also in its deep ties to Irish mythology and culture. At its core, the festival honours both Lugh (Lugh Lámhfhada /Lugh of the Long Arm),, the Celtic god of the sun, skills and fertility, and his Forster Mother, Tailtiu, who died after clearing the land for agriculture. Lughnasadh was established to honor her memory and the life-giving nature of the harvest. Tailtiu was the wife ofthe last Fir Bolg Ard Rí (High King) of Ireland, Eochaid mac Eirc. Eochad named his capital city after her which is now known as Teltown. Lugh established a harvest festival and funeral games, Áenach Tailteann, in her honour, which continued to be celebrated as late as late 1700s, highlighting the importance of

Walking a path between tradition and invention Published in Issue 3 of Pagan Ireland (Spring 2022). Get a copy of this issue here: https://paganireland.com/buyissues It was wonderful to participate in so many celebrations of Brigid, and of Imbolc, around February 1st. There was beautiful art, poetry, songs and stories. Moving traditions such as laying out Brigid’s Brat, weaving crosses, clearing hearth and house, walking ancient pathways, going to the well were revitalized. I felt uplifted by it all. It raised my spirits to be part of such a wide and diverse movement of celebration, and I look forward to next year when there will be a national holiday centred on her day and on Imbolc. In the middle of all of this I felt aware that there were some sceptics on the side and some critics and all kinds of different approaches to Brigit and to Imbolc. To begin with – how do we even spell these words? There is Brigit, Brigid, the two main spellings. There is Brid and Bridget and Brighid. Like