Tír na nÓg
Tír na nÓg was the land of eternal youth that existed somewhere in the western sea. The story of Oisin and Tír na nÓg is one of the most popular tales from Irish mythology.
The story begins when Oisin was off hunting with the Fianna. Out of nowhere, a beautiful princess on a white horse appeared, stating that she wanted to take Oisin with her to Tír na nÓg.
For Oisin, it was love at first sight and he immediately agreed. The pair traveled across land and sea to reach Tír na nÓg and they spent three happy years there.
Then, Oisin felt homesick and it was agreed that he could return to Ireland once his feet never touched Irish soil. When Oisin arrived in Ireland, he realized that 3 years in Tír na nÓg was 300 years in Ireland.
The Morrigan
The Morrigan was one of a number of powerful Celtic Gods and Goddesses that roamed the lands of Ireland at one point.
She was primarily associated with war, fate and death and was a known shape-shifter that often favored transforming into a crow.
The Morrigan, like the Puca, was a gifted shape-shifter and was one of the Tuatha De Danann, who were the folk of the Goddess Danu.
The Goddess Morrigan had a number of battles with Cu Chulainn and although it wasn’t at her hand that the warrior died, she was involved in the event that led to his death
The Puca
The Puca is a mischievous little creature that’s often misunderstood as evil. Yes, the Puca can cause trouble and strife, but its interactions with humans have never lead to injury or death.
The Puca is one of many shape-shifters in Irish mythology and it has the ability to change its appearance with ease. Known to frequent quiet corners of rural Ireland, the Puca can bring either good or bad fortune.
One of the stories about the Puca that tends to be told quite a bit is how it takes on the appearance of a horse and waits outside pubs for people that have had one drink too many.
The Puca horse offers the person a lift home and, when they climb aboard, it takes them on a wild ride home, jumping over trees and through bushes, terrifying the person
The Children of Lir
Many years ago there lived a King called Lir who was the ruler of the Irish sea. The King was married to a woman named Eva and the couple had four kids. One day, when the kids were still little, their mother died.
Soon after, the King married Eva’s sister, Aoife. Aoife was very fond of the kids at the start, but this changed. She quickly became jealous of the time that her husband spent with his kids.
Aoife soon reached breaking point and she came up with an evil plan. She decided that she would cast a spell that would transform the kids into swans for 900 years.
300 years were to be spent on Lake Derravaragh. Another 300 years were to be spent on the Sea of Moyle. And the final 300 were to be spent on the Island of Inish Glora
The Legend of the Banshee
The story of the Banshee terrified me as a child. My dad used to say that there was one living down my Nan’s back garden, and I’d always be nervous about seeing it.
Now, depending on who you speak to, Banshees take on different forms. Some say that it’s a spirit, others describe it as a fairy, of sorts. I’ve also heard it described as a ragged old woman with wild hair.
The scream of a Banshee is believed to be an omen of death. According to legend, if a person hears the scream ring out, one of their family is set to pass away shortly.
But are Banshees real? Well, there’s definitely a very clear link behind this myth and reality, and it comes in the form of the ‘Keening Woman’
The leprechauns – the most famous little people
Leprechauns or “Leath bhrògan” are the cultural symbol of Ireland, with their names translated from ‘shoemaker’. They were said to roam Ireland before humans, with a unique hat and red hair.
In oral tradition, it is still said that you can find their pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, so if you visit Ireland, be sure to have a look. Be careful though, leprechauns may look friendly, but they are not to be trusted.
These little people have been immortalized through famous stories, such as the Disney classic, Darby O’Gill and the Little People.
Macha, Goddess of the Horses – one of the best myths and legends from Irish folklore
An old Irish legend of Ulster tells of Macha, a mysterious woman rumored to be magic, who was forced to run against the king’s horses while pregnant to pay for her husband’s crimes.
The pain she suffered caused her to cast a curse on the men of the town, who were said to suffer labour pains for nine decades following. She is often associated with Navan Fort in County Armagh.
The Dullahan – the terrifying tale of the headless horseman
This fairy is known in Irish mythology and folklore as a headless rider on a black horse, carrying their head in their arm.
He was said to ride fast through the counties of Down and Sligo, and if he suddenly stopped, it meant that someone in the community was due to die.
This legend gave inspiration for the character in Sleepy Hollow, played by Johnny Depp.
Now you’re equipped with knowledge of myths and legends from Irish folklore, you are safe to wander through the most rural parts of Ireland.
As the Irish emigrated throughout the world, they brought Irish mythology with them. They soon became one of the greatest storytelling countries in the world.
Dream of Aengus
Aengus was the son of the gods, the Dagda and Boann. Boann was the wife of Nechtan at the time and had a secret affair that led to the conception of Aengus. To prevent this secret from getting out, the Dagda cast a spell making the sun stand still for nine months. This meant Aengus was effectively conceived and born within one day.
When Aengus grew up and returned home he discovered that The Dagda (his true father) has shared all the land between his 4 brothers who are legitimate leaving nothing for him. Aengus is furious and plays a trick to take away the Dagda’s home of Brú na Bóinn (Newgrange) which is now famous for its passage tombs.
The Abhartach
It was Patrick Weston Joyce who first named the Abhartach in his book The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places. The book contains a story about a place in Derry called Slaughtaverty. It was here where, many years ago, an evil dwarf that possessed magical powers lived.
There is a place in the parish of Errigal in Londonderry, called Slaghtaverty, but it ought to have been called Laghtaverty, the laght or sepulchral monument of the abhartach [avartagh] or dwarf. This dwarf was a magician, and a dreadful tyrant, and after having perpetrated great cruelties on the people he was at last vanquished and slain by a neighbouring chieftain; some say by Fionn Mac Cumhail. He was buried in a standing posture, but the very next day he appeared in his old haunts, more cruel and vigorous than ever. And the chief slew him a second time and buried him as before, but again he escaped from the grave, and spread terror through the whole country. The chief then consulted a druid, and according to his directions, he slew the dwarf a third time, and buried him in the same place, with his head downwards; which subdued his magical power, so that he never again appeared on earth. The laght raised over the dwarf is still there, and you may hear the legend with much detail from the natives of the place, one of whom told it to me.
— Joyce, The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places
That's All She Wrote
Laura Melkonian
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