Trees of life or trees of death? Learn the role of sacred trees in Celtic culture—in Ireland and beyond
Category Archives: Definitions
What Is the Celtic Otherworld? Tír na nÓg (and Other Fairy Realms) Explained
A deep dive into the different Otherworlds of the Irish myths and how the Celtic doctrines of immortality and transmigration make them possible
The Green Knight’s Irish Origins: How Bricriu’s Feast Inspired the Arthurian Legend
Did the Ulster Cycle tale, Fled Bricrenn (Bricriu’s Feast), inspire the Arthurian legend Sir Gawain and the Green Knight?
Does Cernunnos (or an Equivalent Horned God) Appear in Irish Mythology?
He’s the most recognizable Celtic deity. But does the horned god Cernunnos have an Irish equivalent?
A Fir Bolg Fort in Clew Bay?
An Irish archaeologist recently uncovered the ruins of a stone fort in Clew Bay. Is it connected to the mythological Fir Bolg?
Samhain Explained: The Celtic Origins of All Your Favorite Halloween Traditions [Video]
Learn the history, geography, and archaeology behind the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain and how it evolved into Halloween
Differences Between Irish and Celtic Mythology
No, they’re not the same thing. But Irish mythology and Celtic mythology are related—uncovering how may reveal even bigger truths about these two storytelling traditions.
Is The Banshees of Inisherin Based on Irish Mythology?
Uncover potential hidden references to Irish mythology and folklore in the award-winning 2022 Irish film The Banshees of Inisherin
Whom Do Banshees Visit? Visitation Rites of the Banshee [Video]
Whom do banshees visit? Which families do they haunt? Turns out Irish folklore severely limits which households banshees can hover over and howl by.
Physical and Sonic Characteristics of the Banshee [Video]
What do banshees look like? What do banshees sound like? While pop culture interpretations of the banshee typically paint her as a grotesque, shrieking she-demon, Irish folklore tells a much more nuanced story.