Do leprechauns from Irish folklore look more like maniacal movie murderers or cheerful cereal mascots?
Category Archives: History
What Is a Leprechaun? The Folkloric Origins of Ireland’s Most Famous Fairy
Uncover the truth about leprechauns in this hard-hitting exposé on short, shoe-making, treasure-hoarding Irish fairies
Santa Claus Origins: Christian, Norse, or Celtic?
Did the Dagda, the father of the Irish gods, inspire St. Nick, Santa Claus, and Father Christmas? Uncover his potential Celtic origins
The Etymology of Tuatha Dé Danann
Dive into the debate about the divine status of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Spoiler alert: the etymology of their name just might be the key
Who Are the Tuatha Dé Danann? Demystifying the “God-Folk” of Irish Mythology
Are the Tuatha Dé Danann, the so-called gods and goddesses of Irish mythology, actual deities? Or are they “merely” superpowered humans?
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
A Treat for Horror Film Fans
Surely one of these Irish-made spine-tinglers will be the highlight of your Samhain movie night.
Druids, Death Deities, Samhain, and the Jack-o’-Lantern’s Irish Origins [End-of-Summer Update 2023]
Find out what Celtic concoctions have been a-bubblin’ of late in the IrishMyths cauldron. But readers beware—Samhain spirits are in the air.
Does Irish Mythology Prove That Cú Chulainn Was a Comet? [Cosmic Cú Chulainn Part 4]
What do Irish mythology and Arthurian legend tell us about the nature of comets? Are they associated with heroes, or villains?
Does History Support the Theory That Cú Chulainn Was a Comet? [Cosmic Cú Chulainn Part 3]
The documentary evidence we have from the 530s paints a grim picture of human existence. But was a comet to blame?