I'm always so sad to hear that Irish folklore/mythology isn't really taught/talked about commonly in Ireland besides children's books and whatnot. I'm a huge mythology nerd and I've honestly found Irish folklore absolutely fascinating! It's dark, complex, and just captivating. There are so many cool gods and figures and the stories are epic! Honestly, after living here for a while and actually being able to see the amazing landscape/environment in person, it's no wonder that the ancient peoples were so inspired.
I know that most countries are usually kind of out of touch with their native mythology/folklore but I feel like Ireland has something really special that deserves so much more hype.
EDIT: @shanebtops has shared an AMAZING list of reliable and accurate resources in the comments, please check it out if you'd like to read more on the subject :)
Despite spending the first 18 year of my life on the island (the north, but still) I feel like I know next to nothing about Irish mythology. Does anyone know any good books, documentaries, websites etc?
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Videos, podcasts, articles of books, really anything will work. Thanks!
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Hey everyone, I’m getting ready to purchase some new books during the holidays and have been looking for book recommendations.
I really enjoy the fantasy genre, and absolutely loved books like Percy Jackson & The Olympians as a kid. Now that I’m an adult, I’d like to transition to more mature books but with similar themes. I’ve really enjoyed stories like Circe and Children of Blood & Bone, so I think I would like fantasy books that involve royal families, different mythologies, or different cultures. I also don’t mind YA books, as long as the writing is decent.
Bonus points if the book involves one any of the many African cultures or mythologies.
I'd love to hear any suggestions! TIA
I've the Táin but want something comprehensive. I saw Lady Gregory had a 'complete Irish Mythology' but it seems to be out of print. Any recommendations? Would prefer something faithful to the stories as opposed to a leprechaun-y book aimed at Irish Americans.
In Irish mythology, the Tuatha De Danann have a king, Nuada, but why do they consider him unfit to rule when he loses his arm? I've read about how an Irish king needs to be unblemished because he's linked to the land or something like that, but we're told nothing of the sort in the texts.
Also, what role is a king supposed to play among the Tuatha? The king is apparently so important to the Tuatha that they are ready to elect an individual who favours their enemies, Bres, to become the new king.
The mother of all demons, the Caorthannach is one of the greatest foes that St. Patricks was ever said to face. This demon was said to give birth to the devil himself, and for hundreds of years produced many off spring that caused havoc all across Ireland.
Her origin story is radical. When Earth was still forming, a swirling mass of vapors and rock, she was hatched from its molten core. From her birth, there was a need that wasn’t being met—she hungered and needed food for her demon spawn. So, she waited for us to come along, feeding our ancestors to her children (who often took the form of snakes).
In fact, the only way she was stopped was by Ireland’s patron saint, the famous St. Patrick. After a vision from Jesus, St. Patrick learned the location of Caorthannach’s lair beneath Lough Derg on Station Island. So, he climbed to the peak of Ox Mountain (Croagh Patrick) and prayed for the strength to beat her. God sent a whirlwind to eradicate her children but defeating her would take a little more from Patrick.
After days of battle, a long, thirsty chase and an ultimate, body-slamming banishment, our hero rose victorious, and the mother of demons was chased from the isle.
Follow @mecthology for more interesting and informative mythology and facts. DM for pic credit. https://www.instagram.com/p/CS8cuRSFrTj/?utm_medium=share_sheet
Hi everyone.
Does anybody know about a book about Irish mythology? I am hoping for something like Percy Jackson is to Greek mythology.
If there isn't a book like that, is there any other I can read to increase my knowledge on Irish mythology?
Thanks in advance!
This one's been bugging me for a few days; I don't remember exactly what stirred up my memory of the book in question. I believe I came across it at a used book store back in the mid- to late 90s or thereabouts, but I can't be certain.
What I do remember is this:
First off, it was a paperback book with a dark cover.
Secondly, it drew heavily on Irish mythology - particularly the conflict between the Tuatha de Danaan (I think that's how it's spelled?) and the Fomorians - for inspiration.
Thirdly, there was a Bronze Age civilization - or possibly a colony of such a civilization - caught in the crossfire between the two.
And most importantly:
A) both the Tuatha de Danaan and the Fomorians were portrayed as technologically advanced civilizations; the Fomorians, for example, were adept at chemical and biological warfare (which - if I remember correctly - was at least partly responsible for their monstrous appearance, due to the mutagenic effects of both the weapons themselves and the byproducts of their manufacturer), and
B) the depictions of some of the more advanced technology both sides used was colored by how a bronze-age society might have viewed them; a Fomorian citadel, for example, being guarded by "a great glowing red eye whose gaze burned everything it touched" (which could be interpreted as a powerful infrared laser being used against anyone deemed a threat to the citadel).
Any ideas what this book might have been called?
The wheel stopped on Irish Mythology Jump this time. That... well, Jack knew fuck all about Irish myth. Though... this would be the solution that, he supposed. A moment later he was once again faced with a long document full of numbers and beautiful, enticing words.
This time the build took longer, but he settled on it soon enough. He went all in on the blacksmith tree with the faerie race. Then he grabbed the human racial ability that was both anti-precognition and fate-breaking, and the evil eye formorian power. He also picked up the good immortal doggo.
His Pod friend took on the Fir Bolg race for their prophetic dreams of oncoming enemies and disasters and the Noble origin for its question-answering capstone, both so that it (now a she at Jack's request) may better advise him.
To pay for that, Jack took on some minor troubles (a cat's eye, losing some food to a spirit, a geas to eat nothing if meat is not a part of the meal, and a week of labor pains whenever it would be most inconvenient).
He locked his choices in, and the world faded to black.
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He got to work quickly upon arrival, and made himself some armor. Not just any armor though, he put his new logic-defying powers to work making the best that could be made. He started with a base of Sky Iron, added in his own divine blood, reinforced it with a warrior's determination, added some of Failinis' fur, quenched it with a gambler's victory tears, and polished with the sound of a maiden's first orgasm. All in all it took about two days to make, mostly due to Jack's need to find a warrior to take the determination from and a gambler to make cry. He and the newly-female Pod filled the last one, and after doing so Jack named her Cora. He then made her some similar armor, though it took a few hours longer because he had to find a new maiden to talk his way into the pants of (between 2Booty for looks, Gift of Gab for charisma, and looking fancy as fuck in his new armor, it didn't take long).
Next came weapons, which were even easier to make. He made himself a sword of death- again based in Sky Iron, he added a warrior's last breath, his divine blood, a the tears of a mother weeping for her murdered son, and quenched it in winter's icy chill. For Cora, he made a spear of the same
... keep reading on reddit ➡I was wondering if anyone knew of books about Irish mythology that haven’t been rewritten by modern authors? I often find Irish mythological books but in small writing “stories by _____” I’d love to find books on Irish mythological history that haven’t been revised. I’d love to learn about pagan, pre Christianity pantheon of gods and goddesses and their stories. From actual history, and not authors making their own version i guess? Any help would be appreciated:)
hey! i'm looking for any kind of game that draws on irish mythology or history, as you can probably tell from the title. I've always been interested in the folklore, and now that i'm trying to learn more about my heritage i would really love to play any games that are based on that. Kind of like god of war, but Celtic instead of Norse. i appreciate any recommendations anyone can give me!
Hi everyone! I'm a pagan witch who works with primarily Greek deities. But I am of Irish descent. And I just looking for some Irish folklore to read up on and gain some more knowledge on that aspect of my ethnicity. Tysm in advance!
Hey guys, I’m new here and I want to expand my knowledge on medievalism. Can you suggest me some books(voluminous or not) covering the Gaelic, Celtic and Irish mythology.
Any good ones out there? Thanks.
Im 32 and have being surprisingly ignorant of our celtic past aside from fairy bushes/forts/trees i know very little about our acual beliefs.
I was hoping to go on this journey of learning with my son an daughter its the main reason i asked for book recommendations but i am open to other sources too.
The "kindest" way I can sum up the fair folk of Britain.
........Now time to meet Cu's great-grandparents, I suppose.
>The Fomorians seem to have been gods who represent the harmful or destructive powers of nature; personifications of chaos, darkness, death, blight and drought.
.......But I'm sure the Fate versions are nicer than that description lets on.....
Hi! I’ve already posted in Irish History, but I would love more help. I’ve been finding more love for Irish history lately, more so Irish mythology history. More Pagan, pre Christianity mythology of our Irish pantheons. Anyone knew books about this? I’d love to learn more about our old culture and rituals and the history of our gods and goddesses. :) Their stories and so on, any help would be greatly appreciated:)
