From the aos sí and the banshee to the dobhar-chú and Balor of the Evil Eye: 23 Irish mythological creatures, grouped by type, with their Irish names, a plain way to say each one, and an honest look at which stories are old and which are modern inventions.
A changeling in Irish folklore was a fairy left in place of a stolen child or young wife. Here are the signs people looked for and the harsh “cures” they tried. Then comes the true story of Bridget Cleary, killed by her husband in Tipperary in 1895, and how the belief is explained today.
Ireland’s vampire, Abhartach, was first printed in full in 1869, and he never drank a drop of blood. Here’s what the old sources really say about him and the Dearg Due, and how a Dublin civil servant called Bram Stoker came up with Dracula.
The púca, or pooka, is Ireland’s great shape-shifter: a black horse, a horned goat, a red bull, even a fleece of wool. Here are the real recorded stories, from wild night rides to the Halloween blackberry rule, plus Harvey, Carrigaphooca Castle in Cork and the Púca Festival 2026.
The Dullahan is Ireland’s headless horseman, a rider carrying his own head or a coachman driving the death coach. Here’s what the old sources from Cork to Clare say, and which bits the internet made up, like gold and the spine whip.
The Cat Sìth is the black fairy cat of Highland folklore, with Irish cousins. Here’s what the oldest source really says, where the soul-stealing and Samhain milk stories came from, and how a witch’s ninth change may have given cats nine lives.
Valentine’s Day has always been a time for romance, but how did Dubliners celebrate it over 40 years ago? Thanks to a fascinating archive video from 1983, we can take …
The banshee, or bean sí, is the woman of the fairy mound who keens before a death in certain Irish families. Here is what the old sources and the Schools’ Collection actually say about her cry, her comb, the O’s and Macs, a Cork rector in the 1700s, and The Banshees of Inisherin.
Grace O’Malley, known in Irish as Gráinne Mhaol, is one of the most intriguing and resilient figures in Irish history. Born in 1530 in County Mayo, she became a powerful …
Are you staring at a blank Valentine’s Day card, looking for the best Valentine’s Day messages for your partner? Don’t worry, we have all been there. You want to express …
“May The Road Rise Up To Meet You” is a phrase you likely have heard in a pub or perhaps even from a fellow Irishman or Irishwoman. The phrase is …
Since I am on the theme of Selkie’s for this week’s weekly dose of Irish. I thought, why not include one of the most famous poems(ballads) on Selkies? “The Great …
Have you ever stood on a windswept Irish cliff, gazing out at the endless sea, and felt a story brewing in the air around you? Well, you’re not alone. And …
Each of these books about Cú Chulainn contributes to the multifaceted portrayal of Cú Chulainn, highlighting different aspects of his character and the world he inhabited. When I originally shared …
Irish mythology is not something I have covered much on Irish Around The World. But I thought there was no better time to start than today. And what better way …