#Celtic#MythologyMonday: `Tír na nÓg or the land of the young was one of Manannán’s realms, an island paradise of everlasting youth, beauty, joy and abundance. It was also called the Land of Promise or Tír Tairngire.
Legends speak of cities and fortresses made of jewels and precious metals, and houses thatched with the colourful feathers of exotic birds, and a bright plain of flowers humming with bees amid the forested wilderness.
Source: https://emeraldisle.ie/manannan-mac-lir
#Celtic#FolkloreSunday: The motions of the moon were used by the people of Ireland to predict their futures, if the #NewMoon was on its back that was a sure sign of rain but if it stood upright that was a sign of fine weather. If the new moon was pale with a ring around it, “súil circe ré” or the moon of the hen’s eye, that was a sign of rain.
Source: Under an Irish Moon (emeraldisle.ie)
#Celtic#FolkloreSunday: The eternal return of the moon was naturally something mysterious, there was a saying about the #NewMoon: “On the first night nobody sees it, on the second night the birds see it, and on the third night everybody sees it.”
Source: Under an Irish Moon (emeraldisle.ie)
#Celtic#FolkloreSunday: „When the #NewMoon first appeared, people would bless themselves and say “Go mbeí mis seo and tam seo arís” and wish for something, and it might just come true.“
Source: Under an Irish Moon (emeraldisle.ie)
#Celtic#FolkloreSunday: In the veneration of the #NewMoon for protection we can see the admixture of old pagan beliefs with Christianity. A seventeenth century German writer wrote: “The wild Irish have this custom, that when the moon is new they squat upon their knees and pray to the moon that it may leave them vigorous and healthy.
Source: Under an Irish Moon (emeraldisle.ie)
#Celtic#FolkloreSunday: Catching the first glimpse of a #NewMoon through glass was to suffer bad luck for the coming month, and worse yet if you happened to see it over your left shoulder! Whereas seeing it over the right shoulder was fine, similar to walking deiseal or clockwise around ancient stones when seeking a blessing. Should the moon pop out in front of you however you were due for a fall.
Source: Under an Irish Moon (emeraldisle.ie)
After their defeat by the Danann in the Second Battle of Moytura, some of the Fomori stole Uaithne and made off with it. They believed Uaithne was so powerful that its music could put the seasons in order, and even command the order of battle. The Dagda gave chase, and came upon them in their feasting hall. No-one had been able to play the #harp, for the Dagda had cast a #spell so that it answered only to him.#Celtic
Source: Ali Isaac | Substack https://twitter.com/MitologiaCelta/status/1505133602278887428
The Dagda encountered the black-winged Mórrigan at the River Unshin (Unius) in #Connacht, who was standing with one foot on each bank and washing the clothes of those about to be killed in the next day’s battle at Mag Tuired. True to form, when the Dagda saw the enormous goddess bending over the stream, he was overcome with desire and engaged her in intercourse. So satisfactory did she find their encounter that she agreed to support his side in the next day’s battle, singing her magical chants from the sidelines as the Tuatha Dé Danann fought their mortal enemies, the monstrous beings called the Fomorians, and finally drove them from #Ireland.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore https://twitter.com/starwheelastro/status/833432200112648193
The Dagda was a High King of the Denann. He was associated with Newgrange and the Winter Sun Standing, which is a reference to the position of the sun at the winter solstice. He could control the seasons with his magical oak harp, Uaithne. He was known to the ancient Irish people as ‘the Good God’ and ollathair, which means ‘all-father’, for his warrior-strength, protection, and generosity.#Celtic
Source: Ali Isaac | Substack https://x.com/IrishStoryTime/status/1386323664111472640
#FolkloreThursday for #WorldOceansDay: Sea captains were often born from the mating of the #Scottish Highland #Ceasg. This mermaid—half woman, half salmon—was also known as the maighdean na tuinne or “maiden of the wave.” Like other captured #faeries, she was said to grant wishes to her captor. But like any other seagoing siren, she was also capable of capturing humans, who usually lost their lives upon entering her watery domain.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore https://twitter.com/originsoflaoich/status/1494301676257357827?t=bMpvVKyS6DzIMqrs5wto1Q&s=09
#WorldOceansDay: #Fintan mac Bochra lived at least 5000 years after the Deluge, escaping it by turning into a salmon. When the water masses had receded, he turned into an eagle, then a hawk, afterwards into all the different animals of #Ireland and finally back to human form.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore
#FolkloreThursday for #WorldOceansDay: In the #Scottish#Hebrides the #mermaid did not sport a magical cap as in other lands. Instead she had a magical belt that had to be stolen to tame her. Her descendants were said to have the gift (or curse) of foreseeing who would die at sea.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore
As Baile Binnbhéarlach (“sweet-spoken Baile”), prince of #Ulster, traveled alone to a trysting place, a maleficent #fairy told the prince—falsely—that his lover was dead, whereupon he died of grief at Baile’s Strand, a seashore near today’s Dundalk. The spiteful sprite then carried the same story (sadly true this time) to Ailinn, a #Leinster princess, who also fell down dead of grief.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore https://twitter.com/hidden_grove/status/1580140668617641985
Created in the 1970s by Belfast artist Desmond Kinney, his fiery and spirited mosaic mural depicts a story of the ancient but enduring Irish myth of the tragic hero #CúChulain, and a story known as the “Táin Bó Cúailnge,” or “The Cattle-Raid of Cooley.” #Celtic
Source: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tain-bo-cuailnge-mosaic
#Conchobar lured #Deirdre and Noísiu back to #Ireland by vowing that he had lost interest in his bride. Noísiu, homesick, agreed to return. Despite premonitions of doom, Deirdre reluctantly agreed. Under an ominous blood-red cloud she sailed for Ireland with the three sons of Uisneach.
„Immediately upon landing, Noísiu and his brothers were set upon by Conchobar’s warriors, who killed them.“
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore
When #Conaire arrived at Da Derga’s hostel on the magical feast of #Samhain after breaking a series of sacred vows, he faced his doom within it. A hag came to him demanding entrance. When the king of Tara denied it, she stood on one leg like a crane and cursed him. Immediately, Conaire developed an all-consuming thirst, which no water from any source in #Ireland could quench, and died of it.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore https://x.com/eDIL_Dictionary/status/866639498586845184
#Celtic#MythologyMonday: According to legend, beneath the Ail na Mirean lies the Danann Goddess #Eriu, after whom the Milesians named #Ireland. She was the Mother Goddess of the land; the rocks formed her bones, the earth her flesh, the rivers her veins.
Source: Ali Isaac | Substack
#Celtic#MythologyMonday: Uisneach derives from the #Irish word for water, uisce, and a god of the Tuatha de Danann named Nechtan. Not a great deal is known about Nechtan; the name is possibly a variant of Nuada Argetlam, or some say another name for the Dagda. The Hill of #Uisneach is said to be located near Nechtan’s well, which also happens to be the source of the River Boyne. The interesting thing about Nechtan’s Well, is that it might also be the same pool where Fintan, the Salmon of Knowledge, ate the nuts which fell from the nine enchanted hazel trees into the water, and thus acquired his knowledge.
Source: Ali Isaac | Substack
#Celtic#MythologyMonday: King Tuathal Techtmar was supposed to have lived at #Uisneach in the first century AD, as was the Dagda, High King of the Tuatha de Denann before him. #Lugh Lamfháda was said to have been drowned in the lake at the summit which is named after him, and buried beneath a cairn beside it.
Source: Ali Isaac | Substack
#Celtic#FairyTaleTuesday: After the Beltaine-Festival, the herds were booleyed to lush mountain pastures, to remain there until Samhain, when they were driven home. “Girls tended the cows through the sweet summer days, living in rough huts called shielings, milking each morning, making butter and cheese, packing the produce into churns to bury in chilly bogs for safekeeping. It was a simple life, full of music, because it was believed that cows gave more milke when serenaded.”
Source: Patricia Monaghan The Red-Haired Girl From The Bog