For questions on the mythology and folklore of Ireland.
Questions tagged [irish]
33 questions
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What happened to the Fir Bolg after Ireland was conquered by the Tuatha Dé Danann?
In Irish mythology, Ireland was once inhabited by the Fir Bolg, who were descended from the earlier Muintir Nemid. The Fir Bolg were later defeated by another group of Nemed's descendants known as the Tuatha Dé Danann in the Battle of Cath Maige…
Semaphore
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What did Cuchulainn's warp spasm look like?
In the Táin Bó Cúailnge, or Cattle Raid of Cooley, the great Irish hero Cuchulainn is said to undergo a process which appears to be quite similar to "hulking out". The most colorful translation of the phrase used to describe this transformation is…
Wad Cheber
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Why would turning clothes inside-out keep the Faerie away?
A recurring theme in Irish stories about the Faerie is that they can be kept away by clothing turned inside-out. This (according to this particular Wikipedia source about Spriggans) is "as effective as holy water or iron in repelling fairies".
Holy…
Vixen Populi
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Why isn't Súaltam disabled by Macha's curse?
In the Táin Bó Cúailnge, the men of Ulster are disabled by a curse placed upon them by Macha to feel her labor pains in their hour of greatest need, thus disabling them when the army of Connacht attacks.
Cúchulainn is immune to the curse. I've…
femtoRgon
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Why isn't Loeg disabled by Macha's curse?
In the Táin Bó Cúailnge, the men of Ulster are disabled by a curse placed upon them by Macha to feel her labor pains in their hour of greatest need, thus disabling them when the army of Connacht attacks.
Cúchulainn is immune to this curse. As I…
femtoRgon
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Why did the Lli and Archen rivers flood, separating Ireland and Britain?
In the second branch of the Mabinogion, King Bendigeidfran and his men travel from Britain ("the Island of the Mighty", or Ynys Y Kedeirn), intent on avenging the punishment of his sister, Branwen, at the hands of the Irish (which takes place…
HDE 226868
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Are all Celtic Gods (Irish, Welsh, Scottish, and British) considered part of the same pantheon?
The term 'Celtic' means mythology from the British Isles, so are the gods from Irish, Welsh, and Scottish mythology all considered part of the same pantheon? For example, did people who believe in the Irish Celtic Goddess Morrigan also believe in…
Erich
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How Do The Fairies In Irish Mythology Spend Their Time
I have heard that they are "merrymaking and lovemaking" the entire time. But if there is someone more familiar with the lives of fairies, I would love to learn about their culture...at least some sources about it.
Lady F
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What reason, if any, is there for the exact number of men and women who went with Cesair to Ireland in the Lebor Gabála Érenn?
In the Book of Invasions Cesair flees Noah's flood to Ireland as a kind of matriarch of her fleet. The sources all agree there was an incredible sexual imbalance between men and women, with a total of three males and at least 36 females.…
Travis Smith of Bexar
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Symbolism of Irish characters with multiple pupils in each eye
Multiple translations of the Táin Bó Cúalnge describe Fedelm as having three pupils in each eye:
She had a blue-grey and laughing eye; each eye had three pupils.
(Dunn)
Each of her two eyes had three pupils.
(Faraday)
Why is that?
On a related…
user62
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Where are the three Maels of Meath?
The Tain fairly often specifies specific geographical locations as the settings for its events.
In the final battle of the Tain, Fergus is convinced to turn from the battle and expend his anger on the hills, to spare the men of Ulster.
Thus it was…
femtoRgon
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How could Cuchulainn yield to Fergus?
This is closely related to a previous question: Why couldn't Cuchulainn yield to Ferdiad (or vice versa)?
It seems clear from the answer there that Cuchulainn would be bound to fight to defend the men of Ulster, regardless of any affection for his…
femtoRgon
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Whence comes the association of Leprechauns with rainbows?
In the modern day, leprechauns are usually associated with a highly rigid depiction: wearing green, hat, buckled shoes, red beard, pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Some parts of this may come from stereotypes of Irish people (probably the…
Obie 2.0
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Why is it believed that characters from the Irish myth cycles were once gods?
I have a passing familiarity with some of the stories from Irish myth, at least in their translated form. One thing that has always puzzled me about these tales is the presumption among scholars that the characters represent gods. Yet the stories…
Bob Tway
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Is there any significance to Baile's Strand as the setting for Cúchulainn's duel with his son?
Particularly geographical, historical, folkloric or linguistic connections.
I certainly can't find any such location on the map although there are a few coastal towns in Ulster that begin with "Bally", an alternate spelling. Ballycastle, for…
DukeZhou
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