What is Imbas Forosna

In our recent series of articles (Pseudohistory and the Lore of the Master Poets) we considered how Irish pseudohistory was developed and shaped both by the filí and the monastic clerics of medieval Ireland. We discussed how the filí were able to use a method on how to mentally retain all the names, personalities and

Ag Damhsa ag an gCrosbhóthar i mí Lúnasa

Dancing at the crossroads in August In olden times (yes, I did attend such a chéileadh as a child with my grandparents. I’m middle-aged not old), rural Ireland had a small gathering celebration at August weekends in the evening at crossroads. It was a tradition where families would meet with other ones at crossroads that

An Gréine, an Tarbh, an Foladh, agus an Fómhair.

The Sun, the Bull, the Blood, and the Harvest. It is generally accepted as a common belief that Lughnasadh is the beginning of the Harvest and the festivities associated with this time of year. Andrew Gibbons already posted this today especially on Lugh Lamhfáda’s foster mother, an Tailitú, which is in nearly everyone of the

Áenach Tailteann and Lughnasadh

Tailtiu was the daughter of the king of Spain. She married Eochaid, of the Fir Bolg who became High King of Ireland when he overthrew Fodbgen. He was the first king to establish a system of justice in Ireland. During his reign no rain fell over the land, but there was dew and a harvest

The Way Ahead

Sean and myself have been looking at the success of the Order of Celtic Wolves and it is indeed something to celebrate. Sometimes, though, you have to look at what works for our members and what doesn’t. Then evaluate what direction we go in. This is a natural process and, indeed, as time goes own,

The Celts – Part 1 – Introduction

Many see the Celts as a ancient civilisation. Indeed, a lot of our Celtic culture has been lost because of invasions by Romans, Anglo Saxons, Vikings and Normans. Recent genealogy has discovered that a major part of genetic pool now in Britain is Anglo Saxon. Quote from article: – “The majority of eastern, central and

An Scéal a Trí Sliabh

A Tale of Three Mountains “Some paths are easier than others, but if you take the mountain path you get a better view.” Filtiarn the Druid. Sliabh a hAon I recently took up the challenge for cycling 300km within the month of July for Vision Sports which is a division of the National Council for

The Bards

Of all the roles in Celtic society we know most about the Bard. This is because Bardic schools continued in Ireland and Gaelic Scotland to the middle of the seventeenth century. Julius Caesar mentions large schools run by druids for the youth of Celtic Gaul in the first century BCE. However, we know little or

Irish Pseudohistory and Lore of the Master Poets Part 6

As a form of hangover of the outmoded idea that the filid were ‘Christian druids’, a phrase to guarantee so called experts to come out of the woodwork, there is a tendency to imagine that the order of professional poets and men of learning remained basically the same between the 6th and 11th Centuries. Scholars

What is a Vate?

Vates is a Latin word denoting seers, prophets, soothsayers, diviners and fortune tellers. According to the Ancient Greek writers Strabo, Diodorus Siculus and Poseidonius, the Vates (οὐάτεις) were one of three classes of Celtic priesthood, the other two being the Druids and the Bards. As previously discussed, the Vates performed sacrifices under the authority of