Knowra Irish folklore Irish folklore Irish folklore comprises traditional stories, beliefs, customs, and oral narratives transmitted across generations in Ireland. It includes mythic cycles, fairy traditions, local legends, and practices tied to seasonal life.
Sídhe : In Irish tradition, the sídhe are supernatural beings associated with ancient mounds and a hidden otherworld. They are central figures in stories about the otherworld and encounters between humans and spirits.
Lebor Gabála Érenn : A medieval Irish text recounting successive legendary invasions and settlements of Ireland. It is a major written source for stories explaining Ireland’s mythical origins.
Ogham : Ogham is an early medieval alphabet used mainly for inscriptions on stone in Ireland and western Britain. Its inscriptions offer early evidence for the language and names behind later Irish traditions.
Irish calendar customs : Irish calendar customs are traditional practices associated with recurring dates and seasons, including feasts, work, and protection rituals. They show how inherited beliefs shaped ordinary community life through the year.
Irish Literary Revival : The Irish Literary Revival was a late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century movement that renewed interest in Irish language, legends, and literature. Writers drew on folklore to fashion a modern literary culture and national identity.
Irish mythology : The mythic narratives of Ireland, including stories of gods, heroes, invasions, and the formation of the land. Its cycles preserve Ireland’s best-known narrative traditions within the broader body of folklore.
Ulster Cycle : A group of medieval Irish tales centered on the heroes and kingdoms of Ulster, including Cú Chulainn. Its heroic narratives are among the most influential strands of Irish storytelling.
Lebor na hUidre : Lebor na hUidre is the oldest surviving Irish manuscript, compiled around the turn of the twelfth century. It preserves important early versions of Irish tales that had circulated through oral tradition.
Bealtaine : Bealtaine is a Gaelic festival marking the beginning of summer, traditionally observed around May 1. Its fires, protective rites, and other customs link seasonal change with supernatural belief.
W. B. Yeats : W. B. Yeats was an Irish poet and playwright who collected and adapted Irish folklore in his literary work. His writings made supernatural traditions part of an influential vision of Irish culture.
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