Samhain is the first of four cross-quarter celebrations which occur at exact mid-points between the equinoxes and the solstices, marking the arrival of Winter (Samhain), Spring (Imbolc), Summer (Bealtaine) and Autumn (Lughnasa) respectively. All these traditional festivals have corresponding Christian celebrations. In early November, at the time of Samhain, All […]

In the 1930s, school children across the Irish State were tasked by the Irish Folklore Commission with collecting local lore. With Halloween around the corner, Pauline Murphy treats us to some of the spookier stories submitted by schoolchildren in West Cork.   In his story, John Shorten, 13, from Curravarahane […]

The eagerly-anticipated Leap Scarecrow Festival returns this year, running from October 21 to November 3. Renowned for its one-of-a-kind scarecrow competition, this annual event, attracts visitors from far and wide who come to enjoy the weekend of Halloween-themed fun, creativity and community spirit. The scarecrow displays, ranging from hilarious to […]

Varicose eczema is often called stasis dermatitis, gravity eczema, or venous eczema. It is a skin condition that primarily affects people who have varicose veins in their lower legs. Unlike arteries, veins lack a self-pumping system. Instead, they rely on muscle contractions and other mechanisms to help return blood to […]

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