The earliest evidence of horses in Ireland dates to about 2000 B.C. from bones found in Newgrange, Co. Meath.  In early Ireland the Brehon Laws generally make a distinction between two different types of horses: a work pony or ‘capall’ for farmwork, and a larger more prestigious horse or ‘ech’ […]

Bealtaine is the name in Irish, Scottish-Gaelic and Manx mythology for the seasonal feast at May 1. At the end of the dark half of the year, Bealtaine is a survival of one of the four great Celtic calendar feasts, known in early Ireland as ‘Imbolc’ (February 1), ‘Lughnasa’ (August […]

Ní hé lá na báistí lá na bpáistí (the day of rain is not the day of children). Anyone who has ever tried to entertain young children when it is too wet to go outside – especially on holidays – will appreciate the accuracy of this proverb. There is hardly […]

Ciarán was born in 352 on Cape Clear Island off the coast of West Cork. His mother was Liadhain who was of the Corcalee tribe of West Cork (the main sept being the O’Driscolls), while his father was Lughaidh of  Ossory (Co. Offaly) which was also part of the Corcalee […]

Cattle have been domesticated in Ireland since the fourth millennium B.C. They were of paramount importance in Irish society, which is reflected in medieval stories concerning cattle and cattle raiding.  The celebrated brown bull of Ulster lies at the heart of the tale of the ‘Táin Bó Cuailgne’, which led […]