Masks and black plastic bags: how we used to celebrate Halloween Despite being associated with the supernatural, Irish people traditionally saw Halloween as a night for fun and games Halloween • 23 Oct
Masks and black plastic bags: how we used to celebrate Halloween Despite being associated with the supernatural, Irish people traditionally saw Halloween as a night for fun and games Halloween • 23 Oct
The Halloween games Irish children used to play How did the grandparents and great-grandparents of Ireland's children today celebrate Halloween in times gone by? Halloween • 23 Oct
The Halloween games Irish children used to play How did the grandparents and great-grandparents of Ireland's children today celebrate Halloween in times gone by? Halloween • 23 Oct
A visit from the púca: tales of the supernatural at Halloween Oíche Shamhna was a night associated with tales about púca and other supernatural beings making merry in this world Folklore • 23 Oct
A visit from the púca: tales of the supernatural at Halloween Oíche Shamhna was a night associated with tales about púca and other supernatural beings making merry in this world Folklore • 23 Oct
The tale of Elizabeth Sawyer, executed for witchcraft in 1621 The Witch of Edmonton offers a socio-economic commentary on the hypocritical and gendered roots of the witch phenomenon Witchcraft • 20 Oct
The tale of Elizabeth Sawyer, executed for witchcraft in 1621 The Witch of Edmonton offers a socio-economic commentary on the hypocritical and gendered roots of the witch phenomenon Witchcraft • 20 Oct
"Darkest Ireland" and the burning of Bridget Cleary The criminal trial following the 1895 torture and murder of the Tipperary woman was a media sensation home and away. Folklore • 13 Oct
"Darkest Ireland" and the burning of Bridget Cleary The criminal trial following the 1895 torture and murder of the Tipperary woman was a media sensation home and away. Folklore • 13 Oct
Does the road to hell begin in Cork? How one man's drink-induced unconscious trip in 12th century Cork reshaped how the Western world imagines eternal damnation Folklore • 08 Oct
Does the road to hell begin in Cork? How one man's drink-induced unconscious trip in 12th century Cork reshaped how the Western world imagines eternal damnation Folklore • 08 Oct
All you need to know about the Autumn Equinox The Autumn Equinox and the festival of Michaelmas on September 29th mark the coming of the closure of the year Autumn Equinox • 23 Sep
All you need to know about the Autumn Equinox The Autumn Equinox and the festival of Michaelmas on September 29th mark the coming of the closure of the year Autumn Equinox • 23 Sep
A guide to piseogs, Ireland's sinister folk magic spells Piseogs were believed to be deliberately enacted with evil intent and came with connotations of magic and voodoo Folklore • 17 Sep
A guide to piseogs, Ireland's sinister folk magic spells Piseogs were believed to be deliberately enacted with evil intent and came with connotations of magic and voodoo Folklore • 17 Sep
Why is the Child of Prague statue associated with Irish weddings? The general belief was that you should leave the statue outside under a bush the night before the wedding to ensure good weather Folklore • 11 Sep
Why is the Child of Prague statue associated with Irish weddings? The general belief was that you should leave the statue outside under a bush the night before the wedding to ensure good weather Folklore • 11 Sep
The darker side of Irish fairy belief Getting on the wrong side of a fairy could make or break your luck, health, livestock, home or fortune Folklore • 06 Sep
The darker side of Irish fairy belief Getting on the wrong side of a fairy could make or break your luck, health, livestock, home or fortune Folklore • 06 Sep
Are you scared of the Labubu doll? Memes, TikTok and anime collectors have turned the big-eyed doll from collectible toy to cursed object with a spooky back-story Labubu Doll • 25 Aug
Are you scared of the Labubu doll? Memes, TikTok and anime collectors have turned the big-eyed doll from collectible toy to cursed object with a spooky back-story Labubu Doll • 25 Aug
The stories behind Gleaning Sunday and Irish harvest customs There were many unique rituals and traditions associated with the harvesting of crops in Ireland at this time of year Folklore • 17 Aug
The stories behind Gleaning Sunday and Irish harvest customs There were many unique rituals and traditions associated with the harvesting of crops in Ireland at this time of year Folklore • 17 Aug
All you need to know about the blackberry season The blackberry is a plant of notable cultural significance in Ireland, not least in its ability to evoke emotional memories and nostalgia Food • 08 Aug
All you need to know about the blackberry season The blackberry is a plant of notable cultural significance in Ireland, not least in its ability to evoke emotional memories and nostalgia Food • 08 Aug
Why the last Sunday in July was celebrated in Ireland of old Known as Garland Sunday, Bilberry Sunday or Reek Sunday, it was a day to mark the end of Hungry July and anticipate the harvest to come Ireland • 27 Jul
Why the last Sunday in July was celebrated in Ireland of old Known as Garland Sunday, Bilberry Sunday or Reek Sunday, it was a day to mark the end of Hungry July and anticipate the harvest to come Ireland • 27 Jul
It's Bilberry Sunday this weekend but have you ever eaten one? The bilberry was an important feature of activities, games, food and entertainments associated with the festival of Lughnasa Food • 25 Jul
It's Bilberry Sunday this weekend but have you ever eaten one? The bilberry was an important feature of activities, games, food and entertainments associated with the festival of Lughnasa Food • 25 Jul
Inside the social networks behind Irish myths and legends Maths and network analysis can help to track connections between hundreds of characters in Irish mythology Folklore • 24 Jul
Inside the social networks behind Irish myths and legends Maths and network analysis can help to track connections between hundreds of characters in Irish mythology Folklore • 24 Jul
The legend of St Swithin and his July 15th weather forecast Saints, witches and sin all played a part in how our ancestors predicted the weather Weather • 15 Jul
The legend of St Swithin and his July 15th weather forecast Saints, witches and sin all played a part in how our ancestors predicted the weather Weather • 15 Jul
Why bonfires blaze across Ireland on June 23rd The sight of St John's Eve bonfires on hilltops still provides quite a spectacle and reminds us of a pivotal time in the calendar St John's Eve • 23 Jun
Why bonfires blaze across Ireland on June 23rd The sight of St John's Eve bonfires on hilltops still provides quite a spectacle and reminds us of a pivotal time in the calendar St John's Eve • 23 Jun
5 things you didn't know about the epic Book of Invasions The Lebor Gabála Érenn tells an epic origin story for Ireland and the Irish language through a series of mythical invasions Ireland • 14 May
5 things you didn't know about the epic Book of Invasions The Lebor Gabála Érenn tells an epic origin story for Ireland and the Irish language through a series of mythical invasions Ireland • 14 May
Fire, water, light and luck: Bealtaine traditions in Ireland Our ancestors engaged in a wide range of rites and rituals on May 1st which were believed to bring good luck Brainstorm • 01 May
Fire, water, light and luck: Bealtaine traditions in Ireland Our ancestors engaged in a wide range of rites and rituals on May 1st which were believed to bring good luck Brainstorm • 01 May
What food traditions were associated with May Day in Ireland? While Bealtaine may have had fewer foods associated with it than other festivals, milk, butter and eggs did feature highly Folklore • 01 May
What food traditions were associated with May Day in Ireland? While Bealtaine may have had fewer foods associated with it than other festivals, milk, butter and eggs did feature highly Folklore • 01 May
Are you going around collecting guggies for the clúdog at Easter? The clúdog tradition saw children in Ireland going door-to-door at Easter collecting eggs (or 'guggies') for an outdoor feast Easter • 20 Apr
Are you going around collecting guggies for the clúdog at Easter? The clúdog tradition saw children in Ireland going door-to-door at Easter collecting eggs (or 'guggies') for an outdoor feast Easter • 20 Apr
'Whipping the herring': how Easter was once celebrated in Ireland There were many traditions associated with Easter in Ireland, from a 'black fast' on Good Friday to 'cake dances' on Easter Sunday Easter • 17 Apr
'Whipping the herring': how Easter was once celebrated in Ireland There were many traditions associated with Easter in Ireland, from a 'black fast' on Good Friday to 'cake dances' on Easter Sunday Easter • 17 Apr
The superstitions and mysteries around Ireland's 'fairy forts' In the recent past in rural Ireland, many ringforts were associated with fairy activity and supernatural happenings Folklore • 16 Apr
The superstitions and mysteries around Ireland's 'fairy forts' In the recent past in rural Ireland, many ringforts were associated with fairy activity and supernatural happenings Folklore • 16 Apr
Why Patrick's Day early morning parades rule in Achill & Dingle These pre-dawn parades on St Patrick's Day show how important and integral the bands and traditions are to both communities st patricks day • 16 Mar
Why Patrick's Day early morning parades rule in Achill & Dingle These pre-dawn parades on St Patrick's Day show how important and integral the bands and traditions are to both communities st patricks day • 16 Mar
