Halloween is an Irish invention which has its roots in ancient Samhain. It marked the end of the harvest & was a portal between the Otherworld & ours. Let’s have a look at some of the aspects of the supernatural in the Celtic imagination (Boa Idol, Stowe Cludach & Fairy Tree) 
I’ve already written about the traditions of Samhain in this thread:
Up until the cataclysmic Irish famine Irish was the common tongue. In the Great Hunger (1845-52) over 1 million died, 2 Million emigrated & English became the common tongue. Thus the Victorian English of calling, what had been Deities (Aos Sí) - ‘fairies’ (Pic: Nuada, c1000BC)
In Ireland it’s likely you’ll hear of the Little People or tales of a farmer having had no luck since he demolished an ancient ring fort or cut down a Hawthorn when speaking to the natives - Irish ‘fairies’ are not cute, don’t have wings & are human sized (Pic: Paul Henry)
These Little People (a name derived from Changelings which were the size of children) are believed to be folk memory of the ancient Celtic Gods, who were associated with trees, woods, wells, rivers, rocks, objects & places. Ancient Irish stone head. (Iron Age)
A common tradition was that you never mentioned the word ‘fairy’ (you called them the good or noble people). You didn’t want to excite their malevolent attention. Offerings of the first milk or home brewed whiskey were left to them to keep them happy!
Across the Island are Sacred Trees - Bile (pronounced ‘Bill-eh’). Some are said to be healing & others had roles in demarcation, divination & identity. Many were appropriated by the early Christian Church & Celtic Gods turned to Christian Saints (Pic: Ballyshannon Rag Tree)
One role of a Bile was as symbol of a kingdom or people. (Similar to the American view of their flag). It was a grievous act to chop down a sacred tree & meant all out, no holds barred, war. There’s an interesting summary of such scenarios in the link: irisharchaeology.ie/2013/08/sacred…
Fairy trees or Hawthorns were associated with fertility & healing - the Church appropriated some as May Bushes & dedicated them to the Virgin - even hanging them with fertility symbols - eggs. (This was Bealtaine) Bad luck is said to haunt those foolish enough to attack them.
A number of trees are scattered across the country, termed Rag Trees. They are associated with healing & have articles of those who wish to be cured hung from their branches. They are often associated with holy wells or ancient (3-4th C) graveyards. Pic: 7 Blessed Wells, Offaly
There’s a fine example at St Brigid’s Well in Clondalkin. It’s healing powers were associated with eyesight & articles were dipped in the water, rubbed on the eye & hung from the tree. Again we have locus of Christianity, paganism, well & tree.
A feature of Sacred Trees was the power of prophecy or divination. A tree in the Midlands used to have coins pushed into it to ensure that the act would bring the migrant home (sadly it died of metal poisoning). The tree was beside a Relig circular shaped 3-4th C graveyard.
Sacred woods are mentioned in early medieval writings. These were places of sanctuary when people were attacked. We know of only one Daingean Choill (Fortress Wood) that survives & thats Reenadinna Yew Wood nr Killarney. It has an unearthly beauty
An early modern legend is that the English cut down the woods. This is not true. In fact the Hiberno-Celts cleared most of the forest for land & used timber for building, smelting, shipping & artefacts by about 700AD. Sophisticated metalwork needed wood - Ardagh Chalice 8th C AD
Fairy Forts or ring forts are strewn nationwide. These were Iron Age & later dwellings where the animals cd be brought inside, safe from wolves & raids. There are stories of the Little People associated with them (Main Pic: Grianán of Aileach, Inishowen, 1700BC)
Association of Liosanna (forts) with Celtic Gods may be due to ruling kings & queens deriving their lineage from a Deity (For instance the MacCarthys of Munster claimed descent from Aonghus of the Tuatha Dé Danann). Dún Aonghasa (1100BC), Inishmore carries that God’s name (Pic)
Fairy paths were said to lead between Fairy Forts & other sacred places. They were used by the Little People & subject to the same strictures against damage as Sacred Trees & Forts. Some have compared them to Ley Lines.
A Fairy rock was also called a Carraig Draíochta (Magical Rock). Pictured is a Fairy Mound of rocks from the Dublin Mountains. Local tradition is that the mound was occupied by the Little People. It is the collapsed remains of a Bronze Age Cairn or Tomb
The Banshee (Bean Sídhe - Otherworldly woman) was a supernatural death messenger who warned by wailing & combing her long hair. She cries for Gaelic families & may have been a Tuatha Dé Danann or Sovereignty Goddess (representing the land of Ireland)
The Púca was a mischievous spirit who led travellers astray - sometimes as a black horse with red eyes. It seems to relate to Scandinavian tradition & became Puck in England. They were said to haunt bogland & wastes.
You can read a story associated with a Fairy Fort from the Folklore Commission here: irisharchaeology.ie/2015/06/a-fair…
Due to the ongoing tradition of respecting Fairy Forts & perceived bad luck in damaging them, many have survived to this day.
Due to the ongoing tradition of respecting Fairy Forts & perceived bad luck in damaging them, many have survived to this day.
You can also listen to an interview by Dr Jenny Butler (UCC) on the topic of religion & fairy lore in Ireland (its v informative!)
