Celtic Myth & legend

Mystery of Scotland's Ancient Callanish Standing Stones

Clannish standing stones

All around the Celtic world there are many cairns, stone circles, standing stones and carvings in rock dating from prehistory before the time of written records. Ancient stones and tombs placed in a way that look to the stars and capture moments of astronomical importance. The rising and setting of the sun and moon during the summer and winter equinoxes. According to archaeologists the ancient Irish were the first to record a solar eclipse 5,354 years ago. A geometric etching illustrating the eclipse is thought to lie inside the Cairn L. This is one of the two large focal monuments on Cairnbane West outside Kells in Ireland’s County Meath. The carving of concentric circles and lines is at the back of the chamber of the cairn.

Manx Fairy Tale by Sophia Morrison: Yn Dooinney-Marrey (The Merman of the Sea)

Manx coastSophie Morrison's Manx Fairy Tales, first published in 1911, relates stories that had been collected from ordinary people in the Isle of Man, including a unique story about a merman.

There is an excellent contemporary edition edited by Bob Carswell, published by Lily Publications Ltd for Manx Heritage Foundation in 2013. Well worth getting.

Sophia Morrison’s Manx Fairy Tales: The story of Baron Kitterland whose reckless behaviour was stopped by the wise Manx Witch

Sophia Morrison

The Manx nation has a rich cultural heritage and folklore. The Celtic myths, legends, traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of the Isle of Man (Mannin) have been passed from generation to generation, much of it through oral tradition. The importance of folklore to a nation should not be underestimated. It encompasses the traditions common to that culture and shared by its people.

Many entities exist in Manx mythology. Creatures that can rise from the rivers and the sea, emerge from cavernous depths and spring out of rocks. Variations of stories featuring each of these mysterious beings have been told on the Isle of Man for many centuries.

Sophia Morrison (24 May 1859 – 14 January 1917) was a Manx cultural activist, folklore collector and author. She saw the importance of what it meant to be Manx and helped record and identify the different features that make up Manx culture. In Preface to Manx Proverbs and Sayings, 1905, which she co-authored with Carl Roeder, Sophia Morrison wrote:

Weeping ghost of Ardvreck Castle, Loch Assynt, once betrothed to the Devil

Ardvreck Castle

There is an air of mystery about Loch Assynt (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Asaint) in Sutherland, Scotland. A freshwater loch, it lies in a spectacularly beautiful setting surrounded by the mountains in the area of Assynt. Noted for its wonderful landscape its has, along with neighbouring Coigach, been designated as the Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area (NSA). NSA's are areas in Scotland identified for their exceptional scenery with a conservation designation that protects them from inappropriate development. Loch Assynt is beautiful and takes its mood from the many changes in weather conditions that take place in this part of Scotland. Sometimes the water is still, calm and like a mirror, reflecting the magnificent surrounding snow capped mountains. At times the waters are whipped up by the winds that sweep down the hillsides. At its most mysterious it is shrouded by a mist that swirls over the flat surface of the Loch. Where every sound; some that can be identified and others that can't, echo around the water's edge. It is the type of setting that is ripe for stimulating the imagination.

Robert Kirk "The Fairy Minister"

Man surrounded by fairy folk

Aberfoyle (Scottish Gaelic: Obar Phuill) is a village that lies inside the Lomond & Trossachs National Park (Scottish Gaelic: Pàirc Nàiseanta Loch Laomainn is nan Tròisichean). Seen as a gateway to the Trossachs, Aberfoyle is situated on the River Forth (Abhainn Dubh) at the foot of Craigmore. Loch Ard (Loch na h-Àirde) , Loch Chon, Loch Arklet and Loch Lomond (Loch Laomainnare) to the West, Loch Katrine (Loch Ceiteirein), Loch Achray and Loch Venachar (Loch Bheannchair) to the North and the Lake of Menteith (Loch Innis Mo Cholmaig), to the East. The village is an attractive place to visit with a number of connections to historical figures. One of the most famous being the Reverend Robert Kirk, 

Robert Kirk (9 December 1644 – 14 May 1692) was a minister, Gaelic scholar and folklorist. He was the seventh son of the minister of Aberfoyle. He went on to study theology and eventually became minister of Aberfoyle, from 1685 until his death in 1692. He is noted for providing the first translation to Gaelic of the book of Psalms, published at Edinburgh in 1684 as Psalma Dhaibhidh an Meadrachd, &c. He also helped in one of the first publications of the bible into Scottish Gaelic. However, it was for another work, The Secret Commonwealth, and the stories that surround his death that he is now best remembered. Robert Kirk had an interest in the supernatural, fairies, folk beliefs, second sight and traditional stories and beliefs held by the people of the Scottish Highlands. He collected and wrote about these tales in around 1691, although his work was not published in his lifetime. They were released by Scottish author Walter Scott in 1815, then later a second edition was published in 1893, under the title The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns and Fairies.

The Celtic Origins of Halloween

Halloween is a festival that falls on October 31st and is now celebrated in many parts of the world. A night of bonfires, hollowed out turnips and pumpkins lit with candles highlighting carved gruesome images, an association with ghosts, the supernatural and the dead. People dressed in costumes often depicting figures of horror taken from fiction and film derived from the genre of Gothic horror. The origins of this popular celebration of all things macabre can be traced to the Celtic festival of Samhain. It is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals, along with Imbolc or Imbolg; Bealtaine  (Irish: Lá Bealtaine; Scottish Gaelic Là Bealltainn; Manx Gaelic Laa Boaltinn/Boaldyn); and Lughnasadh or Lughnasa (Irish: Lúnasa, in Scottish Gaelic: Lùnastal, Manx: Luanistyn). Historically, Samhain is widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. Similar festivals are held at the same time of year in other Celtic lands; for example the Calan Gaeaf (in Wales), Kalan Gwav (in Cornwall), and Kalan Goañv (in Brittany).

Halloween Poem by Scotland’s Robert Burns

Halloween in Scotland has its roots in Celtic pagan tradition. This old Celtic New Year celebration of Samhuinn (Scottish Gaelic) starts on the eve of 31st October when witches, fairies  and the spirits of the dead roam the countryside. The poem below was written by Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns (25 January 1759-21 July 1796)

Upon that night, when fairies light
On Cassilis Downans dance,
Or owre the lays, in splendid blaze,
On sprightly coursers prance;
Or for Colean the route is ta'en,
Beneath the moon's pale beams;
There, up the cove, to stray and rove,
Among the rocks and streams
To sport that night.

The Deer's Cry and Its Link to Animism and Shapeshifting in Celtic Mythology

Celtic deer design

Celts had and continue to hold a great respect for the environment. Nature, the elements and the other creatures which share their land and sea held a sacred significance. Animals and birds were vital to everyday life and well-being and they feature in art, literature, rituals and religious beliefs. Our landscape, geographic location and wildlife has played a pivotal role in our history, beliefs and recognition of ourselves. For our culture tells us that we are part of and completely tied to the lands in which we live or from where we came. Pre-Christian Celtic beliefs perceived the presence of the supernatural in every mountain, river, coastal feature, spring, loch, marsh, tree and rock formation. All had their own spirit and life force that were integral to, and interwoven with, the material world. Humans formed just one part of this understanding of an interlinked world. Given this strong link with nature, it is not difficult to see why the idea of shapeshifting, the ability of a being or creature to transform its physical form or shape was also widespread in Celtic mythology and folklore.

Magnificent Horse of the Celtic Gods - ‘Enbarr of the Flowing Mane’

Horses hold a special place in Celtic mythology and there are many examples of where they take on religious significance in Celtic legend. There are few, though, that are as magnificent as the horse known as Enbarr; some alternate name spellings are Aenbharr, Aonbharr and Énbarr. Described as Enbarr of the Flowing Mane, this horse is associated with the great Celtic Sea god Manannán mac Lir. He features in Irish, Scottish and Manx mythology and is Cognate with Manawydan fab Llŷr in Wales. Manannán is closely associated with the Isle of Man (Mannin) and it is from him that the Island derives its name. He is referred to as the first ruler of Mannin and ceremonies continue to be held on the Island in his honour. His role as a god of the Tuatha Dé Danann (Tuatha Dé) is recounted in many Celtic stories.

Stories of the Tuatha Dé have been told through medieval Irish literature which were based on much earlier tales handed down through oral traditions of storytelling. Manannán was known to have been a great magician and was in possession of a number of enchanted items with astounding magical powers. However, there is little to match his magnificent horse Enbarr of the Flowing Mane. This beautiful pure white horse could travel like the wind over land and sea.  Manannán lent Enbarr, along with other of his magical possessions to his foster son Lugh, who fought battles for the Tuatha Dé Danann in Ireland. Lugh is an important god of Irish mythology. He was sent to the Isle of Man as a boy to be schooled by Manannán in many skills and to become a great warrior. Manannán had him trained with his own sons in the use of arms, and he learned to hunt and to fish, to run and to swim. He grew tall and strong and brave. However, the time came, with his people the Tuatha Dé engaged in war in Ireland, for him to return home. Important in his quest was his magnificent Enbarr.

Bunworth’s Banshee

Bunworth's Banshee

The story of the Reverend Charles Bunworth and the Banshee took place in Buttevant, County Cork, Ireland in the eighteenth century. The Reverend was a much respected man in the area and admired as an accomplished harpist. When he became ill local people became concerned. This was a concern that was heightened, not by the immediate prognosis of his illness, which was not thought to be terminal, but the strange events that took place in the area prior to his demise.

A servant of the household reported to the concerned family of Reverend Bunworth that he had heard the wailing of a banshee. He described how the woman had wailed and moaned and clapped her hands in despair, repeating the Reverend’s name. Local people knew that this could only mean one thing. For the banshee was known to all as the lone female figure whose cries of despair herald an impending death.

Pages

Subscribe to Celtic Myth & legend