An Chailleach – The Witch
Have you heard about the mysterious character known as ‘An Chailleach’? Well, from the earliest times, An Chailleach has been venerated as a Mother Goddess of Ireland. She is associated with the creation of the landscape, the weather, the winds and the winter months. A complex character, neither fully good nor evil, An Chailleach is said to safeguard animals during the dark winter months, such as deer, and to have a particular affinity for black cats, wild cattle and goats.
‘Cailleach’, meaning ‘old woman’ or ‘hag’, comes from the Old Irish word ‘caillech‘, meaning ‘veiled one’. This word is the root of many other Irish words used to describe women, like ‘cailín’, meaning ‘girl’.
An Chailleach is the archetype of the old wise woman, grandmother to all and queen of the dark half of the year. Her veil extends over the land in winter, gently encouraging all beings whose time has come to make their final crossing in the spirit world, but also carrying the promise of eternal rebirth with the turning of the Sun’s wheel. Her name appears in various placenames throughout Ireland, reflecting the scope of her ancestral importance, including special sacred sites such as Sliabh na Calliagh, ‘the hill of the veiled one’, now referred to as Loughcrew Hills, in Co. Meath.
Speaking of Co. Meath, Tlachtga, now known as the Hill of Ward, is an important prehistoric site near the town of Athboy. This ancient hill, located 12 miles from the Hill of Tara, was used for feasting and ceremonies from the late Bronze Age (1200–500 BCE) through to the early medieval period. Archaeological excavations at Tlachtga suggest that a fire festival originated here on the eve of Samhain (Oíche Shamhna). It was customary to assemble here and to offer sacrifice to all the gods. Samhain marked the harvest and was a time of transition, with feasting and celebration as the long winter nights approached…
It’s fair to say that we are often reminded of An Chailleach around the time of Oíche Shamhna (Hallowe’en). Usually, we picture a witch with a broomstick, who makes potions and likely uses her powers in nefarious ways. However, An Chailleach is much more than that. She is a reminder of the wilder aspects of Nature that we often shy away from or have been taught to fear. These aspects are as important for the turning of the cycles as everything else in life that we hold dear.
Bígí páirteach!
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