Oíche Shamhna / Hallowe’en
Ceiliúrtar Oíche Shamhna ar an 31 Deireadh Fómhair / Hallowe'en is celebrated on Oct 31st.
Three Scary Figures from Irish Folklore
While the typical Halloween images of witches, skeletons and zombies may seem fairly mundane to us now, those in Ancient Ireland believed themselves t…
The Irish Origins of Hallowe’en
Dressing up, trick-or-treating, bonfires…Hallowe’en (Oíche Shamhna in Irish) is an unusual but beloved holiday. Because of its prevalence in the United States (although it is…
The History of the Jack-O-Lantern
What's the history behind the Jack-O-Lantern ('Seán na Gealaí'), and the carving up of pumpkins every Hallowe'en season?
Member Profile: Jim Best
Growing up, I spent a lot of time with my Irish-born grandparents and uncle. I was raised to be proud of my Irish heritage. Up until a couple of years…
An Bhean Sí – the Story of the Banshee in Irish Folklore
This mystical female image has been a part of Irish culture for many centuries, with the oldest surviving account tracing back to 1380. Translating as…
Figuring out the Gender of Irish nouns – Using the Definite Article
Unlike in English, it is very important to know whether a noun in Irish is masculine or feminine. Fortunately, when we have the word ‘the’ (the de…
