I was wondering if anyone had any insight into these creatures... I became interested in them on a recent trip to Ireland. In the rural areas there are often places of interest, such as "rings", strange rock formations, ruins left by ancient druids.
In the forest outside Blarney Castle, there is a "Fairy Glade". I'm not sure what these things are, and for all I know they could just be man made tourist traps, but I know the legends of these creatures go back many centuries.
Have there been any "leprechaun sightings" in recent years? Or "fairy sightings"?
Another creature of interest is the banshee... a strange ghostly woman who appears when someone is close to death... wailing and moaning.
Just thought I'd open a thread on this topic and see if anyone had any info...

The Celts are "the balls." Such spiritual beliefs and so in-tuned with Nature. No wonder that early Christianity found a safe haven in Ireland. Ireland, in fact, became the library of the gnostic and true original spiritualism of Christianity, while the remnants of the Roman Empire fell into the Dark Ages...
To give Celtic Ireland its due, you must research Wicca, Celtic, and early Christianity. The Romans were in awe of these people. Julius Caesar found it necessary to commit genocide in Gaul (Celtic France). The Celts fought - naked, covered in body paint, worshiping their gods of Nature. Awesome, awesome traditions. And great music, too. Listen to Gaelic/Celtic tunes...
BTW, Celtic is not Druid... Tolkien merges Celtic, Druid, and Germanic. But they are not one. Each has uniquely beautiful traditions - such is the beauty of mankind's changes in society and myth.

It had a big price though Celtic people were assimilated losing religion, language and heritage. there has been a revival but these days most people with Celtic roots don't even realise they have them. they consider themselves Anglo-Saxon ... sad

I haven't been there (UK and Ireland). I'm just going on things I hear on National Public Radio (NPR) and Celtic music I download from the web. It seems to me, though, that (IRA "terrorism" notwithstanding) Celts and Gaels know their origins, and maintain their language and belief structure through tradition and music. That's just my opinion.

There are millions in North America that haven't a clue.
Gaelic would have been extinct 200 years ago if it wasn't for a small persistent percentage in Ireland, Whales and Scotland (even in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland) that kept it alive

Let's hope they keep it going and teach it to their children!

I know in Kentucky and Virginia people will still talk of the Fey Folk. Also there are Faerie Crosses.

Well it's not the easiest language to learn (trust me lol ), but I think it's pretty safe from extinction now

I love the Blue Ridge in Virginia. And I've been to Kentucky and West Virginia, too. Beautiful places, and magical countryside. Fey folk would love the scenery...

Wow, this thread makes me sad. As much as we strive to preserve the cultural heritage of indigenous populations now, we have lost so much already.

Celtic history is indeed very rich, but also very romaticised today. The Celtic tribes of both europe and Britain were very fond of war, and based quite a bit of their culture around warfare. Further to this, apparantly in 390BC a Celtic tribe actually sacked Rome, but were driven back eventually.

Yes I have heard it mentioned before that Tolkien was actually very dissapointed with the history and mythology of Britain and so wrote Lord of the Rings to provide an alternative mythalogical account of Britain's history. I can't help thinking that if he had delved deeper into the origins and history of the Celtic tribes, he never would have written one of the most read books in the world.

Anyway an interesting, easy to read history of Celtic Europe.

http://www.le.ac.uk/ar/stj/conventional.htm

First of all I have read recently but not too recently that "faries" are still being observed in Northern Ireland and also a report of two children seeing a fairy beside a river there. Being of Irish heritage (Grandparents came from Ireland) and living in Kentucky I can literally tell you that reports of earthlights "fairies" as they are on every continent around the world are also seen here. There have been quite a few reports here even in the last ten years. Though I do entertain myself with other "unexplained mysteries" these lights are the one true reason that I ever happened to find this website. To end on an interesting note, just as many Irish immigrants decided to stay here, my grandparents too stayed here due to the landscape and it's similarities of their homes in Ireland.

I can speak a few words of gaelic, but their all rude. I do however know several people who speak it fluently.

I guess you are as fascinated by the Celts as I am lmbeharry. NPR does an awesome job when they report on their culture. Do you ever hear the shows The Thistle & Shamrock and World Music? Julius Caesar also wrote some interesting things about them even though it all cannot be trusted. It is very sad to think they once were spread throughout all of Europe, from Hibernia (Ireland) all the way to Galatia (within modern Turkey) but the Germanics, Romans, and others pushed them all back to three tiny corners of Europe, Galicia in Spain, Brittany in France, and Wales and Ireland in the UK. I always wondered how history would have turned out if the Celts had won for they more or less believed in the moon goddess and not the sun gods of war whom the Germanics and Romans drummed too.

I consider the Celts much like the Native Americans, for all the savagery their enemies accused them of, it was their enemies who were more savage. While they fought battled and dozens or maybe a hundred died. The true savages fought battles and thousands died at once. They also both treasured the land. So sad to see those periods of history end.

As far as the faerie the true faerie are not tiny winged people. Those are quite fascinating too though. The true faerie can look just like me or you. There are stories of people entering a strange house and they would be there, they would offer you food and drink, but the wise people never partook of what they offered but remained polite. It was like stepping into the twilight zone and no matter how hard you tried to find that house again it would just not be there.

For more stories like that I cannot recommend more highly this book:

Meeting the Other Crowd by Eddie Lenihan and Carolyne Eve Green

Then of course there is the stories of the Tuatha De Dannan. Also the different Sidhe. As far as the regular faerie or what we consider them as I have always been fascinated by the Unseelie Court.

The Welsh have stories of Annwyn and the Wild Hunt both led by Arawn.

There are many more legends, many lost, but for those the history of Spain is a good place to look and research. Specifically the Akelarre.

The Druids were the prests and intellectual class of the Celts. They also had a noblity class, a warrior class, smith class, and a farmer class.
Peter Berresford Ellis. The Druids

actually i went to ireland about 6 1/2 years ago, and the road signs are displayed in both English and Gaelic. pretty sweet.


and ireland has palm trees

Really? I did not know that. But I did know that Ireland has beautiful red-headed women!

oh yes they do!
and people are really really friendly there. it was southern ireland. went to Cork and Mizenhead and such places. my family and i were hiking through the woods there on a path and we found a place where druids or witches would chill, and it gave me an awful vibe. its a very interesting place. for example; we would be driving down the road and we would see a small stone hut, possibly for a burial by the sea, but it was tiny, like a child or very small people. its just fascinating, i could spend the rest of my life there. its way better than the florida panhandle.

The only Celtic stories we have were preserved by Irish monks in the dark ages because the Celts had no written records. Most rivers in France were named long ago after ancient Celtic gods, goddesses and heroes that history has forgotten, we know of many Celtic gods but we only know of a fraction of the rich history and mythology that the Celts had.


Here is an example, this is a picture of one of the gods
from the Gundestrup Cauldron, experts still aren't sure of
the story or god that the engraving depicts

Most Celts at least in antiquity had dark eyes and hair. This can still be found among the Welsh who are mostly descended from Celts.

Haha, including my friend. She is in Ireland, right now, actually. I'll ask her to look out for faeries. She's been to Blarney Castle and stuff, and I'm so jealous. Why do I have to be here, stuck in the States? She's very red-headed and she has a temper. She has very noticable Irish roots, and she has cousins in Ireland.


I've always wanted to see a "Fairy Glade".

Is your friend single? lol

Does anyone know where the "leprechaun" legend originated from? In popular culture, all we see of them is either a cutesy cartoon character on a cereal box, or a demonic creature in a horror film.

I don't believe they're demonic, in most celtic belief. Correct me if I'm wrong, please, but aren't they a little of the "imp/joker" type of haunt?

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Here's a link to Leprechauns on wiki
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The most curious aspect of the Leprechaun lore is that there are no females...
I've never found a website or a book that explained why there are no females nor how leprechauns reproduce.
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Holiday Insights - Leprechauns - this site mentions the no females and the idea that the leprechaun may be the defective offspring of fairies, or maybe the offspring born from the union between human & fairy parents.

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edited in:
Oops! I have to apologize, I seemed to have accidently lied to you all due to my forgetfulness.
I did read a book with a female leprechaun mentioned in it,
Summer With the Leprechauns: A True Story by Tanis Helliwell
Ms. Helliwell claims that she lived with a family of leprechauns one summer: Father, Mother, young daughter & young son.
Unfortunately, I can't remember if she mentioned in the book why the females and the children aren't ever seen by humans.
Ms. Helliwell claims to still have visits from the male leprechaun ongoing for over a decade.

Again, I apologize...


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The late great James Doohan (scotty from Star Trek) put me in touch with my Celtic roots. My interest has grown in all things Celtic for years. Love the music, the sound of the Old Gaelic language, the art, the myths. Not looking to try haggis, though. Irish tea is good, FYI.

Tolkein based the sounds of the Elvish tongue on Gaelic. So the LOTR stories probably helped popularize and renew interest in the Old Gaelic language.

Oh cool im from Ireland and i know all the legends like the back of my hand. As far as i know there hasnt been any lephrechaun sightings EVER!!!!!!!

Welcome to U-M. By your posting, do you mean you've heard of no actual/verifiable "little people" reports in your vicinity of Ireland?

We have haggis in Mongolia - or I think we do. Famous Mongol countryside delicacy: clean the sheep or goat entrails, stuff back in the blood and some meat, boil till cooked, and eat. That's haggis, isn't it?

Lembeharry, how did you happen to choose to reside in Mongolia? It seems a rather odd choice, and I wish you well, but want to know more. Thanks.

I like camping and SPACE. Mongolia has a lot of SPACE and opportunities for camping in all of the SPACE under a really BIG SKY! We've got pristine lakes, excellent fish, tall mountains, and only 2.6 million people (half of which live in the capital city) - and the whole country? -About 40% the area of the lower 48 U.S. states (not including Alaska). Seemed like the right place for me.

But I can't get a job here; the capital is too corrupt with a socialist/post-socialist culture. These guys just don't understand capitalism, and individualism (in the capital Ulaanbaatar, that is). All they seem to know about here in the capital city is how to chain me to an office cubicle and take a disproportionate amount of "my" production to spread it amongst the non-productive or incompetent. Hell, I could work in an American corporation if I wanted to be treated this way.

Me? I came here to educate and teach the younger generations to help them become more productive. But even the Universities here are corrupt.

Now I'm trying to get out. I'm looking for University positions in Korea, China, or Middle East. I like camping - but I've given up on this place. What's the point of living in a big beautiful country if I can't earn enough to escape from the city on the weekends?

Lmbeharry, do you enjoy any social life? I've my doubts. You seem intelligent, if somewhat remote.

Me, I'm in the middle of the country, and quite happy-go-lucky.....

I'd love to actually have the money to go out to dinner with my wife! These days sans cash. And my last job ate up about 75 hours a week of "physical work" -that is lecturing, reading textbooks, creating exams and powerpoints, and researching online - and the remainder of my time was exhausted in mental work - that is thinking. Like I said, Ulaanbaatar is quasi-socialist. And you know how socialists are: steal from the producers to feed the incompetent.

My family now: one newborn son aged 6 months, a four year-old daughter and my Mongolian wife. The six-month old kinda cuts out social life - and the dearth of financial income, does too.

I could live in the countryside. In fact, my parents offered to send money so that I could build a house in the Mongolian countryside. Problem is: I don't donate money to a system that is hell-bent on stealing from me, and that's my view of Mongolia these days. So, in the view of my wife and I, it's time to get out and get to a place where we could have a social life and raise our family.

Yeah - these days its really hard. Oyushka goes to nursery school and I spend part of my day writing on this site, part of my day looking for positions, and part of my day playing with Mathematics modeling software as I plan the outline of my dissertation for a doctorate.

Plus, my interests are hugely varied. I like astronomy for instance, and I'd love (if I lived in the country) to build a small observatory for my benefit - but also for the neighbors. I enjoy photography, too (including photo printers) - my wife and I do all of our own photo work, etc. And I like cooking. These things are "relatively expensive" -but we all with active minds know that we need to keep challenging our active minds...

About being remote? Yeah, I'm remote. It's tough when (and I'm not trying to blow my own horn) a person is highly educated and can solve most problems and technical issues before a co-worker can even realize that it's a problem. Me - I think months in advance, and I plan work that way. It's hard because most people only think 5 minutes ahead of time. So, really, who am I going to talk to - in a social setting, that is. It's few and far between. I'm remote. And I love to work, complete my tasks well and efficiently - and then RUN AWAY TO THE MOUNTAINS - to get away from the rabble...

That's one of the reasons why I like teaching. I can instill some knowledge and professionalism amongst the younger generation and NEVER (in theory) have to worry of co-workers being ashamed that they did not solve the problem (and then cause corporate political problems - and granted the Academie has politics, too - but intellectual politics - not BS about toner in the printer/copier). Being a professor is like being an independent contractor. A professor teaches, researches, writes, and consults. He's a one-man show in many regards, though he may be called upon to work in a group or "team" from time to time - but rarely will a professor work a cubicle amongst (and excuse me for saying it this way) the rabble...

Anyway, I've gotten off the thread. But I hope I answered your question.

I also live in eastern Nebraska and quite like being able to leave the city within 10-15 minutes

Pleased to make your acquaintance.

Lmbeharry, thanks for the reply. Wish you the best, my friend. A guy from the center of the USA.

Those who are even vaguely interested in Celtic or European folklore MUST
check out this book called Faeries (spelling is correct). Here is the Amazon link

I'm not kidding. The book has interesting information about these kind of creatures and some nice and famous local stories and folklore.

But the best part is the illustrations! They are just so magnificent and beautiful !
They alone are worth more than the purchase prize! (never mind the nakedness, I will definitely share it with my family and kids)

The book is not about those cutesy little Disney cartoon creatures. Don't expect that. Instead, the book stays very true to the original European text and folk tales.

Thanks for the link. BTW, here's another: Ars Magica at Isohunt...

A friend of mine on his way to the nightclub he regularly attends noticed these weird creaturers floating above these white flowers and popping in and out the flowers. he could have sworn they were faeries - he said they had a basic makeup of arms and legs and a head and there definitely wings - i told him they might be lantern bugs but who knows - i myself definitely believe in faeries.

Ya Mr Sasquatch, Froud's art is very nice. I prefer Amy Brown's work.

Danke lmbeharry it looks quite interesting ^__^

I had a friend once hornofhawthorn that saw gnomes coming out of a tree one night. Well there was a reason for that lol and I saw some things too at least in people and the way they looked. There is two types of faerie though the tiny sprite like kind and then the kind that go back to the Sidhe and are as tall as you and I. Some think the belief in them are because of the earliest memories of the first people of Ireland, the Tuatha De Danann and they were banished to the land of the Faerie after losing the war against the Milesians. Personally these tall mysterious ones I believe are just powerful spirits who can manifest in the flesh with their own culture and way of doing things. I mean if humans have culture why not spirits right?

Anyways a good book is Meeting the Other Crowd by Lenihan. Some very good stories, that is all it is, a book of collected stories. I believe.

Personally I still believe that the Celtic culture is alive and well, at least in parts here in Scotland, the islands and probably Ireland too (since there hasn't been an invasion of foreign blood extensively breeding out the original inhabitants' blood). It has just changed somewhat with the times, but people are no-doubt descended from Picts, Caledonii, Dalriadans etc, etc.



It's been a while since I was last here, but I'm always happy to see these sort of threads. Really big on Celtic folklore and mythology; especially Scottish folklore