Lora O'Brien – Irish Author & Guide

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The Three Sisters (Werewolves of Cruachán)

The Three Sisters (Cas Corach and the Werewolves of Cruachán)

Posted on May 17, 2020June 8, 2020 by Lora O'Brien

Faolín sighed and shifted her weight, earning herself kicks from her sisters, still sleeping, for her trouble. How could they sleep on this day? But this was their way, to sleep the day and emerge in darkness, through darkness, to the world beyond. On this night of nights. Full of restless energy, Faolín rose as…

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First Battle of Moytura - By C Michael Hogan, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13537541

First Battle Of Moytura – Cath Muige Tuired Cunga

Posted on December 15, 2019December 15, 2019 by Lora O'Brien

‘The Battle of Moytura at Cong’, also known as The First Battle of Magh Turedh, Maige Tuired, etc. This text can be difficult to find online, so I thought I’d add a copy here, and maybe do a reading of it at some point over on my YouTube Channel, for accessibility purposes. The source manuscript…

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Rathcroghan Crúachan JG O'Donoghue Illustration - Commissioned by Roscommon County Council

Táin Bó Cúailgne – Cattle Raid of Cooley: A Beginner’s Guide

Posted on December 11, 2019December 11, 2019 by Lora O'Brien

Ever wonder what is the Táin Bó Cúailgne? Or how to pronounce Táin Bó Cúailnge?! Here’s your guide, covering: a summary of the main storyline; the manuscript sources and recensions or versions it was recorded in; and even an audio reading so you can follow along! I’ve written a review of the Táin before, here,…

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The Mórrígan's Children Meche Snake Serpent

The Mórrígan’s Children

Posted on November 12, 2019November 12, 2019 by Lora O'Brien

Does the Goddess Mórrígan have any children, and who are they, exactly? This post started originally with an interesting discussion in our office, at Irish Pagan School / Eel & Otter Press HQ. My partner, An Scéalaí Beag, believes that Brighid is not only the daughter of his boss, the Dagda, but also of my…

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The Mórrígan and Sushi

The Mórrígan – A Month of Questions and Answers

Posted on October 26, 2019October 25, 2019 by Lora O'Brien

Funny story about the Mórrígan. On Sunday 13th October, I was in Dublin presenting at Octocon – ​The National Irish Science Fiction Convention.  (Details for 2020 are here, by the way – https://2019.octocon.com/2019/10/14/octocon-returns-in-2020/​)​ It was a lovely day, filled with lovely people… and a small* amount of wine was consumed. By me.  AFTER the event (and some more…

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Medb's Heap - Miosgan Medb at Rathcroghan

Medb’s Heap – Miosgán Medb

Posted on October 9, 2019October 9, 2019 by Lora O'Brien

This post is about the monument known as Medb’s Heap, Medb’s Cairn, Medb’s Tomb, Medb’s Nipple or Medb’s Grave (and sometimes the name Medb is anglicized as Maeve). In Irish it’s called Miosgán Medb, from the old Irish word mescán – mass, lump, heap. Now, you’ll likely have heard tell of the one in County…

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Pagan Priesthood Oak Tree Grove

Pagan Priesthood in Irish History

Posted on September 24, 2019September 24, 2019 by Lora O'Brien

[This is a section that didn’t make the final edit of my new book, ‘A Practical Guide to Pagan Priesthood’, Llewellyn 2019. So, I thought I’d share it here!] Pagan Priesthood in Ancient Ireland ‘Ancient Ireland’, even if we limit it to Pre-Christian times, could be anywhere in an 11,000 year period, really. So, I…

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The Brehon Law system, shining a light on Early Irish law

Brehon Law Resources

Posted on September 11, 2019May 6, 2023 by Lora O'Brien

Learn about Ancient Ireland’s Laws and Customs through study of the Brehon Law system. A student in our Mórrígan Intensive Programme asked me for resources on the Brehon Law system the other day, and I had to be honest – I didn’t have them to hand. It’s not an area I’ve really dug into yet,…

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Lughnasadh in Ireland

Lughnasadh in Ireland

Posted on August 1, 2019July 7, 2022 by Lora O'Brien

The 1st of August (sometimes the 2nd) is Lúnasa (Lughnasadh, Lughnasa, Brón Trogain) – the harvest festival in Ireland. In her excellent book, ‘The Festival of Lughnasa’, Máire MacNeill wrote: “Garland Sunday and Domhnach Chrom Dubh are two of the many names of a festival celebrated by Irish country people at the end of July…

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Badb in Da Coca’s Hostel

The Badb in Bruiden Da Choca

Posted on July 17, 2019September 25, 2019 by Lora O'Brien

Bruiden Da Choca, ‘Da Coca’s Hostel’, is known also as Togail Bruidne Da Choca(e) (‘The destruction of Da Coca’s Hostel’), and is one of the many Badb or Mórrígna stories often quoted or referred to, but rarely read or studied. Let’s change that? It is available online, though only in a translation by Whitley Stokes,…

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