Lora O'Brien – Irish Author & Guide
Your Authentic Connection to Ireland
“On Union, the latest album of collaborations he sings a song called Gaelic Ireland which sounds like it was written 100 years ago. I have the feeling it will be sung in 100 years from now.” – John Reynolds: Producer to Irish Artist Damien Dempsey. I was sitting in a coffee shop with my sister-in-law,…
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…
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,…
Recommended Irish Pagan resources on topics such as Irish Mythology, Irish History, Irish Culture, Irish Spirituality, Irish Storytelling & Irish Travel.
Today, I wanted to learn about Wolves in Ireland. Hold up, actually, let’s back it up a bit, and explain where I’m coming from, for those who aren’t familiar. My Monthly Work Each month on My Patreon Membership Site I release a series of Rewards through various tiers of membership/support. For example: Seanchaí Storytellers receive a…
Sound and Matter – a Scéal of a Tale of Old Ireland, and the Ogham. What are the place, time, person, and cause of the invention of the Ogham? Not hard. Its place – Hibernia, or Ireland as we know it now. In the time of Bres son of Elatha king of Ireland it was…
Sometimes a Goddess fancies a change. Immortality can get awful boring after a time. So it was with the Goddess Macha. She decided she wanted a home, friends of her own, a family… and that’s how she ended up on the doorstep of a wealthy merchant in the mountains of Mourne. She knocked, asked to…
Let’s go now to a lake away in Italy, where a group of distinguished visitors – all elegant and intelligent folk, we can be assured – had gathered on the private yacht of a good friend of theirs, an Italian Nobleman by the name of Count Neilsini. He was a proper gentleman, of refined tastes…
A clash of metal rang out over the training grounds, followed by a muffled grunt of exertion, and the wooden thud of shield engaging shield. “Put yer backs into it little wormies! Domhnall, keep that shield up, yer shoulder is wide open. Aoife, thrust and slice, stop that bloody hacking!” Her attention caught by the…
The oak door boomed, with a fierce thumping that shook the drying bundles of herbs right out of the rafters across the great hall. The Chief, sitting up at the top table, plucked a bit of dried nettle that had fallen into his cup, and – as puzzled as the rest of them about who…