English „Dublin“ 09 September 16

Irish Myths

Introduction Irish Mythology

Ireland has deep roots in the ancient mythology and folklore. More than 300 years before Christ the Celtics and Druids believed in the magic of their country and told Stories about Faeries that will bring misfortune if treated wrong or Leprechauns who love to collect gold and store it at the end of the rainbow. But still more than thousands of years later the Tales about mythical creatures spread to the modern day legends and are being told again and again across the country.

The Banshee

The Banshee was believed to be a woman who carried with her the omen of death. She sometimes appears as an old ugly woman, sometimes as a beautiful young lady or sometimes you saw her as a wash woman, ringing out bloody clothing. The Myth says that whoever hears her awful heart tearing scream will die. King James I of Scotland believed he was followed by a Banshee. A couple days later he was found dead by the Earl of Atholl.

Changelings

A strong belief is that fairy women all over Ireland are repelled by their own child and have no wish to keep them. Since most of the fairy children are stunted or slightly deformed they try to exchange their own child with a healthy human child. After the fairy child was left in place of the human child it will take over the appearance of a normal baby but it will act strange. For example it will only be happy if it can work evil in a household and bring the family into trouble.

Jocelyn Pleisch Claudia Cramer H6 St. Patrick

St. Patrick is probably known all over the world as a man who brought happiness. Nowadays he is well known for bringing green beer into pubs. What most people don’t know is that he wasn’t a saint until centuries after his death and wasn’t even Irish. He spent his childhood in England in a wealthy family until he got kidnapped and sold as a slave. During his years in slavery he converted to Christianity and once freed he did spend the rest of his life teaching the Irish about the Christian religion, sadly he was forgotten fast after his death. But many years later monks began telling the tale of St. Patrick, who tamed all the snakes of Ireland. (Even though snakes never existed in Ireland)

The Shamrock

When you think of Ireland you mostly also think about Shamrocks which is the unofficial symbol of Ireland. The Druids believed the Shamrock was a sacred plant that could ward off evil. The Celts believed, the Shamrock had mystical properties due to the plant’s three heart- shaped leaves. The Celts believed three was a sacred number. Some Christians also believed the Shamrock had special meaning- the three leaves representing the Holy Trinity.

Dictionary:

Roots - family origins, Misfortune - bad luck. Heart tearing – heartbreaking Repel – to keep away Sacred- considered to be holy and deserving respect English „Dublin“ 09 September 16

The Banshee St. Patrick

Changelings Shamrock

Jocelyn Pleisch Claudia Cramer H6