Ancient legends, Mystic Charms & Superstitions of Ireland / With sketches of the Irish past

Name: Ancient legends, Mystic Charms & Superstitions of Ireland / With sketches of the Irish past
Author: Lady Wilde

By Lady Wilde

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Mythology, Legends & Folklore

About This Book

A compilation of Irish folk tradition gathering oral legends, fairy lore, charms, and superstitions, interwoven with short sketches of the island's past. It opens by situating folklore among language and monuments, then offers retellings of fairy encounters, banshee and changeling stories, ritual customs, festival practices (May, Candlemas, Midsummer, November rites), animal legends, and accounts of poets, warriors, and sacred sites. It records charms, popular remedies, and spells alongside tales of moral justice, death omens, and fairy interaction with humans, showing how pagan motifs and Christian belief coexist in popular imagination. Material derives largely from peasant testimony and aims to preserve vanished oral traditions.

About the Author

Lady Wilde

Lady Wilde, also known by her pen name Speranza, was an Irish author and poet, recognized for her contributions to Irish literature and folklore. She is best known for her works that explore the rich tapestry of Irish myths and legends, particularly in her book "Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms & Superstitions of Ireland," which delves into the cultural heritage of Ireland. In addition to her prose, Wilde's poetry, collected in "Poems by Speranza," reflects her deep appreciation for the beauty of language and the Irish landscape. Her writings not only celebrate Irish traditions but also contribute to the broader understanding of the country's literary heritage.