Comments on: About This Site

By: Jerry Daniel

Jerry Daniel — Wed, 18 May 2005 14:25:35 +0000

I would be interested to know how you feel Christianity effected the Irish culture and vice versa. In what I have studied, I have come to believe that Ireland had as much effect upon the Christianity there, as Christianity did upon Ireland.

By: Aine MacDermot

Aine MacDermot — Wed, 18 May 2005 17:59:53 +0000

No religion stands alone. It affects the people just as much as they affect it. In Ireland’s case, this is particularly notable. As you read the history, you begin to see that Christianity in Ireland was very different from Christianity in other parts of Europe. I’m not saying it was better or worse, just different.

I think, however, in many ways the attitudes towards and the social standing of women was likely better prior to Christianity’s influence in Ireland. Many legal and social rights that women enjoyed in pre-Christian Ireland were revoked or went unrecognized under Christianity. I suppose you’d have to look at how it affected specific groups of people to really get a clear picture of its effects.

By: Brandy

Brandy — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 01:37:18 +0000

I’m sure you get asked this question all the time… but what is your connection with the Hitchiker’s guide and why are there entries in your site about Ford Prefect? Just wondering… it’s odd to be doing research on the Greek god Pan and come up with one of your favorite modern literary characters. ^_^ I really like your site, by the way, and it is incredibly easy to navigate.

By: Aine MacDermot

Aine MacDermot — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 02:00:00 +0000

Brandy, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was meant to be a Guide to everything known and being found out about the Galaxy. Since the Galaxy we are in is but one small part of the Universe (or Multiverses, if you believe that there are more than one), I thought it would be a good idea to use that model to construct my own little Guide. The entries run the gamut, and although it is not even a quadrillionth as large as wikipedia, it is a handy way for me to make notes on various things.

I also have a wicked sense of humor, though somewhat twisted.

By: DubhTine

DubhTine — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 18:33:22 +0000

I have to comment on your characterization of Celtic Reconstructionism. The purpose of CR is not to reconstruct the culture, but to build a basis for a valid Celtic religious/spiritual that fits the modern world. And Wicca has no place within that purpose. However, adaptations of what was done in the Iron Age (and before and after that period) have to be made as some of them are just not practical in the current era.

That said, I agree completely that you have to know what really was going on before you can adapt it to modern conditions & laws. Thank you for this marvelous resource.

By: tom donnelly mitchell

tom donnelly mitchell — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 02:11:23 +0000

friends, homer said ‘the danaan are a people of unknown origin’…not any more…. i have discovered a record carved and painted on stone,which comes from beneath the 14,000 yr, flood plai in the willamette valley in oregon…some photos of these images will appear in the next message…the message is esoteric,the art is hidden,majical…i have found cairns…many sites….the archetypes are gnomic,,,the’s’ is a river ,our lady,danu ..not a snake as appears after the fall of this civilisation…this lost world…best always…tom,,eugene oregon

By: Aine MacDermot

Aine MacDermot — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 10:42:09 +0000

Tom : Very few of those pictures were clear enough to get a sense as to what they show. I will admit that I did see what appeared to be “faces” on some of those rocks, but it’s not definitive proof of anything yet.

a) What do you think connects it to the Tuatha dé Danaan?
b) What do the so-called “experts” in archaeology and paleontology say about these rocks?
c) Why did you move them from their original locations, rather than simply photographing them in situ and creating a diagram or noting on a map where these were located? That right there could destroy the credibility of the evidence you think you’ve found.

By: Aine MacDermot

Aine MacDermot — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 11:04:08 +0000

DubhTine : I was, at one time, involved with a serious group of reconstructionists who were, I thought at the time, willing to do the hard work involved in sifting through the miasma of what I can only refer to as “bullshit” in order to present as valid information as we could possibly unearth. Most of us were dedicated to that cause, but a series of really lousy things happened that led many of us to believe that the “leader” of that effort did not live by the precepts we had established for ourselves, thus dishonoring not only himself, but several other members of our group.

For that reason, many of us at various levels of leadership within that organization walked away from that organization and went our merry ways. I haven’t yet heard of one of our number that has joined another organization of that type… I’d guess that that experience soured many of us on the idea of an organized hierarchy and anyone assuming established power over other people, which (these days) seems inevitable in organizations of that type.

By: Kristina

Kristina — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 00:35:07 +0000

Oh my god. I just have to say your site…overwhelms me. I have been into Celtic Lore approximately 20 years of my life (since I was 10) and this is fabulous! Thank you so much for being here!

By: Aine MacDermot

Aine MacDermot — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 00:44:47 +0000

Kristina : You’re quite welcome. This site has been online for quite some time, although it didn’t always include the contents that you see here now. I don’t always have time to make regular updates to it, but the way I look at it, it serves as a sort of repository or library of information, and as such, these things take time to build and refine. Anyway, thank you for visiting and commenting here. I hope you’ll find something of interest here.

By: Kristina

Kristina — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 01:56:49 +0000

*blush* Yes, I have found a lot here that is interesting to me! For one thing, you have at least two publications here I recognize from reference and bibliography, that seem to be nigh impossible for any but the ’scholar’ to find! I do note, tho, that you have nothing here on Oghams…or on Celtic healing methods.

By: Kristina

Kristina — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 02:31:04 +0000

oops…i went and searched again…you DO have something on Oghams! ^^

By: Kimberly McGinnis

Kimberly McGinnis — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 08:19:39 +0000

WOW! Great site. I will be back!
For now, perhaps you can help me with a small question (one I was researching when I stumbled upon your site a little while ago)

I am looking for the name of a mythological land, akin to Avalon or Tar N-aill, begins with an M. Seems it was Celtic in origin.
(found it once, the name, I mean, not the land, lol, and lost it/can’t find it again.)

Any ideas?

Aside from that, just wanted to say what a great resource! I could (and am sure I will) spend days exploring it all.

By: Aine MacDermot

Aine MacDermot — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 07:43:29 +0000

Kimberly : There are many names for the land you may be looking for…

Tir means “land.”
Tir na nÓg means “land of the young.”
Tir Tairngire means “land of promise.”
Tir na mBan means “land of women.”

The only one I can think of that starts with an M is Mag Mell which means “plain of joy.”

Hope that helps.

By: Sean Mac an Ultaigh

Sean Mac an Ultaigh — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:25:52 +0000

I can think of another that starts with “M”. Maigh Eo (County Mayo),meaning “Land (or Plain)of the Yew Tree”.

Great Website, Áine!

By: stephen kerensky

stephen kerensky — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:54:35 +0000

i have written a trilogy about the way the british celts resisted Caesar`s two invaasions. This has involved an attempt to reconstruct a Celtic tribal life, and i hope this has bee done in a very positive way.
The idea is to put it out on Lulu.com when the cover has been designed. Do get in touch if you want to hear more. Thank you for the site. I found it very interesting

All the best,

Stephen Kerensky