Irish & Scottish Resources
Fáilte and welcome! Anyone who has attempted to search for reliable resources on Irish or Scottish spiritual practices has probably learned that finding bad resources is much easier than finding good ones. When I first began looking, I mostly found blends of practices from multiple European and/or Celtic nations, often removed from their cultural contexts and sometimes completely fabricated. Finding reliable information is tricky, which is why I have compiled this list of my favorite resources for Irish and Scottish Paganism, spirituality, and folk practices.
I have prioritized native Irish organizations, educators, and creators in this list because they tend to have a wealth of cultural context that those of us in the diaspora often lack. Keep in mind that ancient practices rarely die completely. More likely, they change form but still interact with the modern, living culture. Therefore, we must listen to who live in Irish & Scottish cultures today. You will find more Irish than Scottish resources in this list, but as I find more I will update accordingly. This list is not comprehensive, but you will undoubtedly find additional resources if you engage with the organizations and educators below.
I am grateful to these generous and knowledgeable people, who have deeply shaped the foundations of my spiritual practice. I have no doubt that they will continue to influence me for years to come. I truly hope that you will find this list helpful for your own path as well. Go raibh maith agat.
Irish Folklore Database
Duchas.ie is a fabulously vast searchable database of Irish stories, traditions, practices, and culture. It catalogues multitudes of historical manuscripts, photos, and audio from native Irish people. Much of this material was collected decades ago, preserving practices of generations passed and folklore based in oral tradition. Dúchas is an invaluable resource for education, cultural context, and cultural connection.
Irish / Gaeilge Language
Téarma: This comprehensive English-Irish online dictionary calls itself, “The national terminology database for Ireland.” Téarma, which was founded by Dublin City University, offers 186,000 Irish terms.
Foclóir: This English-Irish dictionary features fewer terms than Téarma, but it contains a wealth of useful instruction on grammar and pronunciation. Foclóir contains 30,000 word entries, grammatical instruction, and audio recordings of Irish words pronounced in multiple regional dialects.
I also have to recommend Duolingo’s Irish or Scottish language lessons. It’s not perfect, and it lacks some of the bells and whistles of the more popular languages, but I was surprised how many words I was able to identify on Gaeilge web sites at my current level of Irish. Additionally, I heard that the Motherfoclóir podcast is a useful resource for learning the language, although I have not yet checked it out.
Mythology
This is not a comprehensive list of Irish mythology. However, I wanted to at least provide a place to start. So here are some links that provide free access to some of the big hits. I highly recommend looking for more detailed information and resources on this topic through the Irish Pagan School or Morgan Daimler, who are unquestionably experts in this area. They are both linked elsewhere on this list. Lora O’Brien, of the Irish Pagan School, even reads some mythology on YouTube for the sake of accessibility.
Lady Gregory: the first and third Irish mythological cycles
Lady Gregory: Cú Chulainn cycle (Includes the Táin Bó Cúailnge / The Cattle Raid of Cooley)
Irish collection
Scottish collection
Ogham
Finding good Ogham resources can feel like a truly difficult challenge. Honestly, a lot of the existing resources are not based on much research, folklore, or decent translations of the original source material. Here are the best two resources I have encountered.
First, I’ll include a few places to access some source material, The Ogham Tract from the Auraicept na n-éces, in a few different forms. Here is an interactive book where you can see preserved copies of the original 7th century text, and here is an English text-based web version.
Lora O’Brien, of the Irish Pagan School, does offer a wealth of valuable resources through the Ogham Academy, as well as courses through the Irish Pagan School.
Additionally, I highly recommend the book Ogam: Weaving Word Wisdom by Erynn Rowan Laurie.
However, as I learned from O’Brien, nothing can replace building a personal relationship with each Ogham feda (symbol). I have found that my relationship with the Ogham continues to evolve over time, and I see it as a lifelong journey.
Irish Pagan School
This is a fantastic resource run by native Irish educators Lora O’Brien and John O’Sullivan. The Irish Pagan School (IPS) is a platform that features courses on Irish Paganism, many free, primarily from native Irish educators. Topics include deities, mythology, ancestry, history, practices, magic, and much more. The IPS also runs a very active Youtube channel and multiple active Facebook groups. Not to mention that Lora O’Brien has written books on Irish witchcraft and mythology. Lora and John also have a lovely online store called Eel & Otter Press, which sells fun, original Irish Pagan merch! (IMHO, finding actually good Pagan merch isn’t easy.) I’ve also included a list from IPS which contains many more vetted resources for Irish Paganism.
Irish Pagan School
Youtube Channel
Books
Facebook Group
Trustworthy Resources
Eel & Otter Press
Morgan Daimler
Morgan Daimler has written a wealth of very accessible books on Irish Paganism. They have also translated multiple texts from old Irish, making them available to the vast majority of us who do not speak it. Personally, I think Daimler is very adept at simplifying a vast array of complex information into digestible, helpful, and understandable works. Daimler’s books are a great place to start getting familiar with mythology and deities. I particularly recommend their translation of the Carmina Gadelica, a collection of Scottish prayers and charms.
Brigid’s Forge
Orlagh Costello is a native Irish follower of Brigid, one of Ireland’s most popular and enduring deities and saints. She runs a web site and a large, active Facebook group dedicated to Brigid. Additionally, she offers several educational Brigid courses. Costello operates from a syncretic perspective, blending Pagan and Catholic practices related to Brigid. Brigid’s Forge is a must for followers, fans, and devotees of Brigid!
Eddie Lenihan
If you’re curious about the Irish sí, also known as fairies or, to be polite, the good neighbors, I must recommend Eddie Lenihan’s work. Lenihan is an Irish storyteller and author who has been collecting and telling these stories for decades. I found the audiobook version of “Meeting the Other Crowd,” to be more riveting, chilling, and intriguing than any other tales I’ve encountered about the good folks. He has also posted some audio stories on his YouTube channel.
Online Store
Books
YouTube channel
Diary of a Ditch Witch
Tara Tine is an absolutely fun and delightful resource. She is an Irish creator and makes very accessible and creative videos around Irish witchcraft, culture, history, and spiritual traditions.
The Crafty Cailleach
Amy offers a wealth of entertaining, accessible information on Irish history, folklore, and spirituality. She is an Irish creator who makes excellent educational and sometimes instructional videos. I learned to make Brigid crosses from her.
Ash Williams Mills
Mills specializes in Scottish folk practices. His work is based in both both academic research and personal practice. He published a fascinating book about Isobel Gowdie, a known Scottish witch who was tried and convicted for witchcraft. In it, he features Isobel’s story, the contents of her “Black Book” (a collection of her spells and magical workings), and a general collection of Scottish spells and charms. It is a fantastic resource to learn about Scottish magical practices. He also sells various handcrafted magical items on an online shop.