A Journey Through Irish Folklore

A land of mythical storytelling

Ireland is a land steeped in story. From windswept cliffs to mossy stone circles, every corner seems to carry a whisper from the past. Long before history was written down, Irish folklore lived through the voices of its people — passed from one generation to the next by hearth fires and twilight gatherings. These stories weren’t just entertainment; they were a way of making sense of the world, explaining everything from sudden storms to strange disappearances in the woods.

Rooted in ancient Celtic beliefs, Irish folklore weaves together gods and warriors, ghosts and fairies, blessings and warnings. It reflects the deep connection between the Irish people and the natural world — and the unseen forces they believed lived just beneath the surface. Even today, folklore shapes modern Irish identity and imagination, showing up in festivals, place names, and the quiet caution still paid to fairy trees and sacred sites. In Ireland, myth and memory walk side by side.

Let’s dive into some of the most intriguing figures in Irish folklore, from the mysterious, to the magical, and the downright eerie.

Fairies🧚🏻‍♀️

Fairies, or faeries, as they’re often called in Irish traditions, aren’t the sweet, winged sprites of modern storybooks. According to ancient Irish mythology, they are the descendants of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a powerful supernatural race with god-like abilities. These beings once ruled Ireland in a golden age long before recorded history, mastering magic, art, and war. But their time came to an end when they were defeated by mortal invaders. Rather than vanish, they were said to retreat underground, becoming the Aos Sí (the “people of the mounds”) and eventually, the fairies we whisper about in folklore.

These aren’t your average woodland creatures. In older tales, fairies were proud, territorial, and easily offended. Some could bless crops, heal illness, or offer protection, but others were known to lead travellers astray, steal livestock, or even swap human children with changelings. Their world exists alongside ours, just out of sight, often beneath ancient ringforts or within sacred groves. It was believed that crossing into their realm could be a dangerous mistake.

Even today, traces of this belief remain. In rural parts of Ireland, roads have famously been diverted to avoid disturbing “fairy trees.” And while few openly admit to believing in the fair folk, most wouldn’t dare cut one down.

So when you picture an Irish fairy, forget the glitter and think instead of something older, wiser, and far more unpredictable. 

Púca (or Pooka) 🐐

The Púca (also spelled Pooka) is one of the most mysterious and feared shapeshifters in Irish folklore. Derived from the Old Irish word for “spirit” or “goblin,” the púca is a supernatural creature known for its unpredictable nature. Sometimes helpful, often mischievous, and occasionally downright malevolent, the púca can take on many forms — like a dark horse, a goat, a rabbit, or even a monstrous dog with glowing eyes. These creatures are known to speak in human languages, luring unsuspecting people into wild rides through the countryside or misleading them with riddles and tricks.

One of the most feared aspects of the púca is its ability to bring either fortune or mischief. In some tales, it offers warnings or prophecies to those who cross its path. In others, it wreaks havoc by souring milk, leading travellers astray, or causing minor household chaos. Farmers in rural Ireland were known to leave out offerings in hopes of appeasing the púca and keeping their crops safe from its temperamental moods.

Today, the ancient fear and fascination with the púca is celebrated with the Púca Festival, held each autumn in Ireland’s County Meath and County Westmeath. Rooted in the Celtic traditions of Samhain, the festival honours the púca as a symbol of transition, change, and the thin veil between worlds. Visitors can experience fire-lit processions, folklore performances, and art installations that reinterpret ancient tales for a modern audience — all while celebrating the mystical energy that surrounds Halloween’s origin.

Whether as a malevolent prankster or a supernatural guardian of the threshold between seasons, the púca has captivated Irish imaginations for centuries. And thanks to the revival of folklore in events like the Púca Festival, this legendary shapeshifter continues to dance on the edge of shadow and story.

Banshee 😱

Also known as the bean-sídhe, meaning “woman of the fairy mound”, the Banshee is one of the most chilling figures in Irish folklore. Her name is whispered with a mix of reverence and fear, for she is said to appear to members of certain ancient Irish families as an omen of death. The Banshee does not cause death herself, but her unearthly wailing foretells its arrival. Her voice, carried on the wind, can be hauntingly beautiful or bloodcurdlingly shrill, depending on the tale.

Descriptions of the Banshee vary. In some legends, she appears as an old, haggard woman with long, grey hair and eyes red from weeping. In others, she is seen as a young maiden with flowing silver robes and a comb made of bone. A common motif in folklore warns never to pick up a comb found on the ground — it might belong to a Banshee, and taking it could invite her wrath. She is sometimes said to be dressed in white or in clothing stained with the blood of the soon-to-be-deceased, silently combing her hair as she wails into the night.

Traditionally, the Banshee is tied to families with Irish surnames that begin with “O’” or “Mac,” such as O’Connor or MacCarthy , often noble lineages with deep Gaelic roots. (Learn more about Gaelic in our Ireland Dream Magazine.) In some rural areas, the appearance of the Banshee was taken so seriously that her cry would bring entire households to prayer, preparing for the worst. Some stories even speak of multiple Banshees appearing when someone of great importance is about to die.

While modern depictions often frame her as a ghostly horror figure, the Banshee’s origin is more nuanced. Her keening cry may stem from an old Celtic mourning tradition, where women would sing laments at funerals. Over time, these real customs blended with myth, giving rise to a supernatural mourner whose cries echo the sorrow of death itself. Whether seen as a fearsome spirit or a sorrowful guide between worlds, the Banshee remains a powerful symbol of fate in Irish legend.

Leprechauns 💰

The leprechaun has become a famous cartoonish symbol of Ireland — clad in green, grinning mischievously, and often guarding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. But in traditional Irish folklore, the leprechaun is a far more cunning and complex character. Often described as a solitary fairy, the leprechaun is typically a small, bearded man dressed in red or green, known less for granting wishes and more for his cleverness and trickery.

Rather than the cheery mascot he’s become, the leprechaun was once known as a solitary cobbler who spent his time making and mending shoes, which, interestingly, is said to be the source of his great wealth. Irish legends say that if you hear the sound of hammering in the countryside, you might be near one. If you’re quick and clever enough to catch him, he may offer his treasure in exchange for his freedom. But leprechauns are masters of deception. Many tales tell of captors being tricked into looking away for just a moment, only to find the leprechaun vanished along with any hope of riches.

One classic tale involves a man who captures a leprechaun and demands to know where his treasure is hidden. The leprechaun reluctantly points to a tree and the man ties a red ribbon around it to mark the spot, planning to return later with tools to dig. But when he comes back, the entire forest is filled with red-ribboned trees.

In the end, the leprechaun remains one of the most enduring figures in Irish mythology — a symbol of cleverness, mischief, and the age-old warning: be careful what you wish for. While you might dream of catching one and claiming your fortune, Irish folklore suggests that outwitting a leprechaun is harder than it looks,  and may leave you with less than you started with.

The legend of Giant’s Causeway

🌋Background: During medieval times in Ireland, giants were the go-to explanation for how impressive structures like the Giant’s Causeway were formed and why large stone structures could be found across the Irish landscape.

Made up of an estimated 37,000 black basalt columns, Giant’s Causeway is the result of a massive underground explosion that took place roughly sixty million years ago. A huge mass of molten basalt spewed out of the earth, which upon cooling, solidified into amazing polygon shapes. However, according to Gaelic legend, giants are responsible for creating this mesmerizing landscape.

📖 Legend has it: There once was a giant named Fionn mac Cumhaill. Fionn was challenged to a fight by Scottish giant, Benandonner, who wanted to claim Ireland as his own. Enraged, Fionn threw boulders into the ocean, creating a footpath so he could walk to Scotland and settle matters once and for all.

But when Fionn reached Scotland and spotted his challenger, he realized that Benandonner was huge, even by a giant’s standard! He rushed back home to Ireland where his wife had the clever idea to disguise him as a baby.

When Benandonner eventually wandered down the causeway towards Ireland, he was met by Fionn’s wife and her ‘baby’. Benandonner took one look at the child and thought that if the baby was that large, he didn’t want to stick around and meet the father!

He quickly retreated to Scotland through the causeway, tearing up as much as the path as possible on his way. From then on, the two giants stayed in their respective countries and Fionn no longer received any threats from Benandonnner.