Irish folklore ( Irish : béaloideas ) refers to the folktales, balladry, music, dance and mythology of Ireland. It is the study and appreciation of how people lived.
76-544: The Silva Gadelica are two volumes of medieval tales taken from Irish folklore , translated into modern English by Standish Hayes O'Grady and published in 1892. The volumes contain many stories that together comprise the Fenian Cycle . The Silva Gadelica contains two volumes, the first containing the medieval script and the second the English translations. The stories were translated from mostly vellum documents contained in
152-468: A "singular brand of fairy tale tradition". During the 16th century, the English conquest overthrew the traditional political and religious autonomy of the country. The Great famine of the 1840s , and the deaths and emigration it brought, weakened a still powerful Gaelic culture, especially within the rural proletariat , which was at the time the most traditional social grouping. At the time, intellectuals such as Sir William Wilde expressed concerns on
228-490: A collection of crosses made on St. Bridget's Day (1 February), and various craft objects made of plaited straw, etc., gathered from across the county. Folklore can also include knowledge and skills such as how to build a house , or to treat an illness, i.e., herb lore . There are certain stock motifs, often stereotypes, in Irish folklore. One commentator attributes to Andrew Lang the sweeping definition that Irish folklore
304-614: A higher number of hours of sunshine recorded daily than in the rest of the country. This has resulted in Wexford becoming one of the most popular places in Ireland in which to reside. The county has a mild, but changeable, oceanic climate with few extremes. The North Atlantic Drift , a continuation of the Gulf Stream , moderates winter temperatures. There is a meteorological station located at Rosslare Harbour . January and February are generally
380-567: A number of other Par-3 courses in the county. Maritime activity takes at various locations in County Wexford, including at Kilmore Quay and Slade Harbour . Common fish species include herring , mackerel , cod , monkfish , whiting , bass , perch , gurnard , haddock , mullet , pollock , John Dory , sole , conger eel , shad , salmon , trout , pike , carp , and tench . Shellfish include mussels , cockles , periwinkles , clams , and oysters . Wexford Racecourse ( horse racing )
456-510: A pioneer in the study of folk history, observed that in Irish storytelling "history is a topic for conversation". In his prize-winning works on the memory of the Irish Rebellion of 1798 , the Israeli historian Guy Beiner has written in-depth case studies of folk history, powerfully demonstrating the value of folklore for the study of social and cultural history. Beiner has advocated for use of
532-549: A total of 21 times, first in 1890 and most recently in 2019. In the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championships , Wexford have won 6 times, first in 1910 and most recently in 1996, beating Limerick in the final. Wexford Youths F.C. , formed 2007, renamed as Wexford FC in 2017, is the major football club in the county, currently playing in the League of Ireland First Division . There are numerous golf clubs in
608-447: A wide range of magical creatures in Irish folklore. One type of Irish fairy is the female banshee , the death-messenger with her keening , or baleful crying over someone's death, and known by many different names. Another well-recognized Irish fairy is the leprechaun , which many have identified as the maker of shoes. The cluricaune is a sprite many treat as synonymous to the leprechaun, and Yeats muses on whether these and
684-583: A women's version of hurling , is also played, and Wexford won the All Ireland in 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Wexford Park is the county's main GAA pitch, holding 25,000 supporters. Also, handball is played on a limited basis; there are a number of handball alleys located throughout the county. As a county, Wexford are most noted for hurling have won the Leinster Senior Hurling Championships
760-665: Is a county in Ireland . It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Southern Region . Named after the town of Wexford , it was based on the historic Gaelic territory of Hy Kinsella ( Uí Ceinnsealaigh ), whose capital was Ferns . Wexford County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county was 163,527 at the 2022 census. The county is rich in evidence of early human habitation. Portal tombs (sometimes called dolmens ) exist at Ballybrittas (on Bree Hill) and at Newbawn – and date from
836-414: Is a piece of poetry passed down by folk tradition. Other than folktales and legends, the folkloristic genres is complemented by memorates, beliefs, and belief statements. Also part of Irish folklore are the handed-down skills, such as basket-weaving or St. Bridget 's crosses. As an example, shallow wicker baskets called skeeoges as strainers (to empty the boiled potatoes and hot water on, to drain
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#1732844991374912-431: Is a signposted route through four Wexford villages: Duncormick , Cullenstown , Bannow and Wellingtonbridge . Ballyteigue Burrow, located near Duncormick , is one of the finest protected sand dune systems in Ireland. Rich in wildflowers, wildlife and butterflies, this 9 km (6 mile) coastal stretch is a protected nature reserve by the golden sands of Ballyteigue Bay, with spectacular scenery. The Hook Peninsula
988-423: Is all about fairies. The belief in fairies ( an lucht sidhe ) has been widespread. Some, such as Irish poet W. B. Yeats , have divided the fairies into multiple categories and/or species (see Classifications of fairies ). However, Irish fairies are typically divided into two main categories: the fairy race and the solitary fairies. The race of fairy people ( Aos Sí ) were thought to be descendants of
1064-639: Is called Lady's Island Lake and the other Tacumshin Lake. The Wexford Cot is a flat-bottomed boat used for fishing on the tidal mudflats in Wexford. A canoe-shaped punt fitted with a gun, called a float in Wexford, is used traditionally to shoot game birds in the North Slob mud flats. The Saltee Islands lie 5 km (3 mi) offshore from Kilmore Quay, while the smaller Keeragh Islands are 1.5 km (1 mi) offshore from Bannow. County Wexford, sometimes dubbed Ireland's "sunny southeast", has in general
1140-407: Is found at Kerloge, just south of the town of Wexford . Iron is found in small quantities at Courtown Harbour. The county is not noted for mineral reserves. No significant mining activity is currently practised, with the exception of quarrying for stone. In 2007, a significant oil find was made 60 km (37 mi) off Hook Head in County Wexford. Carnsore Point made the national headlines in
1216-457: Is located at the confluence of the rivers Barrow and Suir , near Campile . Before its sale, the station was scheduled to close by 2010. Endesa propose building a 430 MW combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) gas fired plant on the site. The project would need a new 44.5 km (27.7 mi) gas pipeline from the existing transmission network at Baunlusk, 6 km (3.7 mi) south of Kilkenny City. A wind farm has now been built on
1292-406: Is no longer grown due to the withdrawal of EU subsidies . The numbers involved in farming have been declining for many years and many of the seasonal workers are now eastern Europeans. Mushrooms are also grown indoors. Tomatoes are grown under glass, for example at Campile . Wexford strawberries are famous and can be bought in shops and wayside stalls throughout the summer. Every year, near
1368-579: Is noted for its many beaches and spectacular scenery. It features the medieval Hook Head lighthouse and the historic townland of Loftus Hall . Popular beaches are located at Courtown , Curracloe , Carnsore Point , Duncannon and Rosslare Strand . Other places of interest include: The economy is chiefly agricultural. Cattle , sheep , pig rearing and some horse breeding are the main types of husbandry practised. Poultry rearing, once popular, has very much declined. Wheat , barley , rapeseed , and oats are grown, as are potatoes . Sugar beet
1444-633: Is now almost never seen. Smaller birds—such as crows, swallows, robins, wrens and so on—are very common. The first magpies in Ireland were recorded by Robert Leigh, of Rosegarland, County Wexford, as having appeared in the County of Wexford about 1676. Land mammals include badger , rabbit , otter , hedgehog , red fox , mink , bats , squirrels ( red and grey ), rats ( brown and black – both introduced species ), and mice ( wood (or field) and house ). Two types of hare —the Irish (or mountain) hare and
1520-655: Is now being used in marketing (with strategies suggesting tradition and authenticity for goods), movies and TV shows ( The Secret of Kells , mention of the Banshee are found in TV shows such as Supernatural , Teen Wolf or Charmed ), books (the book series The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel , the novel American Gods ...), contributing to the creation of a new body of Irish folklore. County Wexford County Wexford ( Irish : Contae Loch Garman )
1596-411: Is now far less common, due to the devastating effects of Dutch elm disease . Gorse (or furze) is very common. A priority habitat in Wexford is the grey dune , on which many native wild flora grow, including bee orchid and pyramidal orchid . Despite the designation of much of this habitat as a Special Area of Conservation , it remains threatened by destruction for agricultural intensification . There
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#17328449913741672-607: Is part of the European Parliament constituency of South (5 seats). In 2022, the county had a total population of 163,919 people. Of these, 61.4% (91,969 people) lived in rural areas and 38.6% (57,753 people) lived in urban areas. 83.8% of the population stated their religion as Roman Catholic, 7.1% other religions, and 7.5% stated they had no religion. Between 2006 and 2011, the population increased by 10%, slowing to 3% between 2011 and 2016. Since 1951, an opera festival, Wexford Festival Opera , takes place every year in
1748-616: Is the most common species of butterfly in the county. Various types of moth are also common. The common frog – the only type of frog found – is plentiful. Wexford County Council has thirty-four members. The council has three representatives on the Southern Regional Assembly , where it is part of the South-East strategic planning area. County Wexford is represented by the Dáil constituency of Wexford (5 seats). The county
1824-543: Is the tale of Cú Chulainn 's horse remnant in the legend type of "The Waterhorse as Workhorse" (MLSIT 4086), or so argued by C. W. von Sydow . In the 20th century, the Irish Folklore Commission collected a large corpus of such romantic heroic sagas, particularly the stories of Fionn Mac Cumhail and the Fianna . For most of the 19th century, collection of Irish folklore was undertaken by English-speakers, and
1900-425: Is very little natural forest in the county. Most natural trees and vegetation grow on hedgerows . South-eastern Wexford is an important site for wild birds—the north side of Wexford Harbour , the North Slob , is home to 10,000 Greenland white-fronted geese each winter (roughly one third of the entire world's population), while in the summer Lady's Island Lake is an important breeding site for terns , especially
1976-530: The cèilidh , though this is a term borrowed from Scottish Gaelic . The story-telling, songs and dance were also part of how special occasions were commemorated, on such days as Christmas, Halloween ( Oíche Shamhna , eve of Samhain ), Bealtaine , held on the first day of May, or St. Patrick's Day . Irish folklore is closely tied with the pipe and fiddle , the traditional Irish music and folk dance. The keening Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire composed by Eileen Dubh Ní Chonaill in her husband's wake
2052-406: The sidhe [fairy mound]'). In the instance of " The Legend of Knockgrafton " (name of a hill), the protagonist named Lusmore is carried inside the fairy " moat " or rath by the fairy wind ( Irish : sidhe gaoithe ). Other classic themes in Irish folktale literature include Cú Chulainn , Children of Lir , Fionn Mac Cumhail , from medieval heroic and tragic sagas. Folklore material in
2128-527: The Aran Islands , where some folklore-collecting was performed by Danish linguist Holger Pedersen back in 1896, though the resulting collection was never published until a century later. The playwright J. M. Synge also included a couple of folktales in his The Aran Islands (1907). Séamus Ó Duilearga (James Hamilton Delargy), who founded the Folklore of Ireland Society and its Béaloideas magazine in 1927,
2204-705: The British Museum . When first published the Silva Gadelica included 31 tales and, in the second volume containing translations, over 600 pages of fine print. The largest and most important translation in Silva Gadelica is of the Acallam na Senórach or "Colloquy of the Ancients" . The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland described the volumes as containing "many passages of great beauty." Referencing
2280-742: The D-day assault on Omaha Beach . The Count of Monte Cristo , directed by Kevin Reynolds , was partly filmed in the village of Duncannon in 2000 – Duncannon Fort being used for one of the main scenes. The movie Brooklyn was partially set and filmed in Enniscorthy and featured some of the locals as extras. Two radio stations are based in the county: South East Radio and Beat 102-103 . The county's main newspapers include Wexford People , New Ross Standard , Gorey Guardian , and Enniscorthy Echo . The scenic Bannow Drive, popular amongst tourists,
2356-617: The Neolithic period or earlier. Remains from the Bronze Age period are far more widespread. Early Irish tribes formed the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnsealaig, an area that was slightly larger than the current County Wexford. County Wexford was one of the earliest areas of Ireland to be Christianised , in the early 5th century. Later, from 819 onwards, the Vikings invaded and plundered many Christian sites in
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2432-546: The Slaney and the Barrow . At 192 km (119 mi) in length, the river Barrow is the second-longest river on the island of Ireland. Smaller rivers of note are the Owenduff, Pollmounty, Corrock, Urrin, Boro, Owenavorragh (also spelt Ounavarra), Sow and Bann rivers. There are no significant fresh-water lakes in the county. Small seaside lakes or lagoons exist at two locations – one
2508-465: The Tuatha Dé Danann , a godlike race who came to Ireland and conquered the people there. They are described as human sized, beautiful, powerful, and in tune with nature, similar to the modern day fantasy race of Elves. Instead of living together like the elite fairy race, solitary fairies are secretive and isolated, often staying away from humans and coming out at night. The solitary fairies include
2584-499: The far darrig (fear dearg, "red man") are the one and the same. Mackillop says these three are the three kinds solitary fairies , but Yeats goes on to say "there are other solitary fairies", naming the Dullahan (headless horsemen), Púca , and so forth. The changeling is often ascribed to being perpetrated by fairies. The theme is assigned its own migratory legend type, "The Changeling" (ML 5085). Fairies are also connected with
2660-426: The ice retreated, County Wexford would have been one of the first areas to be covered with glacial drift (a mixture of boulders , clay , sand and gravel ) that blanketed the existing bedrock . This has led to high-quality soils , suitable for a wide range of agriculture . A very detailed soil survey of the county was published in 1964 as part of the 'National Soil Survey of Ireland'. It classifies each area of
2736-473: The rebellion of 1798 , the county has for many years had a strong presence in the Irish traditional singing scene. Noted singers include All-Ireland Fleadh Champions Paddy Berry , Seamus Brogan and Niall Wall. Paddy Berry has also collected and published a number of songs from Wexford. Beaches in Curracloe , County Wexford were used to film the opening scenes of the movie Saving Private Ryan , which depicted
2812-552: The roseate tern . The grey heron is also seen. Throughout the county pheasant , woodpigeon and feral pigeons are widespread. Mute swan , mallard , kingfisher , and owls (the long-eared owl , the short-eared owl , and the barn owl ) are less common – but plentiful. Red grouse , once common, is now extremely scarce. The species has been in decline for some decades. Threats include habitat degradation, disease, predation and over-hunting. Red grouse in Ireland are now considered threatened. The corncrake , also once very common,
2888-710: The 'Pre-Croker period', according to Bo Almqvist 's reckoning, do tentatively include various Medieval written texts (the heroic tales in the Ulster Cycle , Finn Cycle , the Cycle of the Kings , and the hagiography of St. Patrick and other saints, etc.), with the proviso that these works can no longer be considered intact folk legends, given the accrued literary layers of the "fanciful and fantastic". However they are an excellent well-source of comparative study, as collected folktales are sometimes traceable to these medieval sagas. An example
2964-490: The 14th century, especially in the north of the county, principally under Art MacMurrough Kavanagh . Under Henry VIII , the great religious houses were dissolved, 1536–41; in County Wexford this included Glascarrig Priory, Clonmines Priory, Tintern Abbey , and Dunbrody Abbey . On 23 October 1641, a major rebellion broke out in Ireland, and County Wexford produced strong support for Confederate Ireland . Oliver Cromwell and his English Parliamentarian Army arrived in 1649 in
3040-503: The British museum were later completed by Robin Flower, effectively completing the project begun by the Silva Gadelica . Irish folklore The folklore of Ireland includes banshees , fairies , leprechauns and other mythological creatures, and was typically shared orally by people gathering around, sharing stories. Many tales and legends were passed from generation to generation, so were
3116-474: The Irish traditional belief in the Otherworld ( An Saol Eile ). Fairy forts and hawthorn trees, also known as fairy trees, are places where fairies are thought to reside. Thus, to tamper with these sites is seen as hugely disrespectful to the fairies. There are several trees sacred to Ireland, but the lone hawthorn (aka the "may" tree) is particularly considered a fairy haunt, and patches underneath where
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3192-617: The Theatre Royal in Wexford town and runs for several weeks. In 2008, a new Opera House replaced the old one on the same site, once called the Wexford Opera House, but in 2014 being designated as Ireland's National Opera House . It consists of two theatres, the O'Reilly Theatre and the Jerome Hynes Theatre. There is a renowned singing tradition in County Wexford. Having an abundance of traditional songs, many of which relate to
3268-465: The United States , visited the county and his ancestral home at Dunganstown, near New Ross . Wexford is the 13th-largest of Ireland's thirty-two traditional counties in area, and 9th-largest in terms of population. It is the largest of Leinster's 12 counties in size, and fourth-largest in terms of population. The county is located in the south-east corner of the island of Ireland. It is bounded by
3344-412: The amalgam between Samhain and Halloween ). All those events have led to a massive decline of native learned Gaelic traditions and Irish language , and with Irish tradition being mainly an oral tradition, this has led to a loss of identity and historical continuity, in a similar nature to Durkheim 's anomie . Irish folklore is replete with oral traditions that pertain to historical subjects. This
3420-446: The coldest months, with temperatures ranging from 4–9 °C (39–48 °F) on average. July and August are generally the warmest months, with average temperatures ranging from 13–19 °C (55–66 °F) in coastal areas and 12–22 °C (54–72 °F) in inland areas. The prevailing winds blow from the south-west. Precipitation falls throughout the year. Mean annual rainfall is 800–1,200 millimetres (31–47 in). Generally,
3496-405: The county according to its specific soil type . Most of the county is covered with soils called brown earths , described as well-drained and having a wide use-range. After that, gleys (poorly to imperfectly drained with a limited use-range) are the next major soil type, primarily located in the south-east of the county and east of Gorey (along the coast). Gleys are dotted elsewhere around
3572-627: The county and captured it. The lands of the Irish and Anglo-Normans were confiscated and given to Cromwell's soldiers as payment for their service in the Parliamentarian Army. At Duncannon , in the south-west of the county, James II , after his defeat at the Battle of the Boyne , embarked for Kinsale and then to exile in France. County Wexford was the most important area in which the Irish Rebellion of 1798
3648-643: The county in small areas, and where they occur they generally form bogland . The last major soil type, brown podzolics , occur mainly near the edges of the Blackstairs Mountain range and around Bunclody and in the baronies of East Shelmalier and South Ballaghkeen. Though there are areas covered with other soil types , these are of limited extent. Common species of tree include oak , ash , sycamore , alder , blackthorn , hawthorn , beech and birch . Less common (but plentiful) species include wild cherry and Scots pine (also called red deal). Elm
3724-415: The county receives less snow than more northerly parts of Ireland . Heavy snowfalls are relatively rare, but can occur. The one exception is Mount Leinster , visible from a large portion of the county, and frequently covered with snow during the winter months. Frost is frequent in winter months, less so in coastal areas. An ice sheet covered most, but not all, of the county during the last Ice age . As
3800-538: The county – including Rosslare (a Links course ), and Enniscorthy. Two more are located near Gorey – Ballymoney Golf Club and Courtown Golf Club – are 18 hole golf courses. Bunclody Golf and Fishing Club, boasting Europe's only golf lift, is situated just inside County Carlow . There are also a few others. New Ross Golf Club , however, is actually located in County Kilkenny – about 1 km (1,000 yards) from New Ross town. There are also many par-3 courses in
3876-451: The county, such as Scarke Golf Course & Driving Range, located about 2 km (1.2 mi) east of New Ross, the 'Abbey Par 3' course, at Winningtown, Fethard-on-Sea, Blackwater Par 3 Golf Course, Kilnew, Blackwater, located a few kilometres northeast of Wexford town, Garrylough Golf Course and Driving Range, Screen, and Rathaspeck Manor Golf Course, Rathaspeck, near Rosslare (there are also few Par-4 holes on this course). There are also
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#17328449913743952-466: The county. Vikings settled at Wexford town near the end of the 9th century. In 1169, Wexford was the site of the invasion of Ireland by Normans at the behest of Diarmuid Mac Murrough , King of Uí Cheinnsealaig and king of Leinster (Laigin). This was followed by the subsequent colonisation of the country by the Cambro-Normans . The native Irish began to regain some of their former territories in
4028-611: The dances and song in the observing of important occasions such as weddings , wakes , birthdays and holidays or, handcraft traditions. What constitutes Irish folklore may be rather fuzzy to those unfamiliar with Irish literature. Diarmuid Ó Giolláin, for one, declared that folklore was elusive to define clearly. Bo Almqvist (c. 1977) gave an all-encompassing definition that folklore covered "the totality of folk culture, spiritual and material", and included anything mentioned in Seán Ó Súilleabháin 's A Handbook of Irish Folklore (1942). It
4104-649: The decay of traditional beliefs: In the state of things, with depopulation the most terrific which any country ever experienced, on the one hand, and the spread of education, and the introduction of railroads, colleges, industrial and other educational schools, on the other – together with the rapid decay of our Irish bardic annals, the vestige of Pagan rites, and the relics of fairy charms were preserved, - can superstition, or if superstitious belief, can superstitious practices continue to exist? Moreover, global migration has helped overcoming special spatial barriers making it easier for cultures to merge into one another (such as
4180-487: The end of June, a 'Strawberry Fair' Festival takes place in the town of Enniscorthy , and a Strawberry Queen is crowned. Dairy farming forms an important part of the agricultural industry. Locally produced milk is on sale in many supermarkets. Wexford Irish Cheddar is a brand, and Carrigbyrne, a full-flavoured soft cheese , is produced near New Ross. Evergreen tree species are extensively cultivated, especially in more recent years— Norway spruce and Sitka spruce are
4256-411: The grass have worn down are reputed to be due to fairies dancing. Though literary fiction more than folklore, two consecutive poems by Samuel Ferguson , "The Fairy Thorn" and "The Fairy Well of Lagnanay" describes the lone Fairy Hawthorn (The Whitethorn). The notion that Irish fairies live in fairy mounds (fairy forts, fairy hills) give rise to the names aos sí or daoine sídhe ('people of
4332-554: The late 1970s after a proposal was made to build a nuclear energy plant there; the plans were abandoned after extensive protests from the public, due to environmental and health concerns. Great Island Power Station opened in 1967 and was operated by the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) until it was sold to Endesa in January 2009. It is an electricity-generating station fueled by heavy fuel oil and rated at 240 MW. It
4408-512: The less common brown (or European) hare —are found. Hare is not nearly as common as rabbit. The stoat ( Mustela erminea hibernica ) is also reasonably common. Locally the stoat is just as often incorrectly called a weasel . Only two types of seal are found on County Wexford's coast— Atlantic grey seals are very plentiful in coastal areas; the slightly smaller common (or harbour) seal is less common, yet plentiful. The small tortoiseshell butterfly (reddish-orange colour, with black markings)
4484-515: The liquid) were recorded in the Co. Wexford area by Patrick Kennedy in the 19th century. A later folklore collector was unable to ascertain whether this practice was carried out in the locality during the field work in the 1950s (or in the revisit in 1970's). This basket's name skeeoge supposedly derived from the Gaelic word for "shield" ( Irish : sciath ). The Irish Folklore Commission has accumulated
4560-512: The material collected were recorded only in English. Thomas Crofton Croker who compiled Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland (1825–28) is considered one of the earliest collectors. Croker is the first among the significant "antiquary-folklorists" (the label applied by Richard Dorson ) to emerge from mere antiquarians . The Irish-speaking West, the Gaeltacht included for example
4636-467: The most common varieties planted. These are generally sown on poorer quality soils (mainly in bogs and on hills or mountainsides). A small amount of deciduous trees are also planted, though these require better soils. Silver was once mined at Clonmines—primarily in Tudor times. Lead was mined at Caim, 1818 – c. 1850—this mine also contains zinc ; the two are usually found together. Copper ore ( malachite )
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#17328449913744712-444: The myths and Christian beliefs were combined such that Irish folklore would "enforce Christian ideals but still remain as a concession to early fairy belief systems". Christianity altered the importance of some beliefs and define a new place for them in folklore. For example, fairies, who were previously perceived as God, became merely magical, and of much lesser importance. Along with it, a fusion of folklore legends and Christianity
4788-642: The north. Largely low-lying fertile land is the characteristic landscape of the county. The highest point in the county is Mount Leinster at 795 metres (2,608 ft), in the Blackstairs Mountains in the north-west on the boundary with County Carlow. Other high points: Notable hills include: Carrigbyrne Hill; Camross (or Camaross) Hill, 181 m (594 ft); Carrigmaistia, 167 m (548 ft); Bree Hill, 179 m (587 ft); Gibbet Hill; Vinegar Hill; Slievecoiltia; Forth Mountain, 237 m (778 ft); and Tara Hill. The major rivers are
4864-432: The opening passage of the poem Caeilte's lay, Cold the winter is, the wind is risen. The journal writes that it "cannot recall any poem in the whole range of Irish literature more beautiful, or in which the subtle cadence of feeling peculiar to Irish expression is more perfect." According to The Quarterly Review , O'Grady wrote the Silva Gadelica over a period of over 40 years. Further translations of Irish stories in
4940-580: The sea on two sides—on the south by the Atlantic Ocean and on the east by St. George's Channel and the Irish Sea . The River Barrow forms its western boundary. The Blackstairs Mountains form part of the boundary to the north, as do the southern edges of the Wicklow Mountains . The adjoining counties are Waterford to the south-west, Kilkenny to the west, Carlow to the north-west and Wicklow in
5016-510: The site, featuring 14 wind turbines generating electricity. It was completed in November 2002 and was the first wind farm on the east coast of Ireland. Wind farms now exist at a few other locations in the county, such as Ballywater Wind Farm , at Cahore (near Kilmuckridge ), on the county's east coast, and Richfield wind farm, located in the southeast of the county. In recent years the county Football team has been making rapid advances. Camogie ,
5092-460: The term "vernacular historiography", which he argues "consciously steers clear of the artificial divides between oral and literary cultures that lie at the heart of conceptualizations of oral tradition" and also allows for the inclusion of folklife sources found in ethnological studies of material and visual culture. Finnish folklorist Lauri Honko has referred to the re-contexted exploitation of folklore as its "second life". Irish folklore material
5168-508: The word folklore has deep meaning to its people and brings societies together, it is a word that has ideological significance in the country. To put it succinctly, folklore is an important part of the national identity. When Christianity was first brought in Ireland during the 5th century by missionaries, they were not able to totally wipe out the pre-existing folklore and beliefs in God-like fairies. But folklore did not remain untouched, and
5244-618: Was based on the Uppsala system he studied, and the books became the standard bible for any Irish folklore collector. An effort to catalogue all the known international folk tales in Ireland, either in print or in oral circulation (as of 1956) was mounted by Seán Ó Súilleabháin and Reidar Thoralf Christiansen , culminating in The Types of the Irish Folktale (1963), a compilation of some 43,000 versions under 700 international tales. Christiansen
5320-550: Was fought, during which significant battles occurred at The Battle of Oulart Hill during the 1798 rebellion . Vinegar Hill (Enniscorthy) and New Ross . The famous ballad " Boolavogue " was written in remembrance of the Wexford Rising. At Easter 1916, a small rebellion occurred at Enniscorthy town, on cue with that in Dublin . During World War II , German planes bombed Campile . In 1963 John F. Kennedy , then President of
5396-524: Was later appointed to head the Irish Folklore Commission (IFC) in established by the Irish government in 1935. Seán Ó Súilleabháin was the archivist for the IFC since its inception. After having undergone 3 month tutelage in Uppsala , Sweden under C. W. von Sydow on the methods of folklore archiving, the archivist became instrumental in establishing collecting policies for the IFC. One of Ó Súilleabháin's projects
5472-479: Was not until 1846 that the word "folklore" was coined, by English writer William Thoms , to designate "the manners, customs, observances, superstitions , ballads , proverbs , &c of the olden time". The term was first translated into Irish as béaloideas (lit. 'oral instruction') in 1927. Tales have been traditionally recounted in fireside gatherings, such social gatherings, in which traditional Irish music and dance are also performed, are labeled by some as
5548-499: Was recognised in Seán Ó Súilleabháin's A Handbook of Irish Folklore , which includes a chapter specifically dedicated to collecting "Historical Tradition". Irish folk history was commonly known by the name seanchas , a term defined by Séamus Ó Duilearga as "orally preserved social-historical tradition." When conducting fieldwork in county Fermanagh, the American folklorist Henry Glassie ,
5624-549: Was the Schools' Scheme for primary school children to collect folklore (1937-1938). IFC established a network of 200 or 300 correspondents all over Ireland to whom long questionnaires were sent out to task them with particular areas of folklore collecting. Ó Súilleabháin soon compiled a how-tow guidebook for folklore-collecting fieldwork, entitled Láimh-Leabhar Béaloideasa (1937) in Irish, later expanded and published in English as A Handbook of Irish Folklore (1942). The methodology
5700-464: Was the creator of the index of Norwegian migratory legends (ML index), and Bo Almqvist adapted this for Irish legends, calling it MLSIT (for Migratory Legend Suggested Irish Type). Although The Types of the Irish Folktale purportedly deals with folktale but not folk legend, there are found to be some intersections between these comparative study apparatuses. Folklore is a part of national identity, and its meaning has evolved through time. In Ireland
5776-517: Was witnessed. One of the major example of this is the existence of legends featuring both Saint Patrick , a central figure in the Irish church, and fairies (for example, "The Colloquy of the Ancients" is a dialogue between Saint Patrick and the ghost of Caeilte of the Fianna, an ancient clan of Celtic warriors). All in all, the current Irish folklore shows a strong absorption of Christianity, including its lesson of morality and spiritual beliefs, creating
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