Popular guide to folk beliefs, old wives' tales and other spooky stuff from the Irish countryside from one of Ireland's leading folkorists.
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Irish Superstitions includes a list of good-luck charms, spells, soothsayings and other irrational but charming and creative folk beliefs. There are charms and spells to make the crops grow, to keep cattle healthy, to ensure safe childbirth, and many other longed-for desires. Most superstitions are of pagan origin; many were overlaid with popular Christian belief.
The late Dáithi O hOgain was the author of several books of poetry, short stories and academic research. Born in Bruff, Co. Limerick, Dáithi O hOgain was educated at University College Dublin. As Professor of Irish Folklore in UCD, his main interests lay in the interplay between folklore and literature and the ways in which folklore enriches the individual imagination and creative culture. O hOgain was the author of six collections of poetry, among them Cois Camhaoireach, Idir an Da Dhealbh and Footsteps from Another World, and three short story collections: Breacadh, Imeall an Bhaile and Scealta Nua. His literary and folklore research includes Fionn Mac Cumhaill, Celtic Warriors, The Sacred Isle, The Celts-A History and Ireland-People and Places. He was a well-known broadcaster on radio and television, and also had four radio plays produced.