IRISH BELIEFS and SUPERSTITIONS

IRISH BELIEFS AND SUPERSITITIONS

    1.FAIRIES

           

These beliefs are almost died out now, but for many centuries the Irish were convinced of the existence of magical creatures such as leprechauns, pookas, selkies (seal-folk), merrows (mer-people) and the dreaded Banshee. Older folk will still tell tales of hearing a Banshee, or even of an encounter at night with a fairy sprite. According to legend fairies are little people who can do magic and bring people good or bad luck. A common name of fairies is 'The Good People'.

2. RELIGION

Ireland today is a multi-cultural society where all religions are embraced and respected as playing vital roles in the societal make-up of the country.

Other religious groups in Ireland include the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist Churches as well as Eastern Orthodox, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons and Salvation Army Communities.  There are also centres for Buddhists, Hindus, Baha'is and those of the Islamic and Jewish faiths. Most of Ireland’s higher institutions have suitable prayer rooms for students to practice their faith when they are studying in Ireland.

3.RAINBOWS

In Ireland we say leprechauns keep a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. If you catch a leprechaun, you can make him give you his treasure. Leprechauns are difficult to catch, though, because they are very clever! Irish also said God placed the rainbow in the sky as a reminder of the covenant He made to humanity –  to never again destroy the earth via flood.