Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch

by Lora O'Brien

Irish Witchcraft From an Irish Witch is a delightful mixture of academia and accessibility; a book that explores Witchcraft in how it was, is, and will be. It succeeds where many books have failed-fulfilling the longing for real Irish Witchcraft, while crafting the delicate balance between learning from the past and weaving a modern system based on truth and respect. Lora O'Brien is a genuine Irish Witch, making no claims of "fraudulent family traditions"-she is simply a woman who walks her path and shares her experiences, working closely with her heritage and land in a contemporary setting. Irish Witchcraft From an Irish Witch explores the * Providing an investigation of the Witches' place in Irish mythology. * Looking at Witchcraft and magic by examining the customs connected with the Sidhe. * Examining historical evidence of the Witch trials that swept across the isle. And the present and beyond * Working with Irish deities, landscapes, energies, and antiquities. * Examining the wheel of the year, with its festivals, cycles, and seasons of Irish culture. * Looking at ritual progression through a Witch's magical training, physical growth. * Providing alternatives to the traditional stages of a child's life in modern Irish culture.

Genres: Witchcraft, Paganism, Spirituality, Ireland, Nonfiction, Irish Literature, Magic

221 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Lora is an Author, Teacher, and Guide: born and raised in Ireland, with 25+ years personal and professional experience in our history, heritage, archaeology, mythology, and pre-christian Irish Spirituality.
Book publications include - Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch, 2004 (2nd Edition, 2020); A Practical Guide to Irish Spirituality, 2013; Rathcroghan - a Journey, 2015; Tales of Old Ireland - Retold, 2018; Harp, Club & Cauldron - A Harvest of Knowledge [editor, essay], 2018; Politics, Kinship and Culture in Gaelic Ireland [essay], (Wordwell) 2018; A Practical Guide to Pagan Priesthood, (Llewellyn) 2019; and The Irish Queen Medb, 2020.
She is a modern Draoí – a practitioner and priest of native Irish magic and spirituality. Lora has been consciously following a Pagan path since 1994, and dedicated specifically to the Irish Goddess Mórrígan in 2004.
She managed one of Ireland's most important sacred sites - Cruachán/Rathcroghan - for a decade, and is a co-founder and Reverend legal celebrant with Pagan Life Rites Ireland.
With her partner, Jon O'Sullivan (An Scéalaí Beag), she runs EelandOtterPress.net, and the IrishPaganSchool.com - an online learning environment where you can connect to the heritage, culture and spirituality of Ireland in an authentic and meaningful way, every day.
Lora has three children, one grandchild… but never enough plants in her life to keep her happy.
Though she’s not really one for a lot of responses to personal private messages - consider that your fair warning - you can find her in the comments section on her YouTube Channel content a couple of times a week, sending regular Irish Resources emails to her busy mailing list at LoraOBrien.ie, and personally moderating some very active community groups over on Facebook: The Morrigan’s Cave, Learn Ogham, Journeys in the Irish Otherworld, and the Irish Pagan School Community.
If you would like a personal consultation with Lora, to answer your questions on Irish spirituality, you can access that service here - https://irishpaganschool.com/p/lora-q-a

Reviews

[Dayanara Ryelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love Ireland a great deal. Though I’ve been there but once in this lifetime, I long to go back and swear I’ve had at least one past life there.

Which is precisely why this book is so concerning.


• The author claims those born in Ireland (or those of pure enough ancestry) who don’t live there “aren’t really Irish”, and that you need to live there for a while to understand Irish Witchcraft. Sorry, WHAT?! You dare shit on my muirníní? I’d happily see you crushed to gravel and sunk to the bottom of Loch nEathach for that—if I wasn’t concerned about pollution! (And having to live in a certain country to practice their magick is rubbish.)

• The author insists that it’s “disrespectful and possibly even dangerous” not to speak to the gods in Gaeilge.

Hang on a sec…I need to stop laughing. 🤦🏼‍♀️

Girl, I don’t know what kind of relationship you have with the Bantiarnaí Morrígan, but you’d better re-evaluate it, because it sounds like They’re doing you wrong!

Meanwhile, my goddess giggles when I try to learn Hindi and patiently reminds me that She’ll accept prayers in English, Spanish, Dutch or whatever language I feel like this week!


Those points were gleaned from the reviews of others, but then I pull the preview from Amazon find this passage in the introduction to the latest version:

…that I’m expecting too much by saying they should *GASP* make a Godsdamn effort to learn the language of the culture they are gaining from…

Considering only very basic Irish is taught in schools now (and you have to go to what Americans call immersion school to get beyond that), you shouldn’t have a problem with anyone speaking English, should you? (If I’d said that aloud, it would’ve been in a venomously sweet “fuck you, you overblown shamrock bitch!” kind of tone.)

As if looking down her nose at people who didn’t attend Gaelscoil wasn’t bad enough, the author had the audacity to bitch at the reviewers who complain that she’s very nasty, going so far as to say, “fuck them”.

HELLO?! Do you need Badbh to start throwing Her crows at your head before you understand what a giant asshole you are?! Are you that dim?

Serious seekers are floundering in a sea of raving authors and misconception-made-truth. Wicca is being diluted beyond all recognition by eclectic fluffies who do have the dreaded pick and mix attitude to religion.

Since you don’t say who you trust, are we to suppose that you’re the only one who isn’t a “raving” lunatic?

And being eclectic is a perfectly permissible path! To claim otherwise is to establish dogma, which Wicca and its ilk does not do! (She later claims that there’s no one right path…then what’s that steaming pile of crap I just quoted?)

I am just about to make myself vastly unpopular by stating that these eclectic mixes do not make you Wiccan. Wicca is a fairly specific belief system with certain criteria that should be mostly met before you could, in good faith and honesty, use the label Wiccan. The criteria are as follows.

You don’t get to define what makes someone Wiccan, O Dogmatic Queen of Smarminess! Certainly not by demanding degree systems, balanced-gendered memberships and covens! Especially not covens!

You may have heard it said that all Witches are Pagan, but not all Pagans are Witches. This is just not true. It makes the presumption that a Witch is the same thing as a Wiccan and, indeed, originates from a time when such was mostly true.

That is exactly what it means, you fucking halfwit! Paganism is an umbrella term that covers ALL non-Abrahamic religions and says nothing about Witches being Wiccan and vice versa!

I have mentioned one term for the word Witch, which is a female user of magic: Bean Draoí…

So how is it that you seem to think Irish is the linguistic be-all and end-all of your practice, but don’t appear to know that bandraoi (one word, no accent) means “female druid”, and the common word for “Witch” is cailleach/fia-chailleach? (True, draoi also means “wizard” or “mage”, but usually “druid”.) Or do you think you know better than the dictionary now? (I should also note that double-checking myself on a few different Irish/English dictionaries isn’t my only source—I’ve seen other people use the term, too.) You yammer on about cultural appropriation, but you don’t mind stealing “druid” to describe your Witchcraft?

I turn the page and there’s a glossary…where she claims that “bean draoi” and “bandraoi” are two different terms that mean the same thing.

“Oh, I don’t want to use ‘cailleach’ because it means ‘evil hag’!” Yet you have no problem calling yourself a Druid when you’re not part of Ár nDraíocht Féin, the Druid Clan of Dana or anything else? (I’m not going to make the mistake of mentioning OBOD or it will give her the excuse to bitch more!) 🙄


Much as I’d like to know about her experience in Morgana’s Cave or what the hell the “Druidic Bed Sheet Brigade” is, I cannot stand reading more than a sample from the blowhard upon whom Brid frowns and Diancecht turns away!

If Éire thought the Ryan Report was shameful, maybe they ought to take a look at Lora O’Brien and send her beyond the Ninth Wave…

=====

Glossary
(with Connacht pronunciations, except where noted)

Ár nDraíocht Féin: “Our Own Magic”, though ADF can also refer to “A Druid Fellowship”. An American Druidry organization headed by Archdruid Isaac Bonewits. [“An Re-oak’t Fine”, if I remember right]
Badbh: “crow” or “Lady of the Crows”, one of the aspects of The Morrígan (with various spellings). [“Bive”, rhymes with “five”]
Bandraoi: “female druid”. [ban-dree]
Bantiarnaí: “ladies”, as in “lords and ladies”. [“bahn-tier-nah” in the singular]
Bean draoi: literally “woman druid”. [ban dree]
Cailleach: “witch”. [Kyle-yah]
Druid Clan of Dana: Druidic offshoot of the Fellowship of Isis, founded by FOI High Priestess Olivia Robertson.
Éire: traditional name of Ireland [“A-ruh”, though I pronounce it “Era”]
Gaeilge: properly, “Irish Gaelic”, though called “Irish” in regular conversation; just as “Scots Gaelic” is simply called “Gaelic”. [G’wale-guh]
Gaelscoil: Irish immersion school. [“Gale-skull” – thought I heard an Irish teacher say it like that in a YouTube video, and reddit confirmed]
Loch nEathach: Anglicized as “Lough Neagh”; or, if you prefer, “That big body of water in the midst of Northern Ireland”. [The Anglicized version is always the proper pronunciation of the Irish version]
The Morrígan: is referred to with an article attached to the front because She is a triune goddess typically thought of in the singular. (Hence referring to Her as “the Ladies Morrígan”.) I’m used to thinking of Her as Badbh, Macha and Nemain, though Stephanie Woodfield (who I actually trust!) went into a lengthy explanation in Priestess of the Morrigan about why those aren’t necessarily the right three. (I forget what she said—sorry!) [I’ve heard that it should be pronounced as it’s read, but I’ve read at least one book in my lifetime that said it was “Mor-ee-en”, so grain of salt!]
Muirníní: “darlings” or “sweethearts”. The friend (and Gaelscoil graduate!) who told me about the singular form said it’s the sort of word you’d use for your children rather than your partner. [Singular is “m’were-neen”]
OBOD: The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, a British Druidry organization. (See why she’d complain?) Not only is it one of the best known (ADF might be second place), but I’ve completed the Bardic level (though without having written the essay to be promoted to Ovate).

[Steve Cran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I debated at first as to whether to give this book a three star or a four star review. I voted a four star and I can tell you why. The first chapter cuts through a lot of BS and myth. She tells you clear cut that there is a difference between being a Wiccan and Witch . There is also a difference between being a Pagan and a witch. Lot's of people call themselves Wiccans or eclectic Wiccans even when they practice is pulled to together from many different books and really does not even remotely resemble Wicca.

The Next dose of common sense is the importance of learning about the Irish culture and traveling to Ireland if you want to practice Irish Witchcraft. If you want to communicate with the Irish Gods and Goddesses then learn Irish or at least make the effort. They will appreciate you for it. The author advocates moving to Ireland at least for a bit. I must say that in this respect I agree with her wholeheartedly. If you want to practice this system then immerse yourself.

She goes through a list of all the Gods and and Goddesses and tells us what areas of specialty they are involved in. Dgda is a god of fertility. Morgana is a goddess of war and magic. It is important to study and know these deities if we want to work with them. She gives good sources at the end of the book for further research. Something I advise checking out.

The Section on faeries is heft and informative. They are not like Tinker bell at all and some could be rather vicious. treat them with respect and have your courage ready to over come any fear. Faeries do not like people who grovel. She discusses where faeries live and a few stories connected to faeries and how they tutored some humans in magic. Lora does a good job separating them from spirits of the trees, genus loci and the Sidhe. She gives some techniques on how to connect with the spirits of the trees.

I liked her personal anecdote of going into Morgana's cave. There is definitely a line between a true spiritual seeker and a tourist who comes to visit a faery site and pretends to get something out of it.Her encounter with Morgana was frightening and it is no light thing to dedicate oneself to a deity.

While the book is very common sensical I got the feeling that the book had a lot of Wiccan input regardless. I mean what exactly is Irish Witchcraft. The author states that her coven which used to be Wiccan is now more eclectic pulling from different sources such as Crowley's OTO. She says in the beginning of her book that she will not spoon feed the reader or give over any spells. I have nothing solid on which to base Irish witch craft on. No model technique. Do Irish Witches draw circles or is that up to the individual practitioner. I have nothing against freestyle magicians or sorcery whcih is really what the book seems to be save that she gave it the title "Irish Witchcraft" Every sort of witch craft and magical system has a set of techniques. We need sample so we can create our own in the spirit of Irish witchcraft.

That being said the author's Wiccan influence comes in strong and steady. Nothing wrong with that just label it as what it is. Wicca with an Irish twist. The initiation and degree system is Wiccan with the exception that they use Irish Terms. The book give a good over view for the non Irish into Irish culture which is definitely of value. The book is a starting point and definitely good for the beginner. For the more advanced they may wish to go a little deeper.

[Morighan Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the very best books I have ever read on Irish Witches. She tells it exactly as I was raised to believe it to be. Plus it is a historical book in the making, Lora O'Brien is one of the first authors to write a book about the Irish Craft who is actually an Irish Witch that lives in Ireland. She explains alot of things in this book that I have never before heard explained in the way she does it. Very easy to understand and get a good grasp on!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title is a misnomer: she rants on about Wicca vs witchcraft but shares very little about practice itself. She talks of seasons, gods, and myths, and her information is broad and well-researched. Often her tone is condescending. Her sharing is wordy, and desperately needs editing to pare down unnecessary sentences. The book needs copy editing as well, with grammar challenges as well as confusion about "its" vs. "it's." Overall, an enjoyable read.

[Ariel Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lora O'Brien enlightens the reader to the fact that Wicca and Witchcraft are not the same thing - a misapprehension that permeates the whole craft. This book is educational, and a must read for any considering becoming a Witch, or taking up Wicca.

[Mica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truthfully, I expected much more than this book provides. However, it wasn't terrible and I particularly enjoy the chapters detailing a few choice Irish deities and the four "major" agricultural festivals. The author shares her own initiatory experience and I quite enjoyed the telling.

What gave me a slightly negative bias early on was a suggestion for a cleansing using a sage smudging or a Tibetan singing bowl. Neither of these techniques are remotely Irish, so I am at a loss on what they have to do with Irish witchcraft ( which in itself appears to be based on traditional Wicca, although the author contradicts herself on regularly).

I would have liked to read more about unique Irish practices. All said, it's worth a read, albeit a quick one.

[Julia M Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bridges the Chasm

It can be challenging to step out of the pop culture clinate of what is neo-paganism. Years can go wasted and development stagnate while stuck churning through the absolute junk that purports to be "Celtic/IrishPaganism". This book more than sufficiently helps one to put their feet on a sure path to a spirituality that has some substance.

[jules revel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book. Straightforward and from the heart (gut). It really felt like meeting someone I’ve been wanting to run into for years. No over dramatic nonsense, no handholding just a clear and thoughtful perspective on how to develop a meaningful and deep spiritual life in relationship with the gods, the land, the ancestors and spirits.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book I needed for the last 10+ years. Finally, a book about real, authentic, native, Irish spirituality. Made so many things clearer and deepened by understanding. A book whose substance I finally feel a deep rooted ancestral connection to.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on the history and current stance on paganism in Ireland. A really strong jumping off point in learning more about the traditions that are still known, the folklore tied to it, and also how Catholicism weaved its way into the practice. There are a lot of examples given from the author’s own practice, but given her knowledge and background in the subject I trust it far more than something like Buckland or even certain books by Cunningham riddled with UPG.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is no spell book, but there are hundreds of those, this is deeper. This is the stuff that matters after you've tried that love spell you found on Pinterest. This is what will carry you for years and years.

[Ariel Rois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Lora O'Brien has done her research and came up with I believe the definitive book on Irish Witchcraft.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lora us an expert on Irish traditions and history

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bluntly honest book from someone who clearly writes as she speaks. Lara writes from the heart and takes her path seriously, and she poured all of that into this book to pass on her knowledge, even revisiting the book years later to update and revise it, even making notes on where it was revised to have through transparency with her readers.

Reading this was like listening to her podcasts. To the point, and no fluff. It keeps your attention and not a single wasted paragraph. This book gives and gives for those who wish to learn more on Irish Paganism and I will recommend it to whoever is curious about it.

[Jinx Whitman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do feel that the book is misnamed. The title “Irish Witchcraft” very much implies a discussion of practice, which is not to be found in this book. It would be more accurately named “Irish Paganism” with perhaps a subtitle having to do with the discussion of witches, but not their practice.

Is the book good? Mostly. There are a couple places where she says something factually incorrect, which is unfortunate since this is the second edition and she absolutely had the opportunity to correct those mistakes. Also, Aleister Crowley is listed as a resource, who famously pulled most of his “information” out of his ass. Not a great look.

[Ann Downs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this while in Ireland, which gave it a certain magic.

[Dave Astels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book by someone who lives the material.

[Mark Cusack]

good source for genuine folklore. bullies new age crystal hippy Americans alot. pretty good

[Patience Virtue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is exactly what I was looking for, exactly what I've been looking for in a book for years now. It was an amazing book, and I can already tell it's going to be one I reread and recommend many times in the future. From an Irish-American Witch across the pond, thank you Lora O'Brien.

[K.N. Timofeev · Rating 3 out of 5]

meh. I really didn't care for this book one way or another. It really didn't give me anything that I already didn't know or have a mild understanding of. I did like how she updated some of her previous views about sex and gender but all in all, I didn't think this book was anything special.