Visions of the Cailleach
Exploring the Myths, Folklore
and Legends of the pre-eminent Celtic Hag Goddess
By Sorita d'Este and David Rankine
Standing astride the British landscape,
looms the giant blue form of the Cailleach. Whether she
is seen as a benevolent earth-shaping giantess, harsh
winter hag goddess, shape-shifting crone, guardian of
sacred wells and animals, or ancient bestower of sovereignty;
the Cailleach appears in many roles and manifestations
in myths and legends across the British Isles.
Tracking the Cailleach across thousands
of years through folklore, literature and place names,
the authors have uncovered startling references which
hint at a hidden priestess cult worshipping the Cailleach
from ancient times through into the twentieth century.
By exploring her myths and legends, they demonstrate
the hugely significant role of the Cailleach in the
early history of the British Isles.
The demonization of the Cailleach through
the Middle Ages by the Christian Church paralleled that
of women and witches, and is reflected in various other
supernatural hag figures possibly derived from her and
discussed in detail, such as Black Annis, Gyre Carling,
Mia Lia, Nicneven and the Old Woman of the Mountain.
Looking beyond the veil of the sacred landscape, the
vision of the Cailleach confronts the seeker, in hills
and rocks, lakes and wells, burial chambers and stormy
skies. Now finally the primal elemental power of the
Cailleach is revealed in her full glory, in the tales
and places of Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man;
as well as in traces of her presence in England, Wales,
Jersey, Brittany, Spain and Norway.
This unique and ground-breaking work
brings together for the first time the wealth of folklore,
stories and legends regarding this most significant
of British supernatural figures, whose myths and wisdom
are as relevant today as they have ever been.
Introduction
CHAPTER 1
Origins Set in Stone
The European Origins of the Cailleach
From Spain to Ireland
A Maltese Origin?
The Irish Manuscripts
Name Connections
Goddess or Spirit?
The Different Names of the Cailleach
The Possibility of a Priestess Cult
CHAPTER 2
Earth Shaper
1. The Cailleach in Scotland
2. The Cailleach in Ireland
3. The Cailleach in England
4. The Cailleach in Wales
5. The Cailleach on the Isle of Man
6. The Cailleach in Jersey
7. The Cailleach in Brittany
8. The Cailleach in Norway
CHAPTER 3
Water Witch
1. Predicting the Weather
2. The Cailleach in the Carmina Gadelica
3. Summoning the Water
CHAPTER 4
Crone of Winter
1. Winter Customs
2. The Cailleach and Bride
3. The Woman of the Mist
CHAPTER 5
Oldest Spirit
1. The Cally-Berry
2. The Cold May-day Monday
3. The Cailleach Bhéarthach and the Walker
4. The Cailleach Béarra’s Box
5. Never Ask A Woman Her Age
CHAPTER 6
Lady of the Beasts
1. The Lucky Poachers
2. The Cailleach and the Stupid Deer
3. The Cailleach’s Song
4. The Story of Mongan
5. The Old Woman Outwits the Devil
6. The Cailleach Ends the Viking Age
7. The mark left by Cailleach Béarra
CHAPTER 7
Shapeshifter
1. The Cailleach Bheur and Loch Bà (I)
2. The Cailleach Bheur and Loch Bà (II)
3. Thomas the Rhymer
CHAPTER 8
Bestower of Sovereignty
1. Princess Beara
2. Niall of the Nine Hostages
3. The Adventure of Daire’s Sons
4. The Daughter of the King under the Waves
CHAPTER 9
Seer & Foreteller of Doom
1. The Caillagh ny Gueshag
2. The Golden Apples of Lough-Erne
3. Foreteller of Doom
CHAPTER 10
Malevolent Cailleach
1. The Gyre Carling
2. The Cailleach of Gleann na mBiorach and the Black Bull
3. The Cailleach Bhéarthach and Donnchadh Mór
Mac Mánais
4. The Cailleach Mhore of Cilbrick
5. The Heron of Lock a-na-Cailleach
CHAPTER 11
Possible Cailleach derivatives
1. Black Annis
2. Glaistig
3. Juan White
4. Mala Lia
5. Muilidheartach
6. Nicneven
7. St Bronagh
Bibliography
Index
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PB, RRP £9.99, 144
pages,
ISBN 978-1-905297-24-5
First published by Avalonia, 2009
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