Table of Contents

Visions of the Cailleach
Exploring the Myths, Folklore and Legends of the pre-eminent Celtic Hag Goddess

By Sorita d'Este and David Rankine

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