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Ireland's Wild Plants: Myths, Legends and Folklore
In ancient Ireland there were 365 different parts to the body, and a different plant to cure each part. So the wild plants of Ireland are bound up in our culture and folklore from the earliest times. To arry a four-leaved shamrock brings luck in gambling, while putting nine ivy leaves under her pillow means a girl will dream of her future husband. Here plants are described in seasonal order, a perspective dating back to our ancestors. Different aspects of plant folklore are examined following a brief history of traditional herbal medicine in Ireland. Included are their roles in magical protection, in charms and spells (especially for love!), as emblems in children’s games, and in Irish place names.
461 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 8, 2019
Fascinating account of the various indigenous plants, their uses and believed properties. Happy to say I don't live in those times - the level of superstition is hard to imagine. Life would be difficult enough without having to deal with that!
March 17, 2019
Enthusiastically five stars.
This book contains detailed information on Irish wild plants, and on plants which are not from Ireland but have become natiiralised, such as mistletoe.
It provides for each plant:
Irish, English and alternative name in Irish dialect, USA, England, and other countries
Scientific name
Folk beliefs and customs
Legends and mythology
Practical and herbal uses
Beautiful and detailed illustrations
Zodiac and planet associations in traditional herbal medicine
While I have no interest whatsoever in planets and astrology, I found the legends and folklore bits very interesting. They extend to Norse and other European traditions.
The real reason why I bought the book, though, was that I had decided to go herb-picking in Connacht.
A tiny bunch of tarassacum (cicorietta selvatica, for Italians) comes as dear as €3 at the market, until you realise that it grows spontaneously pretty much everywhere in Ireland. And everybody knows how obsessed we, people from Rome, are with cicoria as a side dish. So I decided to stop longing for it in silence, and to start picking it for myself. The same can be said for wild garlic, rocket and so on.
This book provides most of the information I need, and it also contains an introduction and a chapter on Aspects of Plant Folklore with early law, themes of plant folklore and plants in place names.
The same guy also wrote a book about trees, one about birds and one about animals, and I think they will soon join the collection...
This book contains detailed information on Irish wild plants, and on plants which are not from Ireland but have become natiiralised, such as mistletoe.
It provides for each plant:
Irish, English and alternative name in Irish dialect, USA, England, and other countries
Scientific name
Folk beliefs and customs
Legends and mythology
Practical and herbal uses
Beautiful and detailed illustrations
Zodiac and planet associations in traditional herbal medicine
While I have no interest whatsoever in planets and astrology, I found the legends and folklore bits very interesting. They extend to Norse and other European traditions.
The real reason why I bought the book, though, was that I had decided to go herb-picking in Connacht.
A tiny bunch of tarassacum (cicorietta selvatica, for Italians) comes as dear as €3 at the market, until you realise that it grows spontaneously pretty much everywhere in Ireland. And everybody knows how obsessed we, people from Rome, are with cicoria as a side dish. So I decided to stop longing for it in silence, and to start picking it for myself. The same can be said for wild garlic, rocket and so on.
This book provides most of the information I need, and it also contains an introduction and a chapter on Aspects of Plant Folklore with early law, themes of plant folklore and plants in place names.
The same guy also wrote a book about trees, one about birds and one about animals, and I think they will soon join the collection...
February 11, 2025
It was repetitive and ultimately boring. I thought it would be like 'Around the World in 80 Plants' but for just Ireland. It was not and missed the mark. Many facts were stated and there was no further elaboration while the folklore was repeated for various plants copy/paste style. Additionally much of the folklore told was Scottish, Welsh, or English. I wasn't interested in anything other than Irish so the book really could have been 75% shorter due to the lack of Irish content.
May 3, 2021
Great reference book about Ireland’s plants. Easy to follow and find information
Well written with information about the myths along with practical descriptions. Easy to follow with plenty of details. I strongly recommend this book
Well written with information about the myths along with practical descriptions. Easy to follow with plenty of details. I strongly recommend this book
December 30, 2022
Beautiful illustrations and a wonderful concept. I loved the book's combination of folklore and history
November 17, 2023
Wonderful folkloric guide to the plants of Ireland! Great stories, botanical information, and historic facts.
May 28, 2024
A wonderful collection of plant folklore. Just what I was looking for.
February 12, 2023
This gets three stars for the amazing art but the entries are shallow and imbued with too much "Celtic" fake lore. Not for serious students of Gaelic history.
April 5, 2013
Just finished "Irish Wild Plants: Myths, Legends & Folklore" by Niall MacCoitie. The book was just ok nothing great but a nice read.
Would I recommend it to others: yes. Would I read it again: yes.
Would I recommend it to others: yes. Would I read it again: yes.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews