Tomnafinnoge Woods in Wicklow
Deborah Sheehy

Journeying With Ireland’s Mythical Women

The Tomnafinnoge Woods in Wicklow, a rare remnant of Ireland’s great oak forests, is just one example of how the land and mythology intertwine.

 

The oak tree carried an exalted position in ancient Ireland. It was one of five great trees considered to be sacred above all others. The most famous was the enormous Oak of Mugna that magically bore three different crops each year of acorns, nuts and apples. (1) 

 

During the mythical planting of Ireland’s five sacred trees, the country’s five ancient provinces were divided into: Knowledge in the West (Connaught); Battle in the North (Ulster); Prosperity in the East (Leinster); Music in the South (Munster); and Royalty at the Centre (Mide, meaning middle). (2)

 

1. MacCoitir, N. (2003) 

– Gwynn, E. J. (1903-1935) MD, Vol III, Poems 22, 23, 24
2. Best, R. I. (1910)

Deborah Sheehy

Journeying With Ireland’s Mythical Women

For over 30 years, Deborah Sheehy has explored the forgotten stories of Ireland’s mythical women and their influence on our lives today. As an Author, she is finalising her debut book, The Untold Stories of Ireland’s Goddesses, that reawakens the ancient, yet timeless feminine voices of Ireland’s mythological past.

Through her work, she offers a pathway to reconnect with these extraordinary feminine archetypes, rooted deeply in the land and legends of Ireland. Welcome to a space where Ireland’s ancient myths and landscapes come alive, connecting you to the profound wisdom and power of the feminine.

Discover Ireland’s Forgotten Feminine Heritage

Deborah’s own journey began during her struggles with Endometriosis in her early 20s, which led her to uncover the healing power of Ireland’s mythical women and the remarkable roles they played in the legends. In Irish mythology, the feminine energy is more than a presence – it is the land itself. Many of Ireland’s mountains, rivers, and landmarks are named after goddesses or heroines of old, embodying their strength, wisdom, and legacy.

Today, Deborah shares her deep understanding of these legends to help others:

  • Explore the stories of Irish Goddesses such as Brigid, the Cailleach, Queen Maeve, the Mórrígan, Macha, Bóinn, Étaín, Áine, Danu and more.
  • Participate in storytelling circles to gain insight into the symbolic power of these mythical women.
  • Engage in guided meditations and visualizations to reconnect with these archetypes and rediscover their influence in your life.
  • Celebrate the ancient Irish seasonal festivals like Imbolc/Spring, Bealtaine/Summer, Lughnasa/Autum and Samhain/winter, honouring the wisdom of their female patrons.
  • Visit sacred landmarks tied to Ireland’s feminine myths, tapping into their transformative energies.
Healing Through Myth and Archetype

If you feel called to explore the rich feminine heritage of Ireland’s myths and how it can empower your life, Deborah offers consultations to see if her approach is the right fit for you.

Sliabh na Cailleach, Loughcrew

Sliabh na Cailleach (Hill of the Cailleach), Loughcrew, County Meath.

The Cailleach represents one of the oldest forms of the Goddess, often depicted as a divine hag. According to Irish mythology, she sculpted parts of the landscape, and her cairn (Cairn T) at the peak of Sliabh na Cailleach dates back over 5,200 years.

 

This ancient site aligns with the Spring and Autumn equinoxes, when the rising sun illuminates exquisite indigenous carvings within the chamber at sunrise. (1)

Spread across these hills are over 30 neolithic cairns, marking this place as a deeply significant sacred site.

 

1. Brennan, Martin (1994)

Ail na Muireann Hill of Uisneach

Ail na Muireann (the Stone of Divisions), Hill of Uisneach, Co. Westmeath

This sacred catstone, resting on the Hill of Uisneach, is the final resting place of Éire/Ériu, the sovereignty Goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Éire after whom Ireland (Éireann) is named, played a vital role in negotiating with the Gaels after their arrival to the island.

 

When Amergin and the Gaels encountered her on Uisneach, she appeared as a shape-shifting figure, transforming from a beautiful black-browed, wide-eyed woman to a sharp-beaked grey-white crow.(1) She declared that they would have no gain, nor their children, on the land, unless the land would bear her name, ensuring her lasting legacy.(2)

 

It is on the hill of Uisneach, that Éire in her role as Sovereignty Goddess, also conferred kingship onto future kings through the sacred marriage ritual of the ‘Ban Fheis’. As a sacred site, Uisneach symbolizes the symbolic centre or navel of Ireland, with the catstone being a portal to the mythical Fifth Province, believed to be a spiritual realm connecting the island’s four traditional provinces. This historic ceremonial site consists of numerous monuments and earthworks.(3)

 

1. Gregory, A. (1904)
2. Macalister, R.A.S. (1941) 3rd Redaction, Sec VIII.
– Macalister, R.A.S. (1941) Parts 1-5.
– Dobs, M. Ní C. (1937)

3. Uisneach, Hill of Website

 

There is a Bibliography at the bottom of the Gallery Page where full details for the numbered reference sources on this page can be found. 

Book a Consultation

If you’re interested in working with Deborah, she offers a brief, no-obligation 5-10 minute phone call to discuss whether her approach is right for you. 

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