Category Archives: Halloween

SPOOKTACULAR 2015

Posted on October 31, 2015 by edmooneyphotography

By the time you are reading this, children all over the country will be up and getting ready for Halloween, be it Dressing up, Trick or Treating or a visit to the Bonfire, Samhain is well and truly underway. So … Continue reading →

Posted in Halloween, History, Photography, Samhain | Tagged America, Canada, Challenge, Creepy, England, Ghost, Halloween, Haunted, History, Ireland, Italy, Samhain, Spooktacular, Travel | 48 Comments

Tlachtga and the Sacred Flame

Posted on October 30, 2015 by edmooneyphotography

As the big day approaces, I thought it might be nice to share with you the story of Tlacghta, considering its fascinating history and importance in the Samhain celebrations. So for those of you whom have not seen this before, … Continue reading →

Posted in Diary of a Ruinhunter, Halloween, Photography, Samhain | Tagged Co. Meath, Druidess, Druids, Flame, Godess, Halloween, Harvest, Ireland, Nikon, photographer, Photography, Tara, Tlachtga, Travel | 26 Comments

A Gaelic Ghost Story

Posted on October 29, 2015 by edmooneyphotography

Last week my two youngest bundles of joy came home from school, full of excitement. They had been learning some of the gaelic words in class for the likes of Ghost/Púca or Taibhse, Witch/Cailleach, Vampire/Drochfhola. It was so great to … Continue reading →

Posted in Halloween, History, Legends, Samhain | Tagged Ed Mooney Photography, Faerie Folk, Halloween, Haunting, historical, Ireland, Legend, Legends, Mythology, Samhain, Shapeshifter, Spirit Ghost, The Púca, The Pooka, Tuatha Dé Danann | 22 Comments

Tales from Ossory – Witches and Werewolves

Posted on October 26, 2015 by edmooneyphotography

Continuing on with the Samhain/Halloween Theme I would like to share with you and updated version of my take on a great medieval legend concerning the a case of Lycanthropy right here in Ireland. But first it is with great … Continue reading →

Posted in Halloween, History, Samhain | Tagged Halloween, Ireland, Legend, Medieval, Mythology, Ossory, photographer, Photography, Samhain, Travel, Werewolves, Witches | 53 Comments

Women of the Sidhe – Banshee

Posted on October 23, 2015 by edmooneyphotography

In ancient times a race of people arrived on a small island in the Atlantic Ocean which later became known as Ireland. These were the Tuatha Dé Danann or the children of the Goddess Danu. They were a magical people … Continue reading →

Posted in Halloween, History, Legends, Samhain | Tagged Banshee, Bean Sidhe, Death, Ghost, Halloween, Haunted, Ireland, Legend, Mythology, Ruinhunter, Samhain, Travel | 57 Comments

For the Blood is life

Posted on October 22, 2015 by edmooneyphotography

I’ve been getting into the spirit of the spooky season lately, brushing up on my Gothic Horror with the usual suspects, Stoker, Le Fanu and Shelley. I’ve even begun watching the old Hammer Horror classics like Horror of Dracula, The … Continue reading →

Posted in Capturing History Challenge, Halloween, History, Legends, Samhain | Tagged Bram Stoker, Camilla, Dracula, Gothic, Halloween, History, Ireland, Legend, Mythology, Samhain, Sheridan Le Fanu, Spooktacular, Vampire | 35 Comments

Origins of the Headless Horseman

Posted on October 16, 2015 by edmooneyphotography

We all know about the headless horseman, a particular scary character brought to life in Washington Irvine’s classic ‘’The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’’. But how many of you know that this fictional character is based on an actual legend … Continue reading →

Posted in Diary of a Ruinhunter, Halloween, Historical, Legends, Samhain | Tagged Gost, Haunted, History, Ireland, Kildare, Legends, Mythology, Samhain, Sppoktacular, Travel | 85 Comments

The Legend of Jack O’ Lantern

Posted on October 12, 2015 by edmooneyphotography

Every October, carved pumpkins begin to peer out from porches and doorsteps. These orange coloured fruits inscribed with ghoulish faces and illuminated by candles are a sure sign that the Halloween season has begun. However this was not always the … Continue reading →

Posted in Halloween, Legends, Samhain | Tagged Devil, Halloween, Ireland, Jack O Lantern, Kildare, Legend, Photography, Pumpkin, Samhain, Stingy Jack, Tradition, Travel, Willo the Wisp | 41 Comments

On This Night We Remember……. Honouring our Ancestors

Posted on October 9, 2015 by edmooneyphotography

Apart from being a New Year’s celebration or Harvest Festival, which predates the arrival of the Celts in Ireland, Samhain is a special time, were the past, present, and future all become intertwined. The dead and the inhabitants of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Halloween, Samhain | Tagged Customes, Halloween, Ireland, Kildare, Nikon, photographer, Photography, Samhain, Traditions, Travel | 35 Comments

Spooktacular 2015

Posted on October 1, 2015 by edmooneyphotography

Today is the first day of October, which marks the countdown to my absolute favourite time of the year, Samhain/Halloween. For the last couple of years, my Ruinhunting activities tend to die off during the month, mainly due to poor … Continue reading →