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Discover the enduring magic of ancient Irish folk remedies with Cures of Ireland, a captivating journey into the heart of Ireland's healing traditions.
It's said that almost everyone in Ireland, particularly in rural communities, will know of someone with a 'cure'. It might be for the mumps, a stye in the eye, or a sprain. Indeed, the author of Cures of Ireland, Cecily Gilligan was herself cured of jaundice and ringworm by a 'seventh son' in her local Sligo during her childhood. Cecily Gilligan has been researching the rich world of Irish folk cures for almost forty years and, given the tradition has largely been an oral one, has been interviewing a broad range of people from around the country who possess these mystical cures, and those who have benefited from their gifts. One has a cure for eczema that comprises herbal butter balls, another 'buys' warts from the sufferer with safety pins. There are stories of clay from graves with precious healing properties and pieces of cords from potato bags being sent across the world to treat asthma. While the Ireland of the twenty-first century continues to develop at lightning speed, there is something deeply comforting and reassuring in the fact that these ancient healing traditions, while fewer in number, do survive to this day. Cures of Ireland is an exquisitive book that will be treasured by many generations to come.
Published | Mar 04 2025 |
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Format | Hardback |
Edition | 1st |
Extent | 304 |
ISBN | 9798881805067 |
Imprint | Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |
Illustrations | 17 b/w illustrations |
Dimensions | 9 x 6 inches |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
Cures of Ireland, by Cecily Gilligan offers a meticulously researched and accurate record of Ireland's rich traditions of folk medicine, covering everything from herbal remedies to spiritual cures. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in Irish culture, history, or traditional healing practices, blending scholarly depth with engaging, accessible writing. The extensive research undertaken in this volume is a testament to the author's deep passion for this aspect of Irish tradition, further building upon the foundational work of Dr. Patrick Logan.
Rosari Kingston, PhD, author of Ireland's Hidden Medicine
Cecily Gilligan's study of traditional cures, and of their guardians, documents the enduring, widespread faith in their effectiveness. This book will be appreciated by readers with a curiosity about folk medicine.
Siobhán Barrett, lecturer in the Department of Early Irish, Maynooth University
This wonderful book is grounded in Gilligan's own extensive, original, interviewing about contemporary beliefs and practices about curing, and contextualised, with a light touch, by the necessary scholarship. It is another shining example of successfully bringing the study of folklore, based in rigorous proper research, to a wide audience.
The Folklore Society
Cures of Ireland captures a culture steeped in ancient wisdom and invested in preserving traditions and ways of life that are at risk of becoming obsolete. It is an appealing treasure trove of folk wisdom with connections to alternative medicine, herbalism, and cultural traditions.
Bella Moses, Foreword Reviews
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