Welcome to Eòlas, a site about Gaelic Polytheism.
I’m Marissa, a Gaelic Polytheist living in the central belt of Scotland. I have a background in Celtic Studies and this little website is basically a product of two of my greatest obsessions in life (and way too much time on my hands).
Eòlas is intended to be an inclusive resource for Gaelic Polytheists or anyone else who might be looking for a better idea of what the pre-Christian beliefs and practices that ultimately originated in Ireland during the Iron Age were like, helping to give you a better understanding of how the past could shape our present.
I believe Gaelic Polytheism is a religious tradition where racism, bigotry, prejudice, homophobia, transphobia, or ableism have no place whatsoever. While I hope this is apparent in my work, I think it’s also important to state that upfront in order to make it as clear as possible, especially in today’s political climate.
If you’d like to delve a bit deeper into Gaelic Polytheism then you might like to take a look at the books I’ve written, which kind of function as an expansion of (and companion to) this website:
An Introduction to Gaelic Polytheism (March 2022)
Saining for Gaelic Polytheists (August 2022)
A Guide to Ogam Divination (December 2022)
Imbolc for Gaelic Polytheists (January 2024)
Beltaine for Gaelic Polytheists (April 2024)
Lugnasad for Gaelic Polytheists (July 2024)
Samain for Gaelic Polytheists (October 2024)
Paying the Rent to Manannán and Other Festivals (April 2025)
The latest volume in the list here focuses on the other, ‘lesser’ festivals in the Gaelic year, with chapters on Sheelah’s Day in Ireland (March 18), Là na Caillich in Scotland (March 25), the tradition of paying the rent to Manannán in the Isle of Man and the rites to Áine at Knockainey at Midsummer, with Michaelmas, harvest home, and the Midwinter period (including the new year) rounding things off.
Please click the links or see the Books page for more details!
If you’d like a taster of the kind of things I write about, just take a look around this website. The pages are broadly arranged in order, so if you just start with the ‘Basics’ page and work your way along you should get a decent idea of where I’m coming from.
I’d like to thank each an every person who’s left a review on one of my books. Your feedback means a lot (and cute photos of dogs are always welcome!). If you’d like to get in touch, with any comments, corrections, requests, or criticisms, you can email me at hegartypegarty@gmail.com or send me an ask or DM on Tumblr. While I always try to respond to any queries, please be aware that my circumstances have changed quite dramatically in recent months after the sudden loss of my husband. As you can imagine there’s a lot to deal with at the moment and I may not have the time or bandwidth to reply just now. That doesn’t mean you’re not welcome to get in touch.
The future of Eòlas and any future publications is a bit up in the air at the moment but I do have some books in the works that I hope to publish at some point. Beyond that, who knows? Your support means a lot, though. Always.
Thank you.
About the Book
An Introduction to Gaelic Polytheism
Gaelic Polytheism is a religious tradition that aims to bring what we know of the ancient beliefs and practices of the people of Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man into the present day — in as much as we can.
This book offers an introduction to Gaelic Polytheism, exploring the different kinds of evidence that are available to us, their strengths and weaknesses, and how they can all be woven together to create a meaningful ‘everyday’ practice.
Take a look at the fundamentals of prayer, offerings, and learn about how our knowledge of pre-Christian cosmology can influence a Gaelic Polytheist approach to shrines and altars as much as ritual and ceremony — including the kinds of gestures or actions we might incorporate into our religious expressions.
Examples of prayers and liturgy are outlined, ranging from the informal, day-to-day ways of reaching out to the gods, spirits, and ancestors, through to the more formal, meditative, and contemplative end of the scale. These are all given in Scottish Gaelic and English, and a detailed commentary accompanies each prayer or ritual format to explain the choices that have been made in adapting or composing them from scratch (as applicable). This is intended to offer some necessary background information, but should also help the reader tailor them to their own personal focus or needs.
An extensive glossary and pronunciation guide is included to help the beginner as they get to grips with the language and terminology that’s used in this volume, while comprehensive references are given throughout to allow the reader to delve deeper into their own research.
Available to purchase from Amazon in paperback or eBook in all markets.
Eòlas 