Ptolemy's map of ancient #Ireland and her peoples. It was made in 150AD using the geographical knowledge of Mediterranean traders.

The Greek geographer and explorer, Pytheas, passed through what is now Belfast on his famous expedition to Thule in the far north.

#Belfast

Roman senator and historian, Tacitus, claimed that Ireland could be subdued with 'a single legion' & would bring prosperity to the Empire:

#Tacitus

Hook Lighthouse in Co. Wexford, #Ireland - The oldest operational lighthouse in the world, its tower dates from the 12th century.

Blue hour at Fanad Head Lighthouse, Co #Donegal, Ireland.

Deireadh Fómhair (October) is the "End of Harvest" in Ireland. In the Gaelic calendar the new year begins on the 1st of Samhain (November).

Oct 31: Celtic holiday of Samhain, or "summer's end", is celebrated; a night where the dead are unleashed from the Otherworld to roam ours.

Samhain is a festival of both life & death: One's ancestors are honoured around communal fires, and the incoming year is celebrated joyfully.

In medieval Ireland, bonfires were lit at the Hill of Tara at #Halloween 👻 to commemorate kingly sovereignty over the land:

Irish poet Giolla Brighde, who died 1272 AD, defended the poets as keepers of ancient memory:

'The Window Seat', 1901 by Dublin artist William Orpen.

The painting depicts his wife Grace on their honeymoon in Bantry, Co Cork.

'The Chess Players' - William Orpen (1878-1931).

Grace reading at Howth Bay, by William Orpen, 1902.

#Howth

'Portrait of Yvonne Aubicq as a Nun' - William Orpen (1878-1931) date unknown.

#Irish

The Sídhe or 'hollow hills' found in Ireland are synonymous with the #Celtic Otherworld.

The space inside is vast & ruled by unique deities.

The inhabitants of the Sídhe look like humans but are different. They are superior: immortal, more beautiful & possess supernatural powers.

The word 'sídhe' - referring to the ancient burial mounds & barrows of Ireland - means 'the abode of the divinities'.

'A Spirit or Sídhe in a Landscape', by George William Russell (1867-1935).

The Aes Sídhe of Irish folklore resemble both the Roman numina & Germanic elves: the latter may have been a parallel supernatural race. Indo-European similarities.

In Irish mythic tradition, the Aes Sídhe are conceived of as 'unfallen humans' or as neutral angels that had no part in the war in Heaven.

One medieval viewpoint of the Aes Sídhe was that they were, "merciful angels sent before the coming of Christianity.. to guide the Irish":