The Sacred Isle: Belief and Religion in Pre-Christian Ireland

The Sacred Isle examines religious belief in Ireland from its earliest human settlement through the arrival of Christianity in the 5th century. Dáithí Ó hÓgáin brings together archaeological evidence, Irish literature and folklore to assess what can reasonably be inferred about ancient practice and belief.

Tumuli, stone henges and circular enclosures are considered alongside heroic tales, traditions surrounding wells and springs, and stories of the Tuatha Dé Danann. The book also discusses pre-Celtic cultures, Iron Age belief, druids and their teachings, the society of the gods, rites of sovereignty and the changing religious landscape brought by Christianity. Its approach places legendary material beside physical remains and later traditional survivals, without treating conjecture as settled fact.