Ireland’s Animal Folklore

A seal swimming in blue water.

In Irish folklore, selkies are shapeshifters who transform from seal to human and back. Their stories often carry notes of longing, loss and love between humans and sea spirits that can never quite last as they return to the sea.

The tales of selkies likely grew from coastal communities as they endeavoured to make sense of disasters at sea. A spectacular location for seal sightings is West Cork and the Great Blasket Islands, where they often seek refuge on the pristine beaches when the sea is proving too stormy. Why not explore selkie lore and the stunning Atlantic coastline on our Island Hopping – Cork & Kerry tour?

Interested in diving deeper into folklore? Learn more about selkies in this folklore blog on the topic. 

Gannets flying high.

Birds hold deep symbolic meaning in Irish folklore. The most notable example is the Mórrigan, goddess of fate, who often appeared as a crow or a raven in times of war and death. At the Cliffs of Moher in Co. Clare, birds such as guillemots, kittiwakes, and fulmars nest in rocky outcrops and call across the sea, enchanting visitors. They thrive here, connecting today’s travellers with ancient symbolism of the past.

Skellig Michael off the coast of Kerry is a phenomenal place to view puffins and gannets. These seabirds are often viewed as omens of change and transformation, as they were the Skellig monks’ only company during times of spiritual isolation on the islands.

We recommend birdwatching enthusiasts visit our guide to Birdwatching in Ireland.

If you are seeking to experience Ireland beyond the well-worn tourist paths, there is no better way to engage with the natural world than through the rich wildlife and folklore that has inspired the culture and heritage of Ireland for centuries.

As you explore the landscape – whether by hiking ancient woodlands, cycling along winding coastal roads, or hopping from island to island – you are stepping into a living canvas where nature and folklore exist side by side.

Folklore in the Landscape

Many place names in Ireland reference animals that thrive or once thrived there. Some examples of these are:

• Oileán an Mhada Uisce (Leitrim) – Otter Island
• Cnocán an Mhadra Rua (Cork) – The Hillock of the Fox
• Coill na Madadh (Monaghan) – The Wood of the Dogs

Folklore in the People

Many popular names in Ireland have been inspired by the native wildlife too:

• Éala – Swan
• Cuan – Little wolf
• Rónán – Little seal
• Oonagh – Lamb, young sheep