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Introduction:
Lora O’Brien is a modern Irish Draoí (Druid) – an educator, author, and spiritual guide who has become a leading voice in the revival of indigenous Irish Pagan traditions. Born in Dublin in the late 1970s, O’Brien grew up immersed in Ireland’s historical landscape; her mother’s summer excursions to country manors and obscure archaeological sites, though “tremendously boring” to a young Lora, planted early seeds of curiosity about heritage and myth.
Over the past three decades, she has transformed that curiosity into a life’s work of teaching and writing about Irish history, mythology, and pre-Christian spirituality. A practicing Pagan since 1994 and a dedicated priest of the Irish goddess Mórrígan since 2004, O’Brien combines deep personal experience with rigorous scholarship. Her approachable style has made complex Celtic lore accessible to general readers and Pagan practitioners, while her academic credentials (including a recent Master’s degree) lend her work credibility with researchers. The result is a rare blend of authenticity and integrity: O’Brien’s voice speaks both to those seeking a soulful connection with Ireland’s past and to those seeking solid, well-researched information.
In this detailed biography, we explore Lora O’Brien’s background and contributions, followed by an annotated bibliography of her major works, highlighting themes, publication details, and their significance in the context of modern Irish Paganism.
🌟 Lora O’Brien Biography and Bibliography by Madeline Daly, with thanks.
Early Life and Spiritual Path
Born in Dublin, Lora O’Brien was raised with a strong sense of Ireland’s historical and cultural landscape. Her mother often took her on “long excursions to historical houses” and treks across fields in search of ancient monuments. As a child, O’Brien found these history-laden outings tedious, but in hindsight she recognizes that this “matriarchal madness” imparted a wealth of knowledge that would later prove invaluable.
By her teens, O’Brien’s latent interest in the old sites and stories of Ireland bloomed into a conscious spiritual path. At age 16 in 1994, she discovered Paganism through a book, an encounter that set her firmly on an Irish Pagan trajectory.
Embracing the native Irish spiritual heritage, she began to identify as a Draoí – which she describes simply as a druid or priest of indigenous Irish magic. This was the start of a lifelong dedication to Ireland’s gods and “Ungods” (a term she uses for all the other spirits of Irish lore).
In particular, O’Brien formed a personal devotional relationship with the Mórrígan – the formidable Irish goddess of battle, prophecy, and sovereignty – around 2004, just before her first book was published. She has remained a priest of the Mórrígan ever since, integrating the goddess’s lessons of transformation and sovereignty into her work and teaching.
O’Brien’s early twenties saw her turning passion into profession. She became a published freelance journalist and writer at 23, and by 26 had authored her first book. This debut, Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch (2004), was the first – or at least one of the first – modern books on Irish witchcraft written by a native Irish practitioner, signaling O’Brien’s mission to reclaim Irish magical heritage from what she once called the “appropriated and misunderstood ‘Celtic’ codswallop” prevalent in New Age circles. Around the same time, from 2000, she began teaching online, moderating and providing guidance on one of the world’s largest witchcraft forums. This combination of writing, online engagement, and community education became a hallmark of O’Brien’s career. It allowed her to reach a global audience of seekers interested in authentic Irish Pagan spirituality, long before such resources were widely available.
By the mid-2000s, O’Brien was not only teaching and writing but also actively building Pagan community in Ireland through events and public service.
Community Leadership and Scholarship
In addition to her personal spiritual practice, Lora O’Brien has played a pivotal role in organising and institutionalising the Pagan community in Ireland. For over a decade, she managed the Cruachán/ Rathcroghan Visitor Centre in County Roscommon, a site of immense historical and mythological importance. Rathcroghan (Cruachán) is the ancient royal complex of Connacht, fabled home of Queen Medb and a principal residence of the Mórrígan. O’Brien’s stewardship included care for Uaimh na gCait – the “Cave of the Cats” at Rathcroghan – a subterranean passage long regarded in folklore as the gateway to the Otherworld and closely associated with the Mórrígan.
For years, O’Brien guided visitors and pilgrims through Rathcroghan’s history and lore, literally and figuratively “bringing global attention” to this sacred landscape. Her work at Rathcroghan blended heritage tourism, education, and spiritual guardianship; it was not uncommon for her to lead academic researchers through the same limestone cave where she led Pagan ritualists seeking the goddess’s presence.
(Image: Lora at the exterior of Uaimh na gCat, the Cave of the Cats at Rathcroghan, an ancient Otherworld entry point that O’Brien oversaw during her tenure.)
Her hands-on experience with Ireland’s sacred sites deeply informed her later writing (notably her book Rathcroghan: A Journey), and affirmed her belief that connecting with the land is key to understanding Irish spirituality.
Lora O’Brien also co-organised Féile Draíochta, Ireland’s national Pagan festival, with her former High Priestess Barbara Lee, from its inception in 2003 through its entire run (up to 2015). This annual gathering provided a safe and vibrant space for Irish Pagans to celebrate, network, and learn. Through such efforts, O’Brien emerged as a respected community leader known for a practical, service-oriented priesthood.
In a 2019 interview, she reflected that she “stepped into the role of priesthood” out of necessity – simply because there was work to be done and community needs to be met. This no-nonsense ethic carried into her guidance for others: she emphasises that Pagan clergy must examine their motives, cultivate humility, and focus on serving the community and the gods rather than their own egos. To provide structure and support for Pagan rites of passage, O’Brien co-founded Pagan Life Rites Ireland in 2013, becoming a legally registered celebrant (Reverend) empowered to perform handfastings, funerals, and other ceremonies. Her role in Pagan Life Rites (with her fellow founders, Reverends, and celebrants) has helped professionalise and normalise Pagan ministry in Ireland, ensuring that modern practitioners have access to skilled and culturally aware clergy.
Perhaps Lora O’Brien’s most far-reaching initiative is the founding of The Irish Pagan School. Established in the late 2010s by O’Brien and her partner Jon O’Sullivan (a bard and Dagda priest), the Irish Pagan School is an online education platform offering courses on Irish mythology, deities, folklore, magic, and language.
O’Brien and O’Sullivan created the School with a clear mission: to provide “authentic connection to Ireland” for a global audience seeking genuine Irish teachings. The school’s classes – taught by many native experts – counteract the shallow or appropriative material that circulates in wider Neopaganism. Through live and recorded courses, a YouTube channel, blogs, and community forums, the Irish Pagan School has grown into a vibrant hub of Indigenous Irish spiritual knowledge.
O’Brien’s philosophy of education emphasises both academic rigour and decolonisation of spiritual practice. She regularly speaks at conferences and workshops in Ireland, the US, and Europe, sharing her knowledge of Irish lore and urging learners to engage respectfully with the source culture. In recent years, she also launched specialised sister schools: the Morrígan Academy (offering in-depth training for those dedicating to the Mórrígan, which evolved from a six-month intensive she began in 2014), and the Ogham Academy (focused on the Ogham alphabet and its cultural context). Each of these projects reflects O’Brien’s commitment to community and her knack for leveraging technology to spread wisdom.
Balancing her practical work, O’Brien has pursued formal scholarship to deepen her understanding of Irish heritage. In 2023, she earned a Master’s Degree in Irish Regional History from South East Technological University (in partnership with Carlow College), graduating with First Class Honours. Her M.A. research explored Ogham (the medieval Irish alphabet) and its role in shaping Irish identity – a topic bridging linguistics, history, and cultural symbolism.
This academic achievement underscores Lora O’Brien’s dual identity as scholar-practitioner. She approaches Irish spirituality with the respect of an insider and the scrutiny of a historian, citing medieval manuscripts and archaeological reports as readily as personal gnosis. O’Brien has contributed an essay to an academic anthology on Gaelic Ireland’s history, and her forthcoming works draw on her thesis findings.
By maintaining scholarly standards while catering to contemporary Pagans, she elevates the quality of discourse in the Pagan community. Now based in County Waterford with her partner and grown family, O’Brien continues to write and teach full-time. As of 2025, she has authored or edited eight books, with a much-anticipated ninth (on the Mórrígan) on the way. In the span of her career, she has evolved from a young witch writing for herself, to a community elder whose works bridge the gap between academic Celtic studies and lived Pagan religion.
The annotated bibliography below provides an overview of Lora O’Brien’s publications, each entry illuminating a facet of her contribution to Irish Pagan spirituality.
Annotated Bibliography of Major Works
- _Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch (2004; 2nd ed. 2020): Lora O’Brien’s first book is a groundbreaking exploration of witchcraft in Ireland, written from an insider’s perspective at a time when such voices were scarce. Described as “a delightful mixture of academia and accessibility,” it examines Irish witchcraft past and present – “how it was, is, and will be”lunaandlavenderco.com. The 2004 first edition (New Page Books) combined solid research on Irish myth and magic with O’Brien’s personal experiences, fulfilling readers’ “longing for real Irish Witchcraft” grounded in truth and respect for traditionlunaandlavenderco.com. In 2020, O’Brien released an updated and revised second edition (Eel & Otter Press) subtitled True to the Heart, bringing her early work up to date for a new generation. The book covers topics like the role of witches in Irish mythology, the influence of history and folklore on magical practice, and guidance on developing one’s own craft in an Irish context. Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch established O’Brien as a credible native voice in the Pagan book worldlunaandlavenderco.com, and remains influential as a foundational text that balances scholarly information with a conversational tone.
- _A Practical Guide to Irish Spirituality: Sli Aon Dhraoi (2012): This guide (first published by Wolfpack Publishers in 2012) functions as a course-in-a-book for those seeking to build a personal spiritual practice rooted in Irish traditionwiccanrede.org. Lora O’Brien presents a structured journey of nine chapters, each with questions, exercises, and suggested explorations – effectively a workbook to “re-create your own personalised modern system of Irish magic, connection and spiritual practice”wiccanrede.org. The material covers a broad range: ancestry and the honoring of ancient sites; the cycles of Irish seasonal festivals; the lore of the Sídhe (fairy folk); the gods and goddesses of Ireland; techniques of Otherworld journeying; and practical magic and ritual craftwiccanrede.org. Throughout, O’Brien encourages readers to actively engage – journaling, visiting sacred landscapes, and reflecting on what being Irish (spiritually) means to them. The guide’s tone is approachable and often directly addresses the reader as a student, offering “real information [and] honest and practical experience” alongside stories and mythswiccanrede.org. A Practical Guide to Irish Spirituality is significant in that it filled a gap for solitary practitioners: at a time when no complete ancient system had survived intact, O’Brien’s book provided a responsible framework to begin the work of reconstruction and personal growth in an Irish Pagan contextwiccanrede.orgwiccanrede.org.
- _Rathcroghan, A Journey: Authentic Connection to Ireland (2013): Blending travelogue, mythology, and spiritual reflection, this book takes the reader on a tour of 13 archaeological sites in the Rathcroghan complex – the royal heart of Connacht and a cradle of Irish legend. Lora O’Brien draws on her years as Rathcroghan site manager and guide, sharing the stories of the land in a uniquely personal yet informative style. Each chapter focuses on a specific location (from the Mórrígan’s Cave of the Cats to Queen Medb’s cairn), recounting its history and folklore, and then delving into an inspired narrative or lesson O’Brien has gleaned from that place. Subtitled “Authentic Connection to Ireland,” the book invites readers to join O’Brien on a pilgrimage through story – effectively bridging academic knowledge and intuitional insight. It is part of O’Brien’s self-published “Irish Folklore Series” (CreateSpace, 2013) and runs just over 150 pages, yet it succeeds in conveying the profound sense of connection to the land that is central to Irish spirituality. For those who cannot physically visit Roscommon’s green fields, Rathcroghan, A Journey offers an armchair voyage that is as educational as it is enchanting. It underscores O’Brien’s belief that mythology is best understood in situ: through the landscape that birthed it and the experience of place.
- _Harp, Club & Cauldron – A Harvest of Knowledge (2018): Co-edited by Lora O’Brien and Morpheus Ravenna, this curated anthology from Eel & Otter Press gathers essays and research on Celtic Pagan practice and lore. The volume’s title evokes three emblematic items – harp (music/poetry), club (warrior strength), and cauldron (magic/knowledge) – signaling the breadth of its contents. O’Brien served as editor and contributor, guiding the project to fruition. One of the chapters, for example, is a study of the Dagda (a Gaelic god) and cosmology, which originally appeared in this bookmythicalireland.com. The collection features work by multiple authors (scholars, reconstructionist polytheists, and tradition-bearers) on topics ranging from deity studies and myth interpretation to practical aspects of modern druidry and magic. Harp, Club & Cauldron is noteworthy for its community scholarship model: it’s a harvest of knowledge in that each contributor “reaps” insights from study or experience and shares them for the benefit of all. By co-editing this anthology, O’Brien helped create a valuable resource that elevates the intellectual discourse within the Pagan community while celebrating polytheist devotion. It remains a recommended read for those looking to deepen their understanding of Irish and Celtic spiritual traditions through a variety of expert lensesmythicalireland.com.
- _Politics, Kinship and Culture in Gaelic Ireland, c.1100–1690 (essay contribution, 2018): This academic volume (published by Wordwell in 2018) compiles prize-winning essays on medieval and early-modern Irish historycatalogue.nli.ie. Lora O’Brien’s inclusion here, via an essay she authored for the Irish Chiefs and Clans Prize in History, highlights her ability to engage with historical scholarship beyond the Pagan sphere. The book’s focus is on Gaelic Ireland’s political and cultural landscape – topics like clan dynamics, warfare, law, and social change from the 12th to 17th centuries. While the specific title of O’Brien’s essay is not listed in popular sources, her contribution aligns with her deep interest in the Gaelic heritage that informs modern identity (the same broad interest that fueled her M.A. research on Ogham and identity). In Politics, Kinship and Culture, she appears not as a spiritual guide but as a historian, contributing to a nuanced understanding of Ireland’s past. This foray into academic publishing is significant to O’Brien’s body of work: it demonstrates her commitment to scholarly rigour and her credibility as a researcher. It also enriches her other writings – the historical context gleaned from such research invariably feeds into the authenticity of her Pagan teaching and writingamazon.com.
- _Tales of Old Ireland: Retold (2018): Aimed at a general audience of all ages, this book is a charming collection of ancient Irish legends retold in modern, accessible language. Lora O’Brien, a fluent Irish storyteller, adapts a selection of myths and folk tales “in an easy to read, authentic Irish storyteller’s voice – retold for modern times”sharonwray.com. The stories range from well-known hero tales (such as episodes of Fionn mac Cumhaill and the Fianna) to lore of the fairy folk and local legends, including the rivalry of Queen Medb and the Ulster hero Conor as recounted in the Táin bó Cúailnge cyclesharonwray.com. Published in 2018 (as Volume 1 of an Irish Stories series, via CreateSpace), Tales of Old Ireland: Retold stands out for preserving the flavor of oral tradition while making the narratives relatable to contemporary readers. O’Brien, as the “native Irish speaker” author, translated and updated the tales into engaging modern English, ensuring none of the wit or wisdom is lostsharonwray.com. This collection is family-friendly – suitable for adults and young adults alike – and serves as a gentle introduction to Irish folklore. Its significance in O’Brien’s oeuvre is that it emphasizes the role of storytelling in cultural preservation: by retelling Ireland’s old stories, she helps keep them alive in the hearts of new generations, reinforcing a sense of heritage and imagination.
- _A Practical Guide to Pagan Priesthood: Community Leadership and Vocation (2019): Published by Llewellyn Worldwide, this guidebook leverages Lora O’Brien’s extensive experience as a Pagan priest to offer practical advice for those in (or aspiring to) leadership roles within Pagan communities. Subtitled Community Leadership and Vocation, it covers both the sacerdotal aspects of priesthood (devotional work with deities, personal spiritual discipline) and the pastoral aspects (ministering to the community, facilitating group ritual, counseling, and administrative duties)wildhunt.org. O’Brien prompts readers to engage in self-reflection regarding their motives for priesthood: she asks whether one is pursuing clergy status to serve “in right relationship” with community and deity, or for ego-driven reasonswildhunt.org. The book includes skill assessments, ethical guidelines, and real-world examples to help priests build effective, sustainable practicesamazon.com. It also addresses pitfalls like burnout and the misuse of authority. Pagan Priesthood has been praised for “asking readers to take a good hard look at their ethics” and refocusing leaders on genuine servicewildhunt.org. The tone is frank and conversational, as if a mentor is giving you honest feedback. This work is significant as one of the few resources specifically tackling Pagan clergy training. It cements O’Brien’s role not just as a practitioner, but as a mentor for the next generation of Pagan leaders, and it has been recommended for its insight into what modern Pagan clergy can bewildhunt.org.
- _The Irish Queen Medb: History, Tradition, and Modern Pagan Practice (2020): This book is an in-depth examination of Queen Medb (Maeve) of Connacht – one of Ireland’s most legendary queens – through both historical and spiritual lenses. Published by Eel & Otter Press in late 2020, it forms part of Lora O’Brien’s “Celtic Pagan Practice” series and runs ~200 pagesamazon.com. O’Brien “weaves together quotes from original sources, academic opinions, theory, and personal experience” to create a well-rounded and thorough view of Medbamazon.com. The work begins by questioning the familiar image of Medb as a villain of the Táin (her “jealousy and arrogance” supposedly sparking the Cattle Raid of Cooley) and asks whether that’s the whole storybarnesandnoble.com. Guided by her expertise in Irish lore, O’Brien provides the cultural context often missing from popular accounts of Medbbarnesandnoble.com. She peppers the text with translated excerpts from medieval manuscripts and then patiently explains and expands on these dense sources to make them understandablebarnesandnoble.com. Alongside the scholarship, O’Brien shares her experiences visiting sites sacred to Medb (like Rathcroghan) and insights gained through devotion, effectively walking the reader through a blend of history and living spiritualitybarnesandnoble.com. The result is a guide that not only illuminates who Medb was in story and history, but also advises modern Pagans how to connect with Medb as a deity or archetype today. By providing “authentic snippets from the original lore” and then grounding them in modern practicebarnesandnoble.com,amazon.com, The Irish Queen Medb exemplifies O’Brien’s approach of marrying scholarly content with personal gnosis. It has been lauded for its rich detail and is considered an essential resource for anyone interested in the intersection of Irish myth and contemporary goddess spirituality.
- _The Fairy Faith in Ireland: History, Tradition, and Modern Pagan Practice (2021): In this volume, Lora O’Brien turns her attention to Ireland’s rich tradition of fairy lore – known in Irish as an Creideamh Sí (the fairy faith) – examining how these beliefs have evolved and how they inform modern Pagan practice. Published in late 2021 by Eel & Otter Press, this book is a natural companion to the Queen Medb work, structured in the same History, Tradition, and Modern Practice format. O’Brien likely begins with the mythological foundations of Ireland’s fairy faith, from the old Tuatha Dé Danann (the tribe of gods who, according to lore, became the Sídhe or fairy folk dwelling under the hills) through the wealth of folkloric accounts of fairies, banshees, púcaí, and other supernatural beings. Drawing on collectors like W. B. Yeats and Lady Wilde as well as local folklore, she traces the persistence of fairy traditions in Irish cultureamazon.com. What sets this book apart is how O’Brien connects that heritage to contemporary Paganism: she discusses how modern Pagans in Ireland and abroad might honor the Sídhe, approach fairy-haunted places, or understand the ethics of interacting with these Otherworldly beings. As a native practitioner, O’Brien addresses misconceptions and romanticism with a grounded perspective, emphasizing respect for the Other Crowd as more than just whimsical nature spirits. According to publisher notes, The Fairy Faith in Ireland is part of O’Brien’s Celtic Pagan Practice series and was released on December 1, 2021goodreads.com. It provides a much-needed update to earlier works on fairy folklore by including a Pagan practitioner’s viewpoint on integrating fairy-faith into one’s spiritual path. For readers and researchers alike, O’Brien’s work serves as a bridge between the dusty folklore archives and the living, breathing world of those who still leave an offering of milk at a fairy tree or carry a piece of iron in their pocket for luck.
- _The Mórrígan, Ireland’s Goddess: Sovereign Secrets from an Irish View (forthcoming 2025): Lora O’Brien’s upcoming book – slated for publication by Llewellyn in August 2025 – is already being hailed as a definitive guide to the Mórríganmorrigan.academy. This work represents the culmination of O’Brien’s decades of devotion and study of the Mórrígan, the complex Irish goddess (or trio of goddesses) associated with war, fate, and sovereignty. Written “by an authentic Irish practitioner,” it promises a uniquely native perspective that has long been missing from the body of literature on the Mórríganmorrigan.academy. According to the author, the book delves deeply into the goddess’s roots in Irish mythology and folklore, providing the cultural and historical background necessary to truly appreciate her significancemorrigan.academy. O’Brien seeks to dispel common misconceptions and “fill a significant gap in the modern Pagan market” by offering insights drawn from her academic study and decades of lived experience working with the Mórríganmorrigan.academy. Notably, the book will feature over fifty exercises and journal promptsmorrigan.academy, making it a hands-on guide for readers to actively cultivate their own relationship with the goddess. From exploring the Mórrígan’s many aspects and symbols, to understanding why she is called a goddess of sovereignty tied to the land, O’Brien covers both ancient lore and practical modern venerationmorrigan.academy. The choice of an American publisher (Llewellyn) signifies O’Brien’s reach to a broad international audience, and the early descriptions suggest this will be an essential resource for scholars, Celtic enthusiasts, and Pagan devotees alike. The Mórrígan, Ireland’s Goddess is poised to become “the definitive guide” on the subjectmorrigan.academy, embodying O’Brien’s hallmark approach: culturally grounded, academically informed, and spiritually empowering.
Conclusion:
Through her life and works, Lora O’Brien has significantly enriched the tapestry of contemporary Irish Paganism. Her biography reflects a journey of gnosis and knowledge hand in hand: from a curious Dublin child absorbing history on family outings, to a seasoned Draoí who manages ancient sacred sites and mentors others on their spiritual paths. O’Brien’s books and teachings demonstrate a profound respect for Irish heritage – language, land, lore, and living traditions – coupled with a passion to make that heritage accessible and relevant today. As an author, she has published everything from practical guides and retellings of old tales to scholarly essays and immersive spiritual explorations, each marked by clarity and authenticity. As an educator and community leader, she has founded institutions and created spaces that will nurture Irish Pagan spirituality for years to come. Whether one approaches her as a general reader captivated by Irish myths, a Pagan practitioner seeking guidance, or an academic looking for reliable sourcework, O’Brien offers a rare integrity. In her own words, her mission is fostering “authentic connection to Ireland”wildhunt.org – a mission she continues to fulfill, inspiring countless others to walk the Irish spiritual path with eyes open and hearts true.
Sources:
- Lora O’Brien – About Me (Official Website)loraobrien.ie
- Morrígan Academy – About Your Guidemorrigan.academy
- The Wild Hunt – Interview with L. O’Brien (2019)wildhunt.org
- Harp, Club & Cauldron – Anthology infomythicalireland.com; Mythical Ireland blog reference
- Amazon (Author Bio & Book descriptions)amazon.com
- Wiccan Rede – Review of A Practical Guide to Irish Spiritualitywiccanrede.org
- eBay listing – Rathcroghan, A Journey (synopsis)ebay.com
- Sharon Wray – Tales of Old Ireland publisher blurbsharonwray.com
- Morrígan Academy – New Book Announcementmorrigan.academy
- Barnes & Noble – The Irish Queen Medb overviewbarnesandnoble.com
