Gary Branigan

Holy Wells began life as sacred pagan sites, and were gradually assimilated into the early Celtic Christian in an effort to convert the native masses. Many have seen the rise and fall of Catholicism and some now see pagan visitations once again. There are approximately 100 surviving ancient and holy wells in County Dublin, including natural springs, elaborate stone monuments, sea caves and hidden sites in tunnels under the Dublin streets. This book will document the remaining wells in the landscape, with many beautiful photographs of each and its surroundings, detailed brief history and legends attached, and give precise locations and directions, allowing people to start visiting these ancient places of both religious and archaeological interest again.

Named after the peoples of Ciarraige who inhabited the ancient territory, Kerry possesses a rich tapestry of history, legend and folklore unparalleled by many others. In this book, authors Gary Branigan and Luke Eastwood narrate a variety of myths and fables that will take you on a journey through Kerry’s past. Many of the stories have been handed down by local people from generation to generation, and reveal old customs and beliefs filled with superstition, while others are more modern, showing the continuance of the Irish traditions of the seanachaí and of Irish storytelling.

The history of Cavan, affectionately known as ‘The Lakeland County’, is made up of a rich tapestry of folk tales, myths and legends. It is said to be the home of the wailing banshee of the McCabes, the site of Finn MacCool’s last resting place (where his fingers can still be seen) and where, legend has, it a young girl came perilously close to marrying the devil. In this book Gary Branigan will take you on a journey through Cavan’s past, recalling the myths and legends that shaped the area’s history from the early exploits of heroes such as Cúchulainn and the Gobán Saor to the more recent stories of the last highwayman ‘Captain’ Mooney and the tragedy of the Great Hunger. Also featuring tales of cursing stones, fairy gold, mermaids, pookas and dragons, it will take you into a remarkable world where you can let your imagination run wild.

The fountains of Dublin are many and varied, from elaborate Victorian masterpieces and modern sculptures to more modest, practical installations. Unfortunately, many of the older fountains have fallen into disuse and lie, long forgotten and derelict, in overlooked corners of the city. This book, beautifully illustrated with modern and archive photographs, documents the remaining fountains of Dublin, with each entry accompanied by a brief, and often colourful, history together with the precise locations and directions, allowing people to start enjoying these forgotten places once more.

This book recounts the adventures of fifteen psychologists who encountered research situations that were especially interesting, problematic, or required some creative form of resolution. These personal, engaging narrative provide genuine insight into the psychological research process in such basic areas as development, biopsychology, sensation and perception, learning, memory, language, intelligence, motivation, consciousness, personality, psychopathology, psychotherapy, and social psychology. The scientist, working in many areas of psychology and in diverse settings, describe their activities and the motivations for their research. Their lively anecdotes and personal reflection illuminate how neurosurgery is conducted and brain function examined, how personality assessment instruments are devised, how psychotherapeutic techniques are developed, how military personnel are trained, and how premature infants are helped to thrive, among other discoveries. Author note: Garry G. Brannigan is Professor of Psychology at the State University of New York, Platsburgh. Matthew R. Merrens is Chair and Associate Professor of Psychology at the State University of New York, Plattsburgh.