The Oracle at Dingle

The Oracle at Delphi, is widely known, but to link an oracle with Dingle in Ireland? Not so much. Ireland, land of the Shining Ones, of hollow hills and ancient legends, has more than a fair few secrets, and more than a few lost treasures.

When I was last in Kerry, I came across a book called the Dingle Diamond by C.P.R May, and in it there was a reference to the headland of the Three Sisters. “Binn Hanrai is one of the Triúr Deirféar, The Three Sisters.” On the seaward side of these dramatic hills is sheer cliff [that leads] to Sybil Point.” It is an unexpected place name, as Sybil was, after all, an oracular goddess from the Mediterranean. However, the headland has still older names, such as Altar of Fire most probably associated with the fires of Beltane, and Mother and the Crow, while another rock which juts into the sea at this point was once known as The Hunter.

In the controversial Sibylline Prophecies, Sybil declares herself as the granddaughter of Noah, and the daughter of the Earth Goddess. C.P.R May notes that the first recorded group of immigrants to Irish shores, as recorded in several ancient Irish histories, were fifty women and three men. “They were led by a woman whose title was Cessair. keeper of knowledge, The Irish Annals describe her as being the granddaughter of Noah, and the daughter of the Earth.”