In ancient times, the fertility-goddess known as Sheela-na-gig was honored in Ireland. With the advent of Christianity, 18th March became known as "St Sheelah’s Day", a woman who was identified as the wife or mother of St Patrick.

At the foot of Croagh Patrick, Ireland's holy mountain, County Mayo.

Mountain Stage, near Drom, Co Kerry, 1880s. Photo was taken around the time of the Land War, when Irish farmers were subject to mass-eviction by exploitative landlords.

Girls selling shamrocks on a Dublin street for St Patrick's Day.

1st March 1916.

The Irish word for dragon is 'dris', which is a cognate of the Greek 'drákōn'. Both stem from the Indo-European root 'derḱ' - 'to see clearly'. Hence in the Irish tradition, the dragon is capable of many feats by sight alone: possession, mutilation, enchantment or corruption.

Technicolor photos from rural West Ireland & more in the mid-20th century.

Irish Thatched Cottage, Bunratty, County Clare, by Elmar Ludwig

Coliemore Harbour, Dalkey, Dublin, by Elmar Ludwig

Collecting Turf from the Bog, Connemara, Co Galway, by John Hinde

Bloody Foreland, Co Donegal, by David Noble

Glengesh Pass, near Ardara, Co Donegal, by David Noble

The Silver Strand, Co Wicklow, by John Hinde

Thatched Cottage, Connemara, Co Galway, by John Hinde

Connor Pass, Dingle Peninsula, Co Kerry, by Richard Beer

Meeting of the Waters, and Old Weir Bridge, Killarney, by John Hinde

Dublin City by Night, by Edmund Nägele

Ullapool, Ross-shire, Highlands, Scotland

Ullapool, Ross-shire, Highlands, Scotland

Ullapool, Ross-shire, Highlands, Scotland