Overview: The Irish Pagan Book of Rites contains all the essential rites in an easy-to-follow format, presented in both the English and the Irish (Gaeilge) languages for those wishing to make their offerings in the beautiful indigenous Irish tongue.

Here you’ll find rites for regular use, blessings for water and the home, celebrations for the main Irish festivals, as well as in-depth explanations for the meaning, purpose, and lore behind each devotion.

Verdict: In what is a most beautifully written book on Irish Pagan prayers and rites of all kinds, author John McLoughlin has brought forth an incredibly impassioned prose within Pagan Portals - The Irish Pagan Book of Rites: Rituals and Prayers for Daily Life and Festivals, a much needed Pagan Irish devotional based in genuine Irish culture and history.

For those unaware, Paganism is a term applied to a number of religions and spiritual paths that have a strong connection with nature, many of which are based on traditional indigenous practices. Modern Pagans often perform seasonal and cyclical rites or ceremonies, known as Pagan rituals.

Indeed, the term Pagan usually refers to people who practice polytheistic religions (belief in many Gods) such as Wicca, Celtic Paganism, Druidry, Heathenry, and others. In contrast, religions like Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are called monotheist (belief in one God).

But, because Paganism is a very broad category, it includes many different religious beliefs and practices, and many different Gods and Goddesses. This diversity makes it difficult to define what exactly constitutes Paganism. However, there are some common traits that most Pagans share, such as a sense of connection with nature.

Thus, in what will obviously be of interest to anyone with ancestry from the far flung Irish and Celtic diaspora worldwide, I myself grew up a catholic in Ireland, but was late coming into my paganism and deprogramming much of what I had been taught in my early years.

However, what I do have in my favor though is a passion for the ancient Irish stories, a good memory, and a few years worth of actively building what I believe to be a Right Relationship with this ancient – and in my opinion awesome – Pagan God.

But I digress, this beautiful collection of rites is both engrossing and impassioned in such a way that the author has not only dutifully strived to preserve the traditions of pagan Ireland, but the original language in which they would have been performed.

About the Author - John Michael McLoughlin lives and writes on the brisk, beautiful shores of Lake Superior, MN. As a devotee and lover of traditional Irish spirituality, lore, and language, he is passionate about sharing these ancestral ways with others, providing strong foundations for seekers new to the path, as well as deep and enriching material for the experienced wayfarer.

Official Book Purchase Link