Meet the author is a series of articles intended to introduce you to our wonderful authors. Learn about the books they’ve written, the spiritual pathways they’ve traversed and some fun little tidbits… introducing Geraldine Moorkens Byrne!

What books have you written?

Draíocht Ceoil; the Sound of Magic in Irish Traditions (April 2026)

Upcoming: Celtic Christianity in the Popular Pagan History Series (2027)
Dreams of Reality (Poetry) 2025 (revised second edition)

Also a number of murder mysteries, under my own name and a pen name Nina Hayes.

How would you describe your spiritual pathway?

I am an Irish Polytheist. My spiritual path is dedicated to the authentic, and culturally rooted, path of my ancestors, honouring the Irish gods, and the philosophies that underpinned Old Irish society. In practice, that is a deep-rooted connection to the land and the Ancestors, working for the good of the people, the Tuatha, and standing in right action with the Gods.

I am also a Draoí or Irish Witch. Witchcraft in Ireland was rooted in folk magic and is a traditional part of Irish life, regardless of religious persuasion. This is how I practice it, as a culturally rooted art rather than a religion.

What is something fun and quirky about yourself?

I have a ridiculously large yarn stash, a growing fabric stash, and have never met a craft I didn’t immediately want to try. Need some sparkly sequined purple 2 ply? Some chunky handspun alpaca? Just let me go look for it, it’s here somewhere!

Where can people find you?

In real life, hiding because I’m a really introverted extrovert. I love people but am very shy, and socially useless. Online, you can catch me at the following, and I love to hear from readers.

WEB http://www.celebratingwords.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/GeraldineMoorkensByrne
Instagram / Threads @gerceltauthor
Blusky @germoorkensbyrne.bsky.social

What tips do you have for folk beginning their spiritual journey?

Decide what you believe, and then look to see what path fits in with that. Don’t try to cut yourself to size, don’t look to any path to hand you the answers. You’ll only get discouraged and disillusioned. Instead, think about your vision of the world, of Gods, of what “spiritual” means to you and then explore how others see it, see if they complement your beliefs.

Respect the source – you don’t get to cherry pick other people’s cultures.

And never be afraid to change your mind.

Which deity or deities would you love to have dinner with?

The one I have the closest association with is the Morrigan, but frankly I’d never risk a meal with her. She’s not that type of Goddess. I would definitely break bread with Brigit, and Aine. Cliona too, and Manannán Mac Lir

What magical items would you take with you if you had to live on an island for a year?

My voice, and a bodhrán. Pen and Paper. All the magic I need.

Geraldine Moorkens Byrne is a well-known poet and writer, as well as an educator in Irish Folk Magic Traditions and Ceremony writer; she was a founding editor of the Pagan Poetry Pages. She has facilitated workshops and creative writing groups. Her work has been published in a variety of media from print anthologies to Ezines, including Poems from a Lockdown, and her poem “Where Once Were Warriors “was the title-piece of Asia Geographic Tribes edition. Several poems have been performed as theatre in Ireland, the UK and USA. She was a prizewinner in the Inaugural John Creedon Listowel Writers Festival Competition. Her short story “A Stranger Among Friends,” was a winner in the Cunningham Short Story Competition. She is also the author of a popular series of mystery novels. Her collection of poetry “Dreams of Reality” is available now.

She was the fourth generation of Byrnes to run the famous Charles Byrne Music Shop, in Stephen Street Dublin Ireland. This was a landmark business in the city of Dublin and an integral part of Irish classical and traditional music for 150 years.

For more details: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/authors/geraldine-moorkens-byrne