For those with interest in Irish folklore and legends....
Professor Gearóid Ó Crualaoich's, a former Professor of Folklore and Ethnology in University College Cork, Ireland, published "The Book of the Cailleach: Stories of the Wisewoman healer" (2006), which discusses the Feminine in Irish tradition and features stories of supernatural females in Irish folklore and mythology- Goddesses, the Cailleach Bhéara, the "Red woman" and Wise women (mná feasa)such as Fairy doctors/Healers. It's a scholarly volume with reference tales in both Irish and English and an analysis of the sacred feminine and role and practices of the wise women such as Biddy Early, Máire ní Mhurchú and Máire ní Chearbhaill, etc. I haven't read this book myself but came across a reference to it and thought I'd pass it on.
A radio series of stories was created by RTE Radio 1 (an Irish channel) based on this book - some of the stories are given here as brief episodes in writing and with an audio link ("Listen to audio series") at the bottom of the webpage. I'm not sure what sort of software you need to listen to it, I couldn't access it, but maybe you'll have more luck.
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/hagsqueensandwisewomen/
Going back to the book, here's the link on Amazon and one of the reviews that I thought might be of interest to folks here as it is written by someone outside the scholastic world and therefore a good general-interest review and appraisal.
http://www.amazon.com/Book-Cailleach-St ... 185918412X
http://www.styluspub.com/books/BookDeta ... tID=150608
"I didn't know anything about this book, but was hooked at the title, so I bought it. I read the first page or so, a little disappointed. Was I suppose to already know something of the Wise Woman Healer story? (Sadly, my adventurous ancestors shelved childhood stories as they left their homeland and adapted to life here in America.) The book quickly reminded me of a college reference book, so I skipped to the middle where I found the old stories retold in English along with the authors comments. The Book of Cailleach is a text-book of sorts; a review and study on the old tales of the Wise Woman Healer/Hag Goddess persona, an in-depth dissection of tales from pre- and post- Christian influence. Some tales are primitive and dark. Some attempt to make sense of natural phenomena. Some hint of the spiritual struggles of the early Celts, their ancient earth-based beliefs slipping slowly into the shadows of a new religion. The more I read, the more I involved became. I not only read the words, but I began to feel the emotional battle these mystical people must have endured. The last few chapters are the same tales told in their original language (to use as reference should the reader question the author's interpretations.) I'm looking forward to reading the whole book from the beginning, now with more understanding. "
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