Interest in the Myths
Overall, interest in learning more about Irish Mythology is high, with over 80% of respondents expressing interest in obtaining more information about the Myths.
Respondents overwhelmingly described the stories that they were familiar with as “interesting” and “wonderful”, although there is a distinction about how these stories are viewed.
70% of Irish respondents disagreed that these myths were part of a comic Ireland image, (leprechauns, little people), whereas 59% of US respondents felt they were.
Familiarity with the Stories
However, overall the familiarity with these stories is very low, with only a select few such as Cú Chulainn, Children of Lir, Fionn Mac Cumhall receiving relatively high levels of recognition.
Of the 14 key characters in the Myths reviewed, on average over half of respondents answered “not familiar at all” with even poorer numbers with the diaspora’s familiarity, the UK respondents having the most favourable numbers of that group.
Familiarity with the Cycles of Myth
There are four cycles of Irish Myth: Mythological, Ulster, Fenian, King. There is a relatively high level of recognition of the Ulster Cycle (CúChulainn) and the Fenian Cycle (Fionn MacCumhall).
There is very little familiarity with the Mythological Cycle (except when the Children of Lir is included in the Cycle) and the King Cycle (Cormac MacAirt).
Character Familiarity Overview
| Respondents: | Top 3 Most Familiar Characters : |
| Overall | Fionn MacCumhal, Cuchulain, Lir |
| Ireland | Fionn MacCumhal, Cuchulain, Lir |
| Diaspora | Fionn MacCumhal, Ceasair*, Lugh |
| U.S.A | Fionn MacCumhal, Ceasair*, Balor |
| U.K & N.I | Ceasair, Fionn MacCumhal, Lugh |
| Australia | Nemed, Fionn MacCumhal. Cuchulain |
* querying this data has led to the conclusion that respondents most likely confused the Irish; Ceasair, with the Roman; Caesar.
| Respondents: | Top 3 Least Familiar Characters: |
| Overall | Amhairghin Glungheal , Nemed, Parthalon |
| Ireland | Amhairghin Glungheal, Nemed, Ceasair |
| Diaspora | Amhairghin Glungheal, Lir, Midhir |
| U.S.A | Cuchulain, Amhairghin Glungheal, Lir |
| U.K | Lugh, Amhairghin, Nemed |
| Australia | Lir, Midhir, Lugh |
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