Irish Witchcraft and Demonology

Irish Witchcraft and Demonology is a book by St. John D. Seymour, first published in 1913. This study explores the darker chapters of Ireland’s spiritual and folkloric history, focusing on documented cases of alleged witchcraft, possession, and dealings with demonic forces from the medieval period through to the nineteenth century.

Drawing on court records, ecclesiastical sources, and folk tradition, Seymour presents a critical yet accessible account of how witchcraft was understood, feared, and prosecuted in Ireland. The book is particularly valuable for showing how Irish experiences both paralleled and diverged from the more infamous witch hunts of mainland Europe.

An Anglican clergyman and historian, Seymour approached the subject with scholarly restraint, aiming to distinguish superstition from evidence while preserving the unsettling atmosphere surrounding these episodes. His work remains an important contribution to the study of Irish folklore, religious belief, and the wider history of heresy and persecution.