Ella Young was an Irish poet and mythologist who played an active role in the Gaelic and Celtic Revival literary movements during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Born in Ireland, she dedicated much of her early career to writing poetry and children's literature rooted in Irish folklore. In 1925, she emigrated to the United States, initially as a temporary visitor, and settled in California, where she would spend the remainder of her life.
In America, Young became a prominent lecturer, embarking on speaking tours about Celtic mythology at various universities. She eventually held a chair in Irish Myth and Lore at the University of California, Berkeley, for seven years. At Berkeley, she became celebrated for her eccentric and colorful persona; she frequently delivered lectures dressed in purple Druidic robes, spoke passionately about legendary creatures like fairies and elves, and advocated for the spiritual benefits of communicating with trees.
Young's deep knowledge of Celtic myth and her charismatic personality exerted a significant influence on the California creative community. She counted notable figures such as photographer Ansel Adams, philosopher Alan Watts, and poet Robinson Jeffers among her friends and admirers, and composer Harry Partch set several of her poems to music. In her later years, she served as an inspirational figure for the "Dunites," a bohemian group of artists residing in the dunes of San Luis Obispo County. She spent her retirement in Oceano, California, where she died in 1956.
