As many friends of Story Archaeology will now have heard, Professor Ralph Kenna passed away and left the world we know, last Thursday. I received the sad news from his wife, Claire, last Friday. It is so very sad that it has taken me a few days to feel ready to write this post. I…
Chris’ Ramble 8: A Story for our Times
The Táin Bó Cúailnge is an dramatic epic well worth the telling but with some challenging themes including broken loyalties and friendships and destruction laid on the land, for the sake of status and honour. Join Chris as she explores the telling of the tales and encounters a fresh resonance for our times. Links for…
Celtic Eye and the Karst Farming Group
Biodiversity & Survey Report 2023. The Uí Maine Kingdom groups ( Karst faming Group, Celtic Eye Art Group & Taughmaconnell Hall ) were delighted to hold a presentation on thursday October 19th at 9pm in the Taughmaconnell Hall, South Roscommon. Wonderful Co Meath Ecologist Linda Gilsenan who has worked on this survey & report over…
A new conversation with Jamie Madden: The Writing of the Takings
The The Lebor Gabála tells of a series of mythical Irish migration stories, which can be traced back to a very early date. Its history is somewhat complex and, although fascinating, it is not an ‘easy read’. So, join Chris and Jamie as they share Jamie’s new telling. ‘The Writing of The Takings’. Jamie has…
Chris’ Ramble 7: What’s in a Name?
Culture heroes, ancestor figures, genii loci, gods and godesses … Can all, or indeed, any of these terms be useful in defining some favourite characters in Irish mythology, Join Chris as she takes a walk throuh a forest of stories on a light hearted search for hidden identities. Links for this episode I have referenced…
International Association for Comparative Mythology Conference
The Conference, in late August 2023. took place at the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre in Roscommon. A number of attendees came from all around the world with many more participating virtually. The event was focussed but well organised and very friendly. A big, and well deserved, ‘thank you’ to the conference organisers. There was plenty of…
Rising seas and a great southern star
Aboriginal oral traditions stretch back more than 12,000 years The archaeology of orality: Dating Tasmanian Aboriginal oral traditions to the Late Pleistocene I shared a conversation with Professor Patrick Nunn from the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, on longevity of stories and the memories they hold, just last year. Patrick Nunn is the author of…
The extraordinary story of Sinann: A New Paper
The inspirational figure who gave her name to Ireland longest river Great News! A new paper on the story of Sinann and the restoration of her story is now available, as a pre-print prior to publication. It is available to read here The paper has been the work of Professor Ralph Kenna with the support…
A Conversation with ÉIRÍ winner, Kate Lionis
Meet Kate Lionis one of the seven adult winners of the ÉIRÍ art competition and project. So, join Chris and Kate as they discuss, the many creative possiblities of digitally enhanced photography, the enviromental relevance of Australian indigenous stories and share the colours, light, and scents of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. This…
An Immráma Voyage with Jamie Madden
What if Brigid had undertaken her own Immrám? Join Chris and Jamie as they explore James’ Immrám Brig Bostún, an Irish Mythology Collage, in which he garners stories from Irish mtyhology and folklore, to curate a remarkable Immrám voyage for Brigid, taking her to the coastal islands of Boston and Cape Cod; a reflection on…