Some questions answered by The Story Archaeologists
We regularly receive questions from listeners and readers. We try to answer them as soon as we can but many are well worth exploring in more detail. Here we discuss just three. Firstly there is the problem of ‘coir’, a word that we use regularly in episodes to express an important but complex concept. Another term we frequently use is ‘poet’ to cover a number of similar roles in early Irish society. In this discussion, Isolde gets to explain about the many grades of poet that existed, File, Bards, and even Bramble Hounds! The third discussion concerns the thorny issue of who were the Celts, anyway. Join the Story Archaeologist as they enjoy teasing out a few possible answers.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | More
The Mysteries of Midir: a Samhain Special
Isolde_recording
What did happen to Midir? Why does he appear in so few stories? It is a mystery. A murder mystery? Could be. Certainly Midir’s reputation was usurped and he, himself, seems to have been, effectively, ‘disappeared!
For a more ‘in depth’ examination of this topic go to:
This short recording was originally made for an on-line conference hosted by Vyviane Armstrong. The weekend conference was entitled “Tuatha Dé Danann. Our Tribe and Theirs”. Some of you may have already heard this presentation but, for our other listeners, I thought I would upload the recording. It is good to get Isolde back ‘on the mike’ and your donations have helped her to find new equipment that allow her to record lying down. We hope to record the promised, Q &A very soon.
This was the seventh conference in the series ‘A Year With The Gods. There was a very interesting and varied programme and Isolde and I were delighted to be involved.’ If you would like to know more more about Vviane’s future events, do contact her for more details.
Vyviane Armstrong
Land Sea Sky Travel
vyviane@landseaskytravel.com
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | More
The Otherworld and How to Get There!
William Robinson: Tallanbanna with cloud front. 1988
So many of the old Irish stories tell of an Otherworld that lies so close to our own. If you want to discover what the stories have to say about getting there, what you might find when you arrive, and when, or if, you might return, then join Chris in this audio-article exploration.
Apologies for the quality of recording in Isolde’s opening message. When we have fully implemented the new recording set-up, allowing effective recording while Isolde is lying down, it will be much improved.
Links to podcast episodes referenced in this audio-article.
- Cormac’ s Adventures in the Otherworld
- The Instructions of King Cormac
- The Adventures of Nera: The Cow and the Time Machine
- Another take on Echtrae Nerai: Corpse Carrying for Beginners
- The voyage of Brain Mac Febul
- The story of Mongán and his wife:
- The pursuit of the Gilla Decair
- Tocmarc Étaíne 1 – A Fly On The Wall,
- Tocmarc Étaíne 2 – The Reborn Identity
- Tocmarc Étaíne 3 – A Game of Fidchell
- The article on Underworlds
- If you want to find out about more about Leprechauns! A Crock of Old Cobblers
- And for source material on the Irish Otherworld: Space, Time and the Otherworld: by Professor John Carey. Source: Proceedings of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium, Vol. 7 (1987), pp. 1-2Published by: Department of Celtic Languages & Literatures, Harvard University
And that picture of Niamh and Oisín in my bathroom?
Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest posts!
Story Archaeology is run on a voluntary not-for-profit basis. If you can afford a donation towards our running costs, we would be very grateful. The “Donate” button is on the right-hand-side of each page, or e-mail us for other ways to support our work.
Check our Reading List for further reading and resources.
Music: “Tam Lin” by Gian Castello
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | More
Circling the Tain: 07 – The Pig and The Hound
The briugu, Mac Dá Thó, is the proud owner of the marvelous hound, Ailbe. He also possesses a notorious pig. Now he finds himself faced with contending regional kings and their retinues of elite warriors, demanding the hound for themselves. Will serving up his gourmet pig at a grand feast save his bacon?
Join the Story Archaeologists as they share the boasting and bragging from the best of the warriors of Ulster, and Connaught, and beyond.
Read the text for yourself!
- Scéala Muicce Mac Dá Thó: N. Kershaw Chadwick, An Early Irish Reader, Cambridge University Press.
- The excellent introduction
- Index
Bricriu’s Feast
- Series 3.04-Fled-Bricrenn 1 – The-Feasting-Hall
- Series 3.05: Fled Bricrenn 2 – The Road to Crúachán
- Series 3.06: Fled Bricrenn 3 – Your Head or Mine?
- Series 3.07: Fled Bricrenn 4 – A Head to Head Discussion
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | More
Verba Scathaige – Scathach’s Words
We opened the episode “Women Warriors: The Training of Cú Chulainn“, with a reading, in Irish and English, of Verba Scathaige. This is the poem that Scáthach creates using her imbás forosna, one of the most advanced poetic techniques, used in story to see events far off in time and space. This attribute of Scáthach’s is reminiscent of the Mór Rígain, especially of her role in Cath Maige Tuired, the Battle of Moytura.
To compare this poem with the three roscada of the Mór Rígain in Cath Maige Tuired, you can read all three in “The Mór Rígain Speaks: Her Three Poems“.
Could you help with ‘tech’ support?
Hi!
Isolde and I are not exactly ‘techies’. We are competent but not much more. We waste so much time when there are minor connectivity issues with the website or podcast. For instance, why do we have to connect every post to Facebook manually? It should connect automatically but it never does. Why not? I have no idea.
My son gives us some support but it would be SO much easier if there was someone, with an interest in the material who could keep an eye on things and offer support with the technical aspects of site administration. We are both, only too aware that there are many improvements that could be made if we had the time. We would love to be able to dedicate all the limited time available to us to focus further on research and podcast preparation.
So, is there anyone out there who would be prepared to come on board and give us a hand? We would be delighted to talk with you.
Thanks
Women Warriors ~ The Training of Cú Chulainn
The magnificent warrior women Scathach and Aife both play a major role in Cú Chulainn’s future life and exploits but they are not the only women who actively engage with out young hero..
Join the Story Archaeologists as they attempt to come to terms with the number of dalliances and romantic interludes encountered by the young man on his ventures to Scathach’s mysterious northern island in his quest to win his canny bride, Emer.
Read the text for yourself!
This episode discusses only the second half of this text. The first half was addressed in the previous episode, 6.05 : ‘The Wooing of Emer.”
- Tochmarc Emire la Coinculaind
- The Wooing of Emer : translated by Kuno Meyer, based on LU and Stowe MS 992 (D. iv. 2)].
- Verba Scathaige: (Translation by P.L. Henry)
- We also referred to Series 3.03 The Well and the Cheese, with reference to the violent death of Derbforgaille and Medb
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | More
The Wooing of Emer ~ Cú Chulainn meets his match
Cú Chulainn meets his match
In this episode we get to meet the marvelous Emer, the woman who bests the young Cú Chulainn, at least, in terms of her sharp witted and far-sighted eloquence.
Join the Story Archaeologists as we try to decode how Emer manages her young and unpredictable suitor and deals with her uncompromising father.
Read the text for yourself!
This episode discusses only the first part of this long text. The second half, where our hero goes to be trained in Alba, will form the basis of the next episode.
- Tochmarc Emire la Coinculaind
- The Wooing of Emer : translated by Kuno Meyer, based on LU and Stowe MS 992 (D. iv. 2)].
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | More
Circling the Táin 04: Harder, Faster, Stronger, Better – The Boyhood Deeds of Cú Chulainn
Harder, Faster, Stronger, Better!
In this episode, we get to examine some remarkable exploits of one of the central figures in the Tain tradition: Cú Chulainn. We explore stories told by some of the characters who know the hero, remembering him as a child.
Join the Story Archaeologists as we try to decide if the young Cú Chulainn can be considered a ‘child prodigy’ or merely a ‘precocious brat’.
Read the texts for yourself!
Here are links to the texts and translations that we used for the childhood deeds of Cú Chulainn:
“The Boyhood Deeds of Cú Chulainn.” Ancient Irish Tales. ed. and trans. Tom Cross and Harris Slover. NY: Barnes and Noble, 1996. reprint
The Boyhood of Cú Chulainn, from Táin Bó Cuailgne Recension 1; pp 135-148 [translation]: ed. and trans. Cecile O’Rahilly
The sections we refer to are under the following titles:
- The Eulogy of Cú Chulainn
- The Boyhood Deeds
- The Death of the Boys
- The Fight between Eógan mac Durthacht and Conchobar [aka Cú Chulainn and the Battlefield Phantoms]
- The fate of the twenty-seven men and the reason why none dared to wound the Ulstermen when they were in their debility.
- The killing of the Smith’s Hound by Cú Chulainn and the reason why he is called Cú Chulainn
- The Death of Nechta Scéne’s Three Sons
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | More
Circling the Táin 03: The Birth Pangs of Ulster
In this episode, we continue our exploration of the troublesome conceptions and births that stand behind much of the material of the Táin tradition. This time, we examine the births of the doomed Deirdre, the fated Cú Chulainn and re-re-visit the importance of Macha’s story.
Join the Story Archaeologists as we attempt to disentangle webs of prophecy and poor decision-making, and try to understand what all these little worms are about!
Read the texts for yourself!
Here are links to the texts and translations that we used for the birth of Deirdre:
from the Book of Leinster (LL)
Longes mac n-Uislenn – edited by Vernam Hull
The Exile of the Sons of Uisliu – translated by Vernam Hull
late version translated by Douglas Hyde
Here are the texts on Macha:
Noinden Ulad; The Story of Macha
More Stories of Macha – Revisited
An original translation of Compert Con Chulainn, the Conception of Cú Chulainn, will be uploaded in the coming days
Need some revision?
You may find it helpful to revisit our episodes on Macha:
Series 1 – Mythical Women; Episode 2 – The Story of Macha
Series 5 – Revisiting Mythical Women; Episode 2 – Revisiting Macha
Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest posts! Related Articles will be posted in the days to come…
Story Archaeology is run on a voluntary not-for-profit basis. If you can afford a donation towards our running costs, we would be very grateful. The “Donate” button is on the right-hand-side of each page, or e-mail us for other ways to support our work.
Check our Reading List for further reading and resources.
Music: “Tam Lin” by Gian Castello
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | More
