I wrote the article, An Unexpected Journey – There and Back Again, all of eighteen months ago, back in May, 2020. This, as everyone other than my friends and family in Queensland will remember, was during the first round of Covid lockdowns. In this article I compared the feeling of being flung into an unpredictable…
Tain 20: An ‘Online’ Schools’ Óenach
What has been happening? Each May the Táin Bó Cúailnge is celebrated by a group who walk the entire route undertaken by characters of the story. Along the way, schools community groups and many others, organise events and exhibitions to celebrate this wonderful ancient ‘epic’. The march begins at Tulsk, Roscommon. This is Cruachan, the…
Art For Sinann
“Story Archaeology is delighted to be part of an exciting and International Arts competition.”. “The Competition is the idea of Professor Ralph Kenna, Irish mathematician and theoretical physicist, who leads the statistical physics research group at Coventry University. Over the last 10 years, its ‘Maths Meets Myths’ research project has investigated Irish and other mythologies…
Art for Sinann – An international Competition
Three prizes of £1,000 each And £1,000 worth of prizes for children (Any form of visual or literary art) We are launching an international arts competition centered on the mythological goddess of Ireland’s longest river – the Shannon. In Irish mythology, rivers are personified as divine figures attributed with gifts of poetic inspiration and mystical…
The Story of Sinann
In the days of dreaming when the when the ever-living ones still walked freely among the misty mountains and green valleys of Ireland, when the soft light of enchantment still shone from every hill of the sidhe, there was a well. It was a deep hidden pool, fringed and caressed by nine strong hazel trees….
More Questions answered from the Story Archaeologists
Join the Story archaeologists as they attempt to catch up and answer some of the questions that you have been asking. This Q&A session covers the topic of fír flathemon , ‘The truth of the king’ and delves into the complexities of the text, Lebor Gabála Érenn, the ‘Book of the Taking of Ireland’. We…
An Unexpected Journey
On the second morning of May, 2020 I awoke before dawn. It was four forty a.m. A glorious cacophony of birds was already celebrating a luminous sky-glow, heralding a clear morning. Suddenly, I was no longer sleepy. I grabbed my dressing gown, put my phone into my pocket, and stepped outside. Standing in the orchard,…
The ‘Stories at Home’ Project
Up until now, Story Archaeology has been designed for an adult audience. however, as I spend much of my time story telling and giving workshops on Irish mythology, I am making these available on-line for families at home. Click 0n the ‘Stories at home project’ hub link in the navigation bar, above, to find out…
Stories and Activities with Children 6: Irish story picture gallery
What might King Fergus have worn? What was an Iron-age roundhouse like? What was a hero’s chariot made of? What about that ‘Cave of the Cats? What does it look like now? I thought I might put up a page of images to help answer these questions and lots more. I hope these pictures help…
Stories and Activities with Children 3: Finn and Conan Maeol
There are many stories about Finn Mac Cumhaill. The original texts are complex and difficult to say the least! This is largely because the Fionn (earlier Finn) stories remained in the oral tradition and were written down quite late. This means that there are many interwoven versions and duplications. I have created a video of…