The epic tale of the Cath Maige Tuired, the battle of Moyrura was the story that inspired my passion for the early Irish tales. It had everything. fascinating, mysterious characters and world-altering battles. The Elizabeth Grey translation became my close companion. And yet, I always felt that there were deeper, more subtle levels that I could not quite reach. I was also slightly annoyed by the, gaps, the missing unavailable poetry ” There is more but it has not been translated“.. And so, when I, at last, came to live in the landscape where much of it was set. I walked the boulder strewn Moytura plain, stood by the River Unshin and encountered the Labby Rock, where it is said that Nuada was buried.
The founding of the Moytura re-enactment and festival in the Millenium year allowed for further and deeper immersion in the story. It was after the festival that Isolde went back to Trinity to take her Masters in early Irish. She finally, created translations of the missing Rosc poetry of the Morrigan, It took some years but it has been a huge pleasure to explore the story c in the depth it deserves. There were many illuminating surprises along the way.
Introduction to the series
Read about the structure of the twelve episode series
Episode 1: Echtrae Nuadat – The Adventures of Nuada
- Listen to the Podcast: Echtrae Nuadat – The Adventures of Nuada
- Find Chris’ telling of The Story of Nuada.
- Cath Maige Tuired – Sections 1 – 14;Tranlation Elizabeth Grey / Isolde Carmody
- Four Cities, Four Teachers, Four Treasures, an article by Isolde
- The Fisher King an article by Chris
- The Romano-British temple to Nodens at Lydney Park: article by Chris
- Midsummer midnight skies over Leitrim: Some thoughts on the ‘Cities of the North’ by Chris
Episode 2: Echtrae Breis – The Adventures of Bres
- Listen to the Podcast: Echtrae Breis – The Adventures of Bres
- Bres – Kingship and Status: an article by Isolde
- Bres in other texts: notes and translations by Isolde
- Carrowkeel: article by Chris
Episode 3: Techt Lugo – The Coming of Lug
- Listen to the podcast: Techt Lugo – The Coming of Lug
- Lugh Who? Where did Lugh come from?: an exploration from Chris
- Notes on the festival ogf Lughnasagh: article by Chris
- Lunacy at Lughnasagh – some unique celebrations from Chris
- Lugh comes to Tara: Textual translations by Isolde
- Lugh taunts the enemy: Textual tranlation from Isolde
- Lugh and Balor meet: Textual translation from Isolde
Episode 4: Ar Shlicht in Dagdae – On the Track of the Dagda
- Listen to the podcast: On the Track of the Dagda
- Find Chris’ story : The Dagda’s Track
- The Leather Caudron: a specualation by Chris
- The Names of the Dagda: translations by Isolde
- The Poems on Ailech: Translations from the Metrical Dindshenchas by Isolde
- The Dagda, Ogmios and the Jolly Green Giant: Some thoughts on Ogma by Chris
- The Dagda and the Mac Óc: Playing with Time and Space: article by Isolde
Episode 5: Inna Cethóir Cerdi – The Four Craftsmen
- Listen to the Podcast: The Four Craftsmen
- Find Chris’ story: The Craftsmen and the Formoire Spy
- The Forge and the Well: Translations by Isolde
- Metal Crafting -Some notes by Chris
- The Judgements of the Four Craftsmen: notes by Isolde
- Goibniu and the Gobbán Sáor: article by Chris (with examples of traditional stories)
- How to Get Help from a Craftsman: article and translations by Isolde
Episode 6: Amarc na Mór Rígna – The Morrigan’s View
- Listen to the Podcast: Amarc na Mór Rígna – The Morrigan’s View (Part 1)
- Listen to the Podcast: Amarc na Mór Rígna – The Morrigan’s View (Part 2)
- Find Chris’ poetic telling What the Morrigan said.
- Fin Chis’ poetic telling of The Banishment of Balor: the Dialogue between Lugh and Balor
- Poems of The Morrigan: Translations by Isolde
- Declaration of Peace: Translations by Isolde
- Omens Ordeals and Oracles: On Demons and Wepons in Early Irish Texts by Jacqueline Borsje
- A Jigsaw of naming: A lighthearted attempt to name Lugh’s chariots, horses and charioteers!