Brigantia appears as a Celtic tribal goddess whose name forms part of place names over a wide area from Austria and Hungary to Portugal and France. Certainly in England the people of the Brigantes’ territory covered a large area in the north of England, although surprisingly, there is little evidence of tribal association with Brig…
Author: Chris Thompson
Fochard Bríde
According to tradition, St. Brigid was born at Fochard Muirtheimne, a few miles north of Dundalk, about 450 CE. Because of the strength of this tradition, the place was later known as Fochard Bríde. On the hill nearby, are the remains of an Iron Age fort, a Norman motte-castle and a medieval church. St Brigid’s…
Airmed’s Story
Airmed The green grey morning is soft with mist. Airmed sits on the soft earth of the mound, her yellow cloak spread empty before her covering the damp earth. All around her lie green herbs, no longer fresh and growing for they were harvested in hope and are now scattered in sadness. Airmed gathers the…
A Pilgrimage to Abydos
Getting to Egypt had always been the goal of a pilgrimage for me. This had been the case since my uncle, a very scholarly man, with a wonderful sense of humour and a gift of teaching, first took me to the British museum. I was ten and putting together a school project on 12th century…
John Barleycorn
In the folklore of the British Isles, John Barleycorn represents the barley crop harvested each autumn. John Barleycorn endures much, corresponding to the cyclic nature of planting, growing, harvesting, and death. Our English (and Scottish) John Barleycorn has become a celebration of the barley crop and its intoxicating products – beer and whisky – but he…
Heapstown Cairn ~ The Well of Octriul
Heapstown cairn is not impressive; well, not at first view. Not far away, high on the slopes of the Bricklieve hills, set against the skyline are the bald, one-eyed heads, like ancient Formoire giants. There are so many cairns, each evoking mystery and speculation. Then there is Heapstown, the greatest of all cairns outside the Boyne…
The Birth of Lugh ~ The oral tradition
The birth of Lugh, as recounted in the podcast, is found only in the oral tradition, most commonly in Donagal. It was collected and written down as “Balor on Tory Island” 1894). As the book is now out of copyright, you can read it online or download it for free from Archive.org: http://archive.org/details/herotalesofirela00curtuoft
The Birth Of Lugh
The air was rippled with watery sunshine. But through one small round window shone a bright brave sunbeam, clear and golden, cutting its way into the dim glow of the room. And in its cutting sat Ethlinn. She sat still, facing the window, facing the clear light, the fresh air; and a tear flowed down…
The Story of Macha
Near Armagh is the green mound of mysterious Emain Macha. This is the story of its naming. In my mind I still hear the rhythmic drumming of many hooves, the thrumming of the autumn rain. The soughing of breathing beasts, wind in the pasture grass. Flashes of colour, the crimson and gold of my goods…
Poetry on the Shannon
I have used the story of Sinann to inspire creative writing, especially poetry and drama, in groups of primary age children (9 to 11 years in this case). The story sparked observation and a wide variety of poetic styles. Here are a couple of examples from a school situated close to the river.