I have always liked round houses. Since, as a child, I first discovered that there were mysterious wicker chests of red-gold gem stories tucked away, unregarded, behind the marbled classical tales of fabled Greek heroes, I wanted to know more. But the stories from Wales and, above all, Ireland were hard to find, and even…
Category: Articles
Supporting articles, texts and translations and related materials for each episode
Bricriu’s feasting hall ~ a description
He would make them an invitation that they could not refuse. He would set the conceited heroes of Ireland, one against the other and then sit back and watch the fur fly. But firstly he needed a suitable setting, a theatre worthy of this fine jest. Bricriu began to plan the building of a magnificent…
The Dindshenchas of Carn Hill, Co. Longford – Carn Furbaide
Carn Furbaide, the cairn of Furbaide Fer Benn son of Conchobar and Eithne Úathach, seems to be on Carn Hill in Co. Longford, a proverbial stone’s throw from Midir’s sid on Brí Leith / Ardagh Hill. (See Hogan’s Onomasticon Goedelicum, Letter C). As ever, terms with notes below are in bold, and the notes are…
The Two Sisters ~ An Old Ballad
The well of Inis Clothran, where Medb of Cruachan met her death, has murky depths, or at least, the tale of Medb and her sisters is somewhat opaque. As we discussed in the podcast , there are some unanswered questions. Does Medb kill Cothru or Ethne, or both of her sisters? Is Furbaide Clothru’s son…
Inis Clothran in pictures
Inis Clothrann Inis Clothrann is the largest of the islands in Lough Ree on the River Shannon, in County Longford. Inis Clothrann is also known as “Quaker Island” or even the “Island of the Seven Churches”. This map, from the six inch Ordnance Survey maps of Ireland completed in 1846, shows several important features of the island, including the Griannán Meidhbhe , “Medb’s…
Aided Meidbe – The Violent Death of Maeve
Here is the translation of Aided Meidbe by Vernam Hull, published in Speculum. v.13 issue 1. (Jan. 1938), pp 52-61 (as published on Mary Jones’ excellent “Celtic Literature Collective“). Aideda, sometimes referred to as “Death Tales”, are a class of narrative literature in the Medieval Irish tale-lists. There are only two aideda which recount the…
Who killed Medb? ~ a poem
And Medb? That famous queen of Connacht, That virtuous virago – woman of renown, Serpent wise and venomous, How did she die? Was it Ailill, on a night of pillow talk, On a night of boasting and bragging, Was there one too many pillows plumped, To stifle her competitive tongue. Was it Ailill who brought…
REPOST: Don’t shout – Someone might hear you!
NOTE: This article was originally posted to accompany the episode Series 2: The Battle of Moytura – Episode 10: The Children of Tuirenn Part 2 – Three Shouts on a Hill. These are some of the ideas that kicked off the current series dedicated to Dindshenchas! I am writing this article, or more accurately an…
The Dindshenchas of Knowth – Cnogba
From the Metrical Dindshenchas, Volume 3, poem 4, pp 40 – 46 Edited by Edward Gwynn; Translated by Isolde Carmody Notes to the text appear at the end. Terms with notes below are marked in bold. Cnogba Fland Mac Lonnán cecinit. Fland Mac Lonnán chants: 1. Búa, ingen Rúadrach rúaid Búa, daughter of…
The Dindshenchas of the Barrow River – Berba
From the Metrical Dindshenchas, Volume 2, poem 13, p. 62 Edited by Edward Gwynn Translation by Isolde Carmody Berba 1. In Berba búan a bailbe, The Barrow, lasting its silence, saiges dar slúag sen-Ailbe; which reaches across the host of old Ailbe is fis fedma fáth dia fail it is a duty of knowledge to…