In a recent conversation with, archeologist and historian, Daniel Curley we discussed the Táin bó Fraích: in some detail. It is a fascinating but, sometimes, complex story. I thought it might be useful to have a readable vession avilable that is still closely based on an earlier direct translation of the text. I do hope…
Category: Related Material
Explorations and developments of the themes of each episode
How You Can Help Irish Ash Trees
Just three days after I published ‘Lament for the Ash’ I came across an interesting article on the RTÉ web site. Not only does the article cover the same sad story that I told in the podcast but it explored some recently established projects with information about how people arounf the country could offer help….
Rising seas and a great southern star
Aboriginal oral traditions stretch back more than 12,000 years The archaeology of orality: Dating Tasmanian Aboriginal oral traditions to the Late Pleistocene I shared a conversation with Professor Patrick Nunn from the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, on longevity of stories and the memories they hold, just last year. Patrick Nunn is the author of…
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…
Stories and Activities 2: Fergus Fergus Mac Léite and Aithirne The Unsociable.
I have included an introduction to the Irish Stories on this page. It is part of my -on-line ‘Stories in the Landscape schools’ programme. Contact me if you would like to find out more about this lively, cross-curricular schools” programme and how to book it for your class.. Choose from two of my favourite stories….
Walking with the Táin ~ Stories in The Landscape
The text of the Táin Bó Cúailnge is one of Irish story’s greatest treasures. The central tale of the two great bulls may be familiar but the wealth of wider stories that circle the Táin, involve some of the most colourful of Irish characters and encompasses almost the whole of the country. Since 2011, a…
Medb: Conquests and Consequences
Medb, Queen of Connacht, is rightly renowned in Irish legend and mythology, as a strong and influential woman leader. Her centre of power, Cruachan Ai, is still recognised as one of the most important Iron-age sites in Ireland. Medb lead her people in her own name and by her own right. She was a strong woman…
Robin Williamson: Five Denials on Merlin’s Grave
Robin Williamson released 1997 When I was putting together my audio-article on story telling, I mentioned that I owed a debt of honour to the musician, story teller Robin Williamson. I also mentioned that I once owned an entire vinyl collection of Incredible String Band albums! (that was in another country and besides …..) I…
Telling Stories : Continuing the Oral Tradition
Join Chris Thompson as she takes a story-teller’s view of the old Irish stories. Who told them and why were they so memorable. In this audio article, Chris celebrates the old stories and explores the challenges in telling them today. For those who have asked me for ideas and advice on story telling generally, I…
Story Archaeology Music
I have been meaning to put up a post recommending the musician whose composition ‘The Tamlin Jig’ has opened and closed Story Archaeology posts since the beginning. Isolde and I met Gian living in Drumshanbo, a few km from us, about the time we were first setting up the podcast. We were impressed with his…