The filid, “poets”, of early Irish society were not poorly paid struggling artists: they were held in the highest esteem and a crucial part of culture. Indeed, the word fili, “poet”, more literally means “seer“, and the ollamh, “great poet, chief poet”, had comparable status with the king of the túath, “petty kingdom”, and the…
Revisiting Sinann in the Metrical Dindshenchas
from the Metrical Dindshenchas, Volume 3 edited by Edward Gwynn; translated by Isolde ÓBrolcháin Carmody. pp. 286 – 297; poems 53 and 54
The Story of Sinann
In the days of dreaming, 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 síd, there was a well.
Revisiting Mythical Women 1 – Revisiting Sinann
Welcome to series 5 of Acallam na nÉces, “Revisiting Mythical Women”. In our first episode, we take a look back at the stories of Sinann, and the themes that came up when we discussed them in our very first episode. We’ve added some new discussion to the beginning of the episode, highlighting how Story Archaeology…
Finn Bán describes the Gilla Decair (and his horse!)
Finn Bán to Finn MacUmall: Na dée dot bennachad, a Fhinn, The gods bless you, O Finn, a fhir in chomráid chnesda; O man of soothing speech; táncas féin dot ghrésachtsa I come in need of your stirring words mar do bí oram egla Because I was so frightened. Finn MacUmall to Finn Bán: Crét…
Fair Lady, Will You Go With Me?
from Tochmarc Étaíne, “The Wooing of Étaín”, ed. Osborne Bergin and R. I. Best poetic translation by Isolde ÓBrolcháin Carmody A Bé Find, in rega lim Fair Lady, will you come with me i dtír n-ingnad hi fil rind? To a wonder-land of harmony Is barr sobairce folt and; Hair shines with a primrose glow…
A Description of the Sid of Labraid
Paraphrased from Laerg’s poem in Serglige Con Chulainn, “The Love-Sickness of Cú Chulainn” from “Serglige Con Chulainn“, ed. Myles Dillon from Lebor na hUidre; lines 486 – 513 Poetic rendering by Chris Thompson Colba do lepthaib crónda, úatne finna forórda, is sí caindell ardustá in lía lógmar lainerdá. Soft crimson beds there are Emblazoned gold…
The Irish Abroad – an ongoing tradition
In our final Immrám episode, The Pursuit of the Gilla Decair – An Unofficial Fenian Immrám, we noticed that Goll, Oscar and Fergus FinnBhéoil [“Fair-Lips”] came up with a familiar strategy. Just like the Children of Tuirenn, Fergus suggests that they sneak into the court of Athens disguised as poets, right down to the hair-do!…
The Island of the Pillar – For Real?
In episode 14 of the series “Rowing Around Immráma”, we treated the Fenian tale, The Pursuit of the Gilla Decair and his Horse, as a kind of spoof Immrám. While this is the impression given, it also has another purpose. One of the prime functions of Fenian tales is to illustrate that whatever genre its heroes…
Rowing Around Immráma 14: The Pursuit of the Gilla Decair – An Unofficial Fenian Immrám
In the last stop of our very circuitous Immrám of Immráma, we have a canter through a Fenian tale of surly servants, marine equines, hairy horrors and a battle with the High-King of the World. All in a day’s work for Finn and the Fianna… But is it an Immrám? Is it a recognisably…