Macha gives her name to Emain Macha (Navan Fort, the seat of the Ulster kings) and to Armagh. She is also remembered for racing the king’s horses and cursing the Ulstermen. Why should a woman about to give birth be forced into a contest against race-horses? Explore this fantastical myth in relation to Early Irish…
Search Results for: Women
Mythical Women 01: The Story of Sinann
Sinann is the mythological source of the river Shannon, the longest river in Ireland. But who is she, and how far back does her story go? Was she a wayward girl, or the flower of her people and bringer of deep poetic inspiration? Delve into the original Irish texts in conversation with the Story Archaeologists….
Shannon Views
Conversations on the Shannon- The fluid backbone of Ireland This page opens a new Story Archaeology chapter. The first ever episode on Story Archaeology concerned the ‘origin’ story of the Shannon and the ancesress figure from Irish Mythology, Sinann. Many Story Archaeology friends will know I became absorbed by the mthological figure os Sinann and…
Candles in the Window: Page 5
Little Christmas ~ Nollaig na mBan It is hard to say where and when this tradition began in Ireland Nollaig na mBan is celebrated in some parts of the country more than others and there are often different family traditions depending on the family. But traditionally, on January 6th, housewives hung up their aprons and…
Candles in the Window: Page 4
The wran, the wran, The king of the Birds St. Stephen’s Day Was caught in the furze Up with the kettle And down with the pan Give a penny to bury the wran. St. Stephen’s Day, December 26th was known as Lá an Dróilín, the Day of the Wren. One origin story was that on…
Candles in the Window: Page 3
Christmas Eve ~ Oíche Nollag It was important to get home for Christmas. You’d have presents for the family and your friends Christmas Candles The candles were special. There were all kinds of holders but you might use a turnip or a piggin, a tub with a handle on it. Candles in the window were…
Candles in the Window: page 2
Ag mhaisigh an tí ~ Decorating the house Hunting for holly Finding holly with berries was best. You’d look all over for it. You might tie berries on if there were none. If there are lots of berries it’s supposed to be a hard winter. It feeds the birds for a hard winter. Making decorations…
Candles in The Window: Page 1
Ag ullmhaigh don Nollaig: Preparing the house for Christmas It was important to thoroughly clean the house and farmyard to have everything fresh and new for the birth of Jesus. Men would clean out outbuilding passage ways and surroundings and white wash all buildings inside and out. Was it just the men who did this…
Celebrating Professor Ralph Kenna
As many friends of Story Archaeology will now have heard, Professor Ralph Kenna passed away and left the world we know, last Thursday. I received the sad news from his wife, Claire, last Friday. It is so very sad that it has taken me a few days to feel ready to write this post. I…
Chris’ Ramble 8: A Story for our Times
The Táin Bó Cúailnge is an dramatic epic well worth the telling but with some challenging themes including broken loyalties and friendships with destruction laid on the land, for the sake of status and honour. Join Chris as she explores the telling of the tales and encounters a fresh resonance for our times. Links for…