Podcast
Story Archaeology
Hosted by Chris Thompson and Isolde Carmody · EN
Story Archaeology combines the knowledge and skills of the storyteller with academic exploration of ancient texts. The main focus is the Irish tradition but at https://storyarchaeology.com, you will find an archive of podcast articles, stories and translations as well as new podcast conversations with people from around the world who have ‘Stories in the Landscape’ to share.
17episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Cath Maige Tuired, for a wider audience: Part 10~ The Well and the Forge.
Sep 2600:19:06Tap to summarizeHeapstown Cairn This audio re-telling of 'The Battle of Moytura' is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. In part 10: The Well and the Forge, Dian Cécht and Goibnu keep their promises but there are tragic results for Ruadhán, son of Bres when the Fomoire strike back. Discover more about the The Cath Maige Tuired Find out more about The Well of Octriul: Heapstown Cairn Notes for this story You can still see Octriallach’s cairn. It is near Loch Arrow. and today it is known as Heapstown cairn. It is a megalithic passage tomb around 5000 years old and was once much higher than it is today. Keening was a traditional Irish form of vocal lament for the dead practiced by women until the early part of the 20th C. This tale suggests that it was connected with Brig. Cath Maige Tuired: 122 -126 Music: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum , Ben Dwyer
Transcribe →The Cath Maige Tuired, for a wider audience: Part 9~ The Muster.
Sep 1700:06:47Tap to summarizeThis audio re-telling of 'The Battle of Moytura' is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. In part 9: The Muster, Lugh gathers together the finest heroes and craftsmen from the Tuatha Dé Danann to find out just what marvels they can offer! Discover more about the The Cath Maige Tuired Notes for this story Part 9 is shorter and just offers the one story. Although nothing much happens it represents an important 'breathing space' before the events of the main battle begin. This is one of the sections of the text that demonstrates the tales oral origins.It is there to remind the audience of the main characters and all their special abilities. Cath Maige Tuired: 95-121 Music: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum , Ben Dwyer
Transcribe →The Cath Maige Tuired, for a wider audience: Part 8~ What the Dagda Did Next.
Sep 1300:15:15Tap to summarizeThis audio re-telling of 'The Battle of Moytura' is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. In part 8, What the Dagda Did Next , the 'Big Man' gets to consume a whole cauldron of food all by himself goes on to and encounters two extraordinary women Battle Poets. Discover more about the The Cath Maige Tuired Notes for this story I have had to take a slightly 'Lady Gregory' approach to this section as the description of the encounter between Dagda and Indech's daughter is, somewhat, explicit, and I want to ensure these re-tellings are fully appropriate for an older primary age-group, as well as an adult one. This encounter includes an example of a poetic 'battle-rap.' The original sequence which begins with the Dagda's name wordplay has the quality of early Rosc poetry where each short alliterative line re-translates the one that goes before. For more listen to this podcast conversation or read Isolde's post on the Names of the Dagda. It is well worth re-telling these stories as they introduce two of these powerful battle poets and illustrate the inportant roles expected to be undertaken by women in these early stories. Cath Maige Tuired: 83 - 94 Music: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum , Ben Dwyer
Transcribe →The Cath Maige Tuired, for a wider audience: Part 7~ The Arrival of the Ildánach
Sep 700:12:20Tap to summarizeLugh: Jim Fitzpatrick The battle of Moytura is better known as the Mythological story cycle. This audio re-telling is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. In part 7, The Arrival of the Ildánach , the looming dread of invadion by the Fomoire is met by the arrival of a remarkable stranger. But will this help? Discover more about the The Cath Maige Tuired Notes for this story This is a slightly shorter chapter, running at around 12 minutes but it is sometimes trick to find natural breaks in what is a continuous narrative. I haven't named all of Nuada's 'experts' but the meanings of their names are fascinating. Isolde's translations do shed so much light on early medieval society. Cath Maige Tuired: 52-82 Irish mythological and hero tales were not originally written for a young audience. No they were intended for an adult audience gathered together at feasts, Óenachs and to mark special events,. Youngsters may well have been present, may have enjoyed them, but tales weren’t considered as juvenelia. However they contain so much that younger audiences will enjoy. They are full of adventures and wonders. They have characters, both male and female who show courage, compassion, and comradeship and who demonstrate a sense of wonder, a sense of purpose, and, most definitely a sense of humour. I tell all of these stories regularly in schools and libraries. I have also recorded them as audio stories and I am happy to share them. Why? Well first they need to be shared. Second, I love audiobooks. As a story teller, I think these stories work best in this format. Have fun. Chris Music: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum , Ben Dwyer
Transcribe →The Cath Maige Tuired, for a wider audience: Part 6~ Among the Fomoire
Sep 400:14:29Tap to summarizeThe battle of Moytura is better known as the Mythological story cycle. This audio re-telling is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. We find out what the Fomoire king , Elaha thinks of his son's actions among the Dé Danann and we hear the disturbing tale of Eithliu, daughter of Balor, and her baby son Lugh. Discover more about the The Cath Maige TuiredDiscover more about the The Cath Maige Tuired Notes for this story: The birth of Lugh on Balor's isle (Tory Island) is not included in the textual version of the story but has suvived as an orally transmitted story. I think this makes it extra interesting. Balor's daughter's name has several variants. You will find her refered to as Ethliu, Ethlinn, Ethlin or Ethne. Isolde favoured Ethliu. In one oral version, three babies are thrown into the sea. Lugh in Welsh, Lleu (Llew Llaw Gyffes) is a second, secret baby born to Arianrhod, the first, Dylan is also thrown to the sea. Read 'Lugh Who? Where did he come from?' to find out more. Cath Maige Tuired 44 -51 Irish mythological and hero tales were not originally written for a young audience. No they were intended for an adult audience gathered together at feasts, Óenachs and to mark special events,. Youngsters may well have been present, may have enjoyed them, but tales weren’t considered as juvenelia. However they contain so much that younger audiences will enjoy. They are full of adventures and wonders. They have characters, both male and female who show courage, compassion, and comradeship and who demonstrate a sense of wonder, a sense of purpose, and, most definitely a sense of humour. I tell all of these stories regularly in schools and libraries. I have also recorded them as audio stories and I am happy to share them. Why? Well first they need to be shared. Second, I love audiobooks. As a story teller, I think these stories work best in this format.Have fun Chris Have fun. Chris Music: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum , Ben Dwyer
Transcribe →The Cath Maige Tuired, for a wider audience: Part 5~ Betrayal.
Aug 3100:12:44Tap to summarizeJim FitzPatrick The battle of Moytura is better known as the Mythological story cycle. This audio re-telling is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. In part 5, Betrayal, Coipre the chief poet, finally manages to find a way of getting rid of Bress. But Bress comes up with a deceitful plan involving dark consequences. 10(ish) to adult! Discover more about the The Cath Maige Tuired Cath Maige Tuired 36 - 43 Irish mythological and hero tales were not originally written for a young audience. No they were intended for an adult audience gathered together at feasts, Óenachs and to mark special events,. Youngsters may well have been present, may have enjoyed them, but tales weren’t considered as juvenelia. However they contain so much that younger audiences will enjoy. They are full of adventures and wonders. They have characters, both male and female who show courage, compassion, and comradeship and who demonstrate a sense of wonder, a sense of purpose, and, most definitely a sense of humour. I tell all of these stories regularly in schools and libraries. I have also recorded them as audio stories and I am happy to share them. Why? Well first they need to be shared. Second, I love audiobooks. As a story teller, I think these stories work best in this format. Have fun Chris Music: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum: Ben Dwyer
Transcribe →The Cath Maige Tuired, for a wider audience: Part 4~ The Healers.
Aug 3000:13:08Tap to summarizeceramic on glass by Chris Thompson The battle of Moytura is better known as the Mythological story cycle. This audio re-telling is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. In part 4,The Healers, we discover how Nuada achieves another shot at the kingship, the sad fate of Miach, Dian Cécht's son and we meet his sister, Aimed, a gifted herbalist. 10(ish) to adult! Discover more about the The Cath Maige Tuired Listen to the podcast episode on Airmed Notes for Part 4: The healers: When Isolde and I were working on this text we did wonder if this episode conerning Miach's death and 'rebirth' in the form of new plant growth might have once had an alternate context. Etymologically speaking. Dian Cécht has the meaning 'Eager Plough.' Miach and Airmid are both words used for measures of grain. So the cutting down of Miach, his burial and the regeneration of new geowth from the site where he was 'planted' has much in common with a number of agrarian myths; for example, Isis and Osiris or even, in the Uk, John Barleycorn. In this audo re-telling. I have just kept to the story, as it is given in the text(s), concentrating on the characters, their actions and their relationships rather than any inherant symbolism that they may carry. Cath Maige Tuired 33 -35 a gift from Abydos Musc: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum: Ben Dwyer
Transcribe →