Podcasts about ulster cycle

Send us a text✨ FREE - The Dagda - Hearth Hero & Domestic Deity  - https://irishpaganschool.com/p/dagda-hearthThe Dagda's story in Irish mythology isn't just a tale of one-time heroic feats or simple endings. As a central figure of the Mythological Cycle, the Dagda is a god of immense wisdom, resilience, and resourcefulness. But where does his story end? Jon O'Sullivan from the Irish Pagan School explores the Dagda's mysterious and lasting influence, from his legendary battles and kingly rule to his subtle but powerful presence in later myth cycles. Though not often directly mentioned in the Ulster Cycle and the Fenian Cycle, traces of the Dagda's influence continue. His legacy reaches through his descendants and the Irish landscape, resonating even into the Otherworld. Join us for a deep dive into one of Ireland's most enduring gods.✨ FREE LEARNING RESOURCES FOR A YEAR! - https://irishpagan.school/free✨ Irish Pagan Resources Checklist available NOW - https://irishpagan.school/checklist/

Send us a text✨ Take the Class - The Story Cycles of Irish Lore - https://irishpaganschool.com/p/mythology1In this deep dive into Irish mythology, Jon O'Sullivan from the Irish Pagan School explores the age and origins of Ireland's ancient stories. Discover how these narratives, categorized into the Mythological Cycle, Ulster Cycle, Fenian Cycle, and Cycle of Kings, have been preserved over centuries through medieval manuscripts like the Book of the Dun Cow and the Book of Leinster. Jon sheds light on the fascinating history behind these texts, their linguistic roots dating back to the 8th or 9th century, and the crucial role of Ireland's oral tradition. Learn about the incredible feats of ancient Irish bards, who kept these stories alive, and the importance of preserving our cultural heritage.Interested in learning more? Check out Jon's full class on the Story Cycles of Irish Mythology at the Irish Pagan School. Dive into the rich tapestry of Ireland's narrative history and understand the profound significance these tales hold in Irish culture.✨ Irish Pagan Resources Checklist available NOW - https://irishpagan.school/checklist/

An Analysis of the Ulster Cycle.

Conas taoi, how are ye? Welcome to the Candlelit Tales podcast where we tell Irish myths set to original music. In this episode, we bring you a live show recording from the Harbour Bar! We are taking a little break from our current series on the Fianna, as we are focusing on… writing our first-ever book! But more on that soon! For now, we want you to enjoy this live show recording because we have a live show coming up next month in the Sugar Club on the 19th of December! ‘The Darkest Hour' with very special guest acts announced on our social media very soon Get your tickets here: https://ie.powertik.com/events/the-darkest-hour Today we are listening to the Death Story of the greatest heroes in Irish Mythology, part of the Ulster Cycle and one of my all-time favourites, The Death of Cuchulainn with live musical accompaniment from Alan Homan, Colm Farrel and Ru O Shea. Please note the content of these stories may be triggering for some listeners, please take care of yourself as you listen. This story includes descriptions of death and battle. If you'd like to listen to our reflections and chats, or join us on a monthly call where we answer questions from our community, you can get all of that and bonus material by supporting this podcast and joining our Candlelit Crew. This podcast is proudly sponsored by the people who donate to us each month via https://www.patreon.com/candlelittales and anyone who sends us a once-off donation through the Paypal button on our website http://candlelittales.ie/ Find details of our upcoming shows here: https://candlelittales.ie/performances/

From the Fortress of Shadows just off the Isle of Skye, to the Palace of Dreams in Arthurian legends, Jenny and Annie visit the homes of warrior women. Jenny begins with folklore and mythology of Sgàthach, sometimes called the Shadow, or the Striker of Fear, and we learn how she was the greatest teacher of warriors in all the world. Next, Annie takes us to a strange Arthurian story about a woman of King Arthur's dreams and how one of the Knights of the Round Table must make an incredible journey to find her. Between the swooshing weapons of these two warrior women, we look at the strength, strategy and second sight of these incredible legends. Borrowing from the Ulster Cycle of the Irish heroic sagas, and the Scottish Gaelic song Am Bròn Binn, from Dunscaith Castle to the halls of the King of Scotland, these stories still inspire wonder and awe to this day. We hope you enjoy!Independently made in the Highlands, Stories of Scotland is gratefully funded through listener support on Patreon.www.patreon.com/storiesofscotland Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a Text Message.Cú Chulainn, is an Irish warrior, hero, and demigod in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology, as well as in Scottish and Manx folklore.  He is believed to be an incarntion of the God Lugh  who is also his father. His mother is the mortal Deichtine, sister of king Conchobar Mac Nessa.Born Sétanta, he gained his better-known name as a child, after killing  Culann's fierce guard dog and offering to take its place until a replacement could be reared, hence he became the "Hound (Cú) of Culann".Support the Show.Irish Mythology - Mythical Cycle - Book of Invasions

As refreshing as it was to get a taste of commoner life last week, we're not displeased to be back with the deliciously wicked warlords and courtiers of the Unseelie this time around. The lengthily-titled Pour L'Amour et Liberté: The Book of Houses 2 covers the three (at the time) Houses of the Parliament of Dreams' loyal opposition: Ailil, Balor, and Leanhaun, wyvern, serpent, and rose. (Yeah, yeah, the Ailil crest gets presented as a dragon, but in the original drawing the thing has no legs, so it's a wyvern.) It's about as long as three kithbooks if you strip out the templates and padding, so we probably get more in-depth and specific treatment of these Houses than any others in the game. Since we'd already had The Shadow Court, did we need this book? As much as we needed the first Book of Houses even though we had Nobles: the Shining Host. Does this book live up to the hype? We report, you decide. If you're into purchasing this one, check it out at https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/3511?affiliate_id=3063731. We also referenced The Book of Invasions and The Ulster Cycle (specifically, the Táin Bó Cúailnge) of Irish lore, because all three Houses make use of it, having explicit ties to Ireland as they do. If you'd like to skim through these source texts yourself, there are multiple places you can do that online. Have a gander, for example, at https://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/leborgabala.html for the former and http://adminstaff.vassar.edu/sttaylor/Cooley/ for the latter. And as always, if you'd like to get in touch with us, you have a number of options: Discord: https://discord.me/ctp Email: podcast@changelingthepodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082973960699 Mastodon: https://dice.camp/@ChangelingPod Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/changelingthepodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChangelingThePodcast your hosts Josh Hillerup (any pronoun) steals cattle and takes names. Or is that steals names and takes cattle? Pooka G (any pronoun/they) wouldn't mind a Chronos Cage in their apartment, just to have a space to get some work done. "When I'm good, I'm very good. But when I'm bad, I'm better." —Mae West as Tira in I'm No Angel

In episode 217 of Fireside, Kevin tells a tale from the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology - Cú Chulainn, The Hound of Ulster does face to face with The Morrigan - the goddess of battle, war and death, and in their encounter, history will be written. In episode 214 of Fireside, Kevin tells another pre-tale of the Ulster Cycle. Queen Maebh of Connaught has taken Fergus Mac Roich into her home and into her bed, but in the neighbouring kingdom of Mayo is a another chieftain, who also harbours a lust for Fergus... Order Gardensea Paperback: https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/ Order Gardensea Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P Support Fireside: https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Source: http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/regamna.html#1

In episode 214 of Fireside, Kevin tells another pre-tale of the Ulster Cycle. Queen Maebh of Connaught has taken Fergus Mac Roich into her home and into her bed, but in the neighbouring kingdom of Mayo is a another chieftain, who also harbours a lust for Fergus... Order Gardensea Paperback: https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/ Order Gardensea Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P Support Fireside: https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Source: hroiv2.htm

Welcome to this special first episode of "Royally Fooled"! Each April Fool's Day, we're going to take a break from history to look at interesting rulers from fiction. First up, Queen Medb from the Ulster Cycle of Irish Legends. It's gonna be a whole lot of gaslighting, gatekeeping, and girlbossing in this one.Subscribe for more episodes as they come.Twitter: @Denim_CreekInstagram: denimcreekproMusic:Intro/Outro: “Life O' the Lavish” - Jules Gaia, “Forest Walk” - Alexander Nakarada, “Epic Cinematic Inspiration Piano” - Protraxx, “Coffeeshop Stories” - Almost Here, “Smooth Passenger” - White Bones, “Time For Cadillac” - CooloopCopyright 2023, Denim Creek Productions

In episode 211 of Fireside, Kevin presents a tale of the Ulster Cycle, but a battle between the forces of Connaught and Munster. Victory and Defeat take a physical form to pit three warring chieftains against each other - with disastrous results for mortal men... Order Gardensea Paperback: https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/ Order Gardensea Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P Support Fireside: https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Update Description Source: https://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/dartaid.html

In episode 207 of Fireside, Kevin tells a story from the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology, continuing our look at the other Tain Bó tales: It is Halloween night when the dead walk amongst the living, and King Ailill of Connaught asks one of his warriors to go out and restrain two hanged corpses, lest they should come back to life. But when Nera volunteers he will end up on an adventure to the world of the otherfolk... Tickets to A Bard Is a Failed Poet: https://smockalley.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873633177 Order Gardensea Paperback: https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/ Order Gardensea Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P Support Fireside: https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Update Description Source: https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/academic/seanmeanghaeilge/cdi/texts/Meyer-Echtra-Nerai.pdf

In episode 204 of Fireside, we return to the world of the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology and another precursor tale to The Cattle Raid of Cooley. Queen Maebh needs allies, and her armies need maintenance - Regemon has the most cattle, and so the most wealth. But Regemon also has seven daughters, in love with the seven sons of Maebh. A plan forms... Order Gardensea Paperback: https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/ Order Gardensea Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P Support Fireside: https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Update Description Source: https://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/regamon.html

It's the 200th episode of Fireside! Kevin reflects on four years of the podcast with an epic lesser known tale from the Ulster Cycle. Queen Medh has declared war on Ulster, and she is in need of champions. Medh has a daughter, in love with the great hero Fráech. But when Fráech makes his way to Cruachan Fort, will Mebh gain a son-in-law or a warrior? Order Gardensea Paperback: https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/ Order Gardensea Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P Support Fireside: https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Update Description

Hello! This episode is all about myths & legends from around the world. Or at least, mostly around the UK, Ireland, and Michigan. Myths and legends might be hyper-local, specific to one town, or they might be known worldwide with the very name invoking an instant impression. They could even be the driving force behind an entire cultural identity and assumed history. Whatever they were, they're fascinating insights into a place and the people who live in it. Topics discussed include: * My recent trips to London and hiking the Yorkshire Three Peaks * The tale of the Nain Rouge, Detroit, USA * Other legends of Michigan (Dog Man, Melonheads, Pressie) * My uncle's music collection is stuck in 1973 * The tales of Tam Lin and Matty Groves * Lebor Gabala Erenn * The myths and legends of the Ulster Cycle, with apologies for my bad pronunciations * Take Good Care Of Your Cows * What the ancient Ulster capital of Emain Macha looks like now * Selkies. And Kelpies. * La Llorona, and why children should stay away from water * The tale of the Wizard of the Edge * What do you mean Sherwood Forest is a real place? * Robin Hood, Sheffield's biggest export * Some myths are just a tax-avoidance scam Contributions to this episode come from: * Nat, from Natpacker Travel * My friend Dayna, who doesn't have a web presence * Author Joanna Hastings, who can be found on Twitter * My co-conspiratior Victoria Pearson A PDF transcript of this episode is available. As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I'll also soon have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution. I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over. Until next time, bye for now. :)

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales Podcast, and the final episode in the back Battle Rage Series. This year we decided to choose lesser known characters from the Ulster Cycle, and tell their most interesting stories. You might recognise the characters in this series from the Táin saga. These stories stand alone, linked by one connection: the different manifestations of their Battle Rage. In this episode Aron, Sorcha and Oisin talk about the stories in the second half the series. As a reminder these were, Findchoem, Emer, Finibhear, and the Morrigan. We chat about how 1st person storytelling has been different to our usual style, and how much we have liked it, as well as the music and style of atmosphere Oisin created for this series. We briefly mentioned workshops and ‘Cruthu', the interactive game based show that we got Arts Council funding for. So if you are curious about any of the storytelling workshops that we offer, please get in touch, or check out our website http://candellittales.ie. This podcast is proudly sponsored by the people who donate to us each month via https://www.patreon.com/candlelittales and anyone who sends us a once-off donation through the Paypal button on our website http://candlelittales.ie/ #candlelittales #candlelittalespodcast #battlerageseries #keepherlit #keephercandlelit #storytelling #livemusic #mythology #irishmythology #patreon #thankyou #subscribe #youtube #spotify #amazon https://www.youtube.com/c/CandlelitTales https://open.spotify.com/show/2102WuUUe9Jl6cGXNwQEKf https://soundcloud.com/candlelittales https://twitter.com/candlelit_tales?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/candlelittales https://www.instagram.com/candlelittales https://vimeo.com/user52850249 https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/00d5c29b-ee1a-4078-aacf-62e1a94522dc/candlelit-tales-irish-mythology-podcast

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales Podcast, and back to the Battle Rage Series. This year we decided to choose lesser known characters from the Ulster Cycle, and tell their most interesting stories. This is the story of the goddess at the centre of it all, the embodiment of Battle Rage: the Morrigan. An inescapable force, whether we flee from her or embrace her, she brings clarity, power, and destruction. And the only suitable champion for a goddess of rage is one who enrages her in turn. This story is told by Sorcha. Music is by Oisín Ryan & it is produced by Oisín Ryan You might recognise the characters in this series from the Táin saga. These stories stand alone, linked by one connection: the different manifestations of their Battle Rage. This podcast is proudly sponsored by the people who donate to us each month via https://www.patreon.com/candlelittales and anyone who sends us a once-off donation through the Paypal button on our website http://candlelittales.ie/ #candlelittales #candlelittalespodcast #keepherlit #keephercandlelit #storytelling #livemusic #mythology #irishmythology #mythicalireland #patreon #thankyou #subscribe #youtube #spotify #amazon https://open.spotify.com/show/2102WuUUe9Jl6cGXNwQEKf https://soundcloud.com/candlelittales https://twitter.com/candlelit_tales?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/candlelittales https://www.instagram.com/candlelittales https://vimeo.com/user52850249 https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/00d5c29b-ee1a-4078-aacf-62e1a94522dc/candlelit-tales-irish-mythology-podcast

Get ready for a brain buster. Or at least prepare to witness my brain being busted. Celtic mythology is... tricky to understand. And no one understands perfectly because the source material is scarce.  A LOT has been written about Celtic mythology but so much of it is conjecture presented as fact. The ancient Celts themselves didn't write anything down. Their enemies did. As did the Catholic monks who came to island to conquer a people the Roman army could not. Today we familiarize ourselves with Ireland - land most associated with the Celts and find out why Ireland is most strongly associated with Celtic culture when Celtic tribes lived as far away as Asia Minor. Who were these people? What did they believe? Why don't we know more about them? And what the Hell is a Selkie, Spriggan, or a  Dullahan?  So much mystery and madness explored today. The Bad Magic Charity of the month is Love Thy Neighbor! We'll  be giving $15,500 to this Denver-area based 501(3c) nonprofit dedicated to working with local businesses to hand out free food to the homeless. They also give clothing, shoes, blankets, etc. Go to https://ltnsocks.com/Watch the Suck on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OaGfE_5_55cMerch - https://badmagicmerch.com/  Discord! https://discord.gg/tqzH89vWant to join the Cult of the Curious private Facebook Group? Go directly to Facebook and search for "Cult of the Curious" in order to locate whatever happens to be our most current page :)For all merch related questions/problems: store@badmagicproductions.com (copy and paste)Please rate and subscribe on iTunes and elsewhere and follow the suck on social media!! @timesuckpodcast on IG and http://www.facebook.com/timesuckpodcastWanna become a Space Lizard? We're over 10,000 strong! Click here: https://www.patreon.com/timesuckpodcastSign up through Patreon and for $5 a month you get to listen to the Secret Suck, which will drop Thursdays at Noon, PST. You'll also get 20% off of all regular Timesuck merch PLUS access to exclusive Space Lizard merch. You get to vote on two Monday topics each month via the app. And you get the download link for my new comedy album, Feel the Heat. Check the Patreon posts to find out how to download the new album and take advantage of other benefits

Show Notes Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales Podcast, and back to the Battle Rage Series. This year we decided to choose lesser known characters from the Ulster Cycle, and tell their most interesting stories. This is the story of Emer and the only time she experienced jealousy so fully it brought her to a battle rage. The story is also known as ‘The only Jealousy of Emer' or ‘The sickbed of Cúchulainn'. Emer was Cúchulainn's equal, and the one woman who could argue and hold her own against him. She had the 7 gifts of womanhood, was beautiful beyond comparison and therefore never thought she would lose the love of her life, despite his frequent infidelities. She knew he would return to her no matter what. She gave him every chance, over and over again, until that is, he met with the faerie lady Fand… This story is told by Aron. Music is by Oisín Ryan & it is produced by Oisín Ryan You might recognise the characters in this series from the Táin saga. These stories stand alone, linked by one connection: the different manifestations of their Battle Rage. This podcast is proudly sponsored by the people who donate to us each month via https://www.patreon.com/candlelittales and anyone who sends us a once-off donation through the Paypal button on our website http://candlelittales.ie/ #candlelittales #candlelittalespodcast #keepherlit #keephercandlelit #storytelling #livemusic #mythology #irishmythology #mythicalireland #patreon #thankyou #subscribe #youtube #spotify #amazon https://open.spotify.com/show/2102WuUUe9Jl6cGXNwQEKf https://soundcloud.com/candlelittales https://twitter.com/candlelit_tales?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/candlelittales https://www.instagram.com/candlelittales https://vimeo.com/user52850249 https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/00d5c29b-ee1a-4078-aacf-62e1a94522dc/candlelit-tales-irish-mythology-podcast

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales Podcast, and back to the Battle Rage Series. This year we decided to choose lesser known characters from the Ulster Cycle, and tell their most interesting stories. This is the story of Finibhear, the daughter of Queen Medb of Connaught This re-telling is inspired by true events that happen all around us all the time This story is told by Oisín Music is by Oisín Ryan and it is produced by Oisín Ryan You might recognise the characters in this series from the Táin saga. These stories stand alone, linked by one connection: the different manifestations of their Battle Rage. This podcast is proudly sponsored by the people who donate to us each month via https://www.patreon.com/candlelittales and anyone who sends us a once-off donation through the Paypal button on our website http://candlelittales.ie/ #candlelittales #candlelittalespodcast #keepherlit #keephercandlelit #storytelling #livemusic #mythology #irishmythology #mythicalireland #patreon #thankyou #subscribe #youtube #spotify #amazon https://open.spotify.com/show/2102WuUUe9Jl6cGXNwQEKf https://soundcloud.com/candlelittales https://twitter.com/candlelit_tales?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/candlelittales https://www.instagram.com/candlelittales https://vimeo.com/user52850249 https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/00d5c29b-ee1a-4078-aacf-62e1a94522dc/candlelit-tales-irish-mythology-podcast

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales Podcast, and back to the Battle Rage Series. This year we decided to choose lesser known characters from the Ulster Cycle, and tell their most interesting stories. This is the story of Findchoem, who is mostly remembered for her relationships to the heroes of the Ulster Cycle. She was related to Conchubar Mac Nessa through their father, Cathbad, but grew up in Connaught with her mother and her brother, Cet. She was married to the warrior poet of Ulster, Amairgin. She wet-nursed Cuchulainn in his infancy. And she was the mother of Ulster's other great warrior, Conall Cearnach. This is her story. This story is told by Sorcha. Music is by Oisín Ryan and it is produced by Oisín Ryan You might recognise the characters in this series from the Táin saga. These stories stand alone, linked by one connection: the different manifestations of their Battle Rage. This podcast is proudly sponsored by the people who donate to us each month via https://www.patreon.com/candlelittales and anyone who sends us a once-off donation through the Paypal button on our website http://candlelittales.ie/ #candlelittales #candlelittalespodcast #keepherlit #keephercandlelit #storytelling #livemusic #mythology #irishmythology #mythicalireland #patreon #thankyou #subscribe #youtube #spotify #amazon https://open.spotify.com/show/2102WuUUe9Jl6cGXNwQEKf https://soundcloud.com/candlelittales https://twitter.com/candlelit_tales?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/candlelittales https://www.instagram.com/candlelittales https://vimeo.com/user52850249 https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/00d5c29b-ee1a-4078-aacf-62e1a94522dc/candlelit-tales-irish-mythology-podcast

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales Podcast, and back to the Battle Rage Series. This year we decided to choose lesser known characters from the Ulster Cycle, and tell their most interesting stories. Sorcha and Aron chat about the stories so far. You might recognise the characters in this series from the Táin saga. These stories stand alone, linked by one connection: the different manifestations of their Battle Rage. This podcast is proudly sponsored by the people who donate to us each month via https://www.patreon.com/candlelittales and anyone who sends us a once-off donation through the Paypal button on our website http://candlelittales.ie/ #candlelittales #candlelittalespodcast #keepherlit #keephercandlelit #storytelling #livemusic #mythology #irishmythology #mythicalireland #patreon #thankyou #subscribe #youtube #spotify #amazon https://open.spotify.com/show/2102WuUUe9Jl6cGXNwQEKf https://soundcloud.com/candlelittales https://twitter.com/candlelit_tales?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/candlelittales https://www.instagram.com/candlelittales https://vimeo.com/user52850249 https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/00d5c29b-ee1a-4078-aacf-62e1a94522dc/candlelit-tales-irish-mythology-podcast

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales Podcast, and back to the Battle Rage Series. This year we decided to choose lesser known characters from the Ulster Cycle, and tell their most interesting stories. This is the story of Friuch, the swine herd of Munster. Friuch once had a close friend called Rucht. The two of them shared a lot in common, as they were both swine herds. But jealousy got between them, a bitterness and a hate so strong it could only have started with love. Friuch lost his mind to the hate, as did Rucht. They fought, and they forgot everything else… and then they woke up as Bulls. The White Horned Bull of Cruachán and the Donn Culaigne. This story is told by Aron. Music is by Oisín Ryan & it is produced by Oisín Ryan You might recognise the characters in this series from the Táin saga. These stories stand alone, linked by one connection: the different manifestations of their Battle Rage. This podcast is proudly sponsored by the people who donate to us each month via https://www.patreon.com/candlelittales and anyone who sends us a once-off donation through the Paypal button on our website http://candlelittales.ie/ #candlelittales #candlelittalespodcast #keepherlit #keephercandlelit #storytelling #livemusic #mythology #irishmythology #mythicalireland #patreon #thankyou #subscribe #youtube #spotify #amazon https://open.spotify.com/show/2102WuUUe9Jl6cGXNwQEKf https://soundcloud.com/candlelittales https://twitter.com/candlelit_tales?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/candlelittales https://www.instagram.com/candlelittales https://vimeo.com/user52850249 https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/00d5c29b-ee1a-4078-aacf-62e1a94522dc/candlelit-tales-irish-mythology-podcast

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales Podcast, and back to the Battle Rage Series. This year we decided to choose lesser known characters from the Ulster Cycle, and tell their most interesting stories. In this episode you will hear the story of Ferdia Mac Daman, warrior of Connaught, told by Rú O'Shea. You might recognise the characters in this series from the Táin saga. These stories stand alone, linked by one connection: the different manifestations of their Battle Rage. This podcast is proudly sponsored by the people who donate to us each month via https://www.patreon.com/candlelittales and anyone who sends us a once-off donation through the Paypal button on our website http://candlelittales.ie/ #candlelittales #candlelittalespodcast #keepherlit #keephercandlelit #storytelling #livemusic #mythology #irishmythology #mythicalireland #patreon #thankyou #subscribe #youtube #spotify #amazon https://open.spotify.com/show/2102WuUUe9Jl6cGXNwQEKf https://soundcloud.com/candlelittales https://twitter.com/candlelit_tales?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/candlelittales https://www.instagram.com/candlelittales https://vimeo.com/user52850249 https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/00d5c29b-ee1a-4078-aacf-62e1a94522dc/candlelit-tales-irish-mythology-podcast

Sir Gawain & The Green Knight Sir Gawain and The Green Knight is the original Christmas Ghost Story. Or technically a supernatural story set at Christmas in the kingdom of Logres ruled by King Arthur. It's pretty gothic. This is a prose translation of a Middle English poem called Sir Gawain and The Green Knight. The translation by Jessie Weston was published in 1898 and though it is certainly not Middle English she has left enough archaic words in to keep that flavour. Jessie Weston herself was born in 1850 in Surrey, England, the daughter of a tea merchant. When she was young the family moved to Bournemouth off England's south coast and she began writing there. She studied in Hildesheim in Germany and in Paris and at the Crystal Palace School of Art in South London.   She was most famous for her studies of Arthurian romances and the Grail legend where she put forth the ideas that the material was actually pre-Christian and pagan in origin. T S Eliot's The Wasteland was influenced by Weston's Arthurian studies.  The Green Knight as it stands was composed no later than the end of the 14th Century (the date of the manuscript) and may be much older. The language is Mercian influenced Middle English, probably from Lancashire. The boundary between Mercian and Northumbrian Old English runs through Lancashire and its dialect is influenced by both, but South Lancashire and Cheshire have Midlands' such as pronouncing the ‘g' in ‘king' and ‘thing'. If you're interested in Old English dialects, check out Simon Roper's Youtube Channel for a real treat.  The poem shows signs of oral storytelling with the rich, detailed descriptions that run in sequences and would probably delight an audience as they were elaborated.  The themes are of honour and courage, as befitted the courtly audience, but also of love and fashion, which traditionally interest ladies. Tricky subject these days, but that was the established view for centuries. Things change. I for one embrace change, while I mourn what it lost. I'm a bit like the VoiceOver by Galadriel at the start of the Fellowship of The Ring movie. There are folkloric features which Weston perhaps emphasis because she was interested in them: He bears a holly bough to symbolise life and rebirth. He pole vaults over water as fairies can't normally cross running water. The bargain is for a year and a day which is in all good fairy tales.  The motif of the talking head appears again and again in Celtic stories: Bran the Blessed, and Bricriu's Feast from the Ulster Cycle where the beheading challenge is seen. Of course the severed head is seen on a platter in the Perceval/Parsifal/Peredur Stories. The old lady in the castle is the famous with Morgana La Fee. “I trow” is “I think” or “I believe” “In sooth” is “truly”, “really” ‘fo sho' “Wit, wot, witen' are 'to know' . So “ I wit” is cognate with the German “Ich weiss” or the Dutch “ek weet” “List” is “like” or “please” “As he may list”  “As he pleases” “Welkin” is sky. “Hearken” is “hear, or listen to” Going through the recording as I edit, it strikes me that perhaps the green lace on the axe is the one that Gawain later gets from the lady and transpires to have been the knight's. It was the magic of this lace that allowed him to survive the blow. Not sure why I didn't figure that before. This is just what a modern author would be: place an item and bury it in detail so its significance isn't grasped until much later. It's mainly showing not telling too. We get some insight into Gawain's thinking, but mostly the situations are simply described and we infer internal motivations and ruminations from what we hear. Described. I also think it's unfair of the Green Knight to chide Gawain for cowardice, comparing his fearlessness when faced with the axe. The Green Knight knew he had a magic item that would protect him, so of course he wasn't scared. Unfair, I say. Unfair. You will note... Support this podcast

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales Podcast, and back to the Battle Rage Series. This year we decided to choose lesser known characters from the Ulster Cycle, and tell their most interesting stories. This is the story of Neasa, the woman who was once called Easa. She was called this because Easa means gentle, but after seeing the horrific murder of her entire family, her life was destroyed. She vowed vengeance and swore to track down every one of the men that did her wrong. She became Ní Easa, Ungentle. Neasa is also the mother of Conchubhar of the Ulster cycle. This story shows his mother had a more interesting tale to her life than just being known for giving birth to a king. This story is told by Sorcha. Music is by Oisín Ryan & it is produced by Oisín Ryan You might recognise the characters in this series from the Táin saga. These stories stand alone, linked by one connection: the different manifestations of their Battle Rage. This podcast is proudly sponsored by the people who donate to us each month via https://www.patreon.com/candlelittales and anyone who sends us a once-off donation through the Paypal button on our website http://candlelittales.ie/ #candlelittales #candlelittalespodcast #keepherlit #keephercandlelit #storytelling #livemusic #mythology #irishmythology #mythicalireland #patreon #thankyou #subscribe #youtube #spotify #amazon https://open.spotify.com/show/2102WuUUe9Jl6cGXNwQEKf https://soundcloud.com/candlelittales https://twitter.com/candlelit_tales?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/candlelittales https://www.instagram.com/candlelittales https://vimeo.com/user52850249 https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/00d5c29b-ee1a-4078-aacf-62e1a94522dc/candlelit-tales-irish-mythology-podcast

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales Podcast, and back to the Battle Rage Series. This year we decided to choose lesser known characters from the Ulster Cycle, and tell their most interesting stories. This is the story of Laeg, charioteer to the Champion of Ulster, Cuchulainn. He was know as the king of charioteers when he died. But as a youth it's interesting to consider, what drove him to be Cúchulainn's only friend and chariot driver. He was the only one who could insult him, and he was by his side for most of his greatest feats and glories. He also had to learn how to take the great mythical horses, The Grey of Macha and the Black of Seanglean's. This story is told by Aron. Music is by Oisín Ryan & Aron Hegarty & it is produced by Oisín Ryan You might recognise the characters in this series from the Táin saga. These stories stand alone, linked by one connection: the different manifestations of their Battle Rage. This podcast is proudly sponsored by the people who donate to us each month via https://www.patreon.com/candlelittales and anyone who sends us a once-off donation through the Paypal button on our website http://candlelittales.ie/ #keepherlit #keephercandlelit #candlelittales #storytelling #livemusic #mythology #irishmythology #mythicalirealnd https://open.spotify.com/show/2102WuUUe9Jl6cGXNwQEKf https://soundcloud.com/candlelittales https://twitter.com/candlelit_tales?lang=en

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales Podcast, and to the first episode of our last series of 2021. In this episode we got together and talked out the plan we have in store for the Battle Rage Series. Each year for the past seven years we have always told the Táin Bó Cuailnge, or a variation of it. We have several iterations of this Irish epic recorded in previous podcasts. So this year we decided to choose lesser known characters from the Ulster Cycle, and tell their most interesting stories. These characters you might recognise from the saga, if you know it, but even if you don't, the stories stand alone and are linked by one connection: when each of these characters feels the battle rage come upon them. Stay tuned to hear stories from the whole team this series. This podcast is proudly sponsored by the people who donate to us each month via https://www.patreon.com/candlelittales and anyone who sends us a once-off donation through the Paypal button on our website http://candlelittales.ie/ #keepherlit #keephercandlelit #candlelittales #storytelling #livemusic #mythology #irishmythology #mythicalirealnd https://open.spotify.com/show/2102WuUUe9Jl6cGXNwQEKf https://soundcloud.com/candlelittales https://twitter.com/candlelit_tales?lang=en

Our favorite Celtic hero? Well, it's that kooky guy, of course! Join us for this and more mispronunciations of Celtic names as we continue to dive into Celtic mythology. This time, we look at stories of Cuchulainn, from the birth of the famous hero , to how he earned his name, and the tragedies of his son Connla and his friend Ferdia. We also look at the significance of pride and how one can make rash decisions due to mockery, as well as discussing the significance of Fairy and the unknown. Also, why is Medb spelled like that?

Join Bill as he takes us on a journey through the emotionally charged streets of Verona, Italy in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.We'll discover how the play is filled with morons, why one characters could very well have ended up with clammy hands, whether or not the Montagues and the Capulets ended up in purgatory, and that there may be some echoes of a frightfully boozy Irish queen in the script.During each episode Bill will invite you to draw along and give us your interpretation of the idioms we find in Shakespeare's works. Please share your drawings with us using the hashtag #BardwithBill.-----Additional Reading and corrections- The female role with the most lines in Shakespeare's plays is actually Rosalind, Cleopatra is second, Imogen third, Portia fourth and Juliet fifth.- Dante's Purgatorio is from Canto VII is available to read for free online. - The tales of Queen Medb can be found in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology.

I talk to Dr Rena Maguire about On Raven's Wing by Morgan Llywelyn. This book is a retelling of part of the Ulster Cycle, especially the life of Cuchulain, the Hound of Ulster, and the Tain Bo Cuailhge, the Cattle Raid of Cooley. It is mainly set at Emain Macha which is known to be Navan Fort bear Armagh. How much of the story reflects the Irish Iron Age? Links On Raven's Wing by Morgan Llywelyn Navan Research Group Tain online Emania Journal The Togail Kenneth Jackson Mallory, James P. [ed.], Aspects of the Táin, Belfast: December, 1992. Contact Navan Fort, as their shop may still have copies Contact Twitter: @prehistpod Guest Twitter: @justrena Find this show on the educational podcast app, Lyceum.fm!

Professor Ruairí Ó hUiginn MRIA is Director and Senior Professor in the School of Celtic Studies at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. He formerly was Professor of Modern Irish at Maynooth University and has held lecturing positions in the universities of Uppsala, Bonn, Galway and at Queen's University Belfast. He has published widely on many aspects of the Irish language and its literature. Conference by the Royal Irish Academy Library in partnership with Roinn na Sean-Ghaeilge, Ollscoil Mhá Nuad. The Royal Irish Academy manuscript known by its shelfmark ‘23 N 10' was produced in Ballycummin, Co. Roscommon, in the sixteenth century. It is an extraordinarily important manuscript for many reasons, but it is particularly significant because it contains tales which are amongst the oldest surviving literature in Irish. These tales would originally have been preserved in a now-lost manuscript called Cín Dromma Snechta. Aside from wonderful examples of Old Irish narrative literature, the manuscript also preserves legal texts, poetry and wisdom literature from early medieval Ireland. This two-day conference will explore all aspects of the production, survival and significance of the ‘Book of Ballycummin' and the marvels of medieval Irish literature which are contained within it. Described in the nineteenth century as a ‘little remnant of the work of the ancients', this manuscript is a remarkable witness to the earliest development of Irish literature. Location: Academy House Date: 7 March, 2019 Disclaimer: The Royal Irish Academy has prepared this content responsibly and carefully, but disclaims all warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy of the information contained in any of the materials. The views expressed are the authors' own and not those of the Royal Irish Academy.

Conchúir or Conchobar mac Nessa (son of Ness) was the king of Ulster in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. He ruled from Emain Macha (Navan Fort, near Armagh). There are several versions of how Conchobar was conceived. In the earliest, Ness, daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide, the then king of Ulster, asks the druid Cathbad what it is an auspicious time for. Cathbad replies, "for begetting a king on a queen". There are no other men around, so Ness takes Cathbad to bed and conceives a son. In a later version, Ness is brought up by twelve foster-fathers, and while all twelve are at a feast, Cathbad, leading a fian or landless war-band, attacks the house and kills them all. Eochaid is unable to avenge them as the culprit cannot be identified, so Ness forms her own fian to hunt Cathbad down. But while she is bathing alone in a pool, Cathbad appears, stands between her and her weapons, and bares his sword. He spares her life on the condition that she becomes his wife. They settle near a river called Conchobar, and Ness soon conceives a son, but in this version the father is the High King Fachtna Fáthach, who is Ness's lover. As she and Cathbad set out to visit Fachtna, Ness goes into labour. Cathbad tells her if she can manage not to give birth until the following day, her son will be a great king and have everlasting fame, for he will be born on the same day as Jesus Christ. Ness sits on a flagstone by the river Conchobar, and the following morning gives birth. The baby falls into the river, but Cathbad lifts him out, names him Conchobar after the river, and brings him up as his own son. Conchobar becomes king By the time Conchobar is seven, Fergus mac Róich is king of Ulster, and falls in love with Ness. She agrees to become his wife, on one condition: that Fergus allows Conchobar to be king for a year, so his children will be called the sons of a king (under Medieval Irish law inheritance passed through the male line, and only those who had a king as a male-line ancestor were eligible for kingship). The nobles of Ulster advise Fergus that this will not affect his standing with them, as the boy will be king in name only, so he agrees. But Conchobar, advised by his mother, rules so well that by the end of the year it's decided he should be king permanently. Fergus makes an alliance with the new High King, Eochu Feidlech, and they make war on Ulster. After a series of bloody battles, Conchobar makes overtures for peace. Fergus is offered land, the Champion's Portion at Emain Macha, and the position of Conchobar's heir. Conchobar demands compensation from Eochu for the killing of his father, Fachtna Fáthach, and is granted land, status and the High King's daughter in marriage. Marriages and family Conchobar marries several of Eochu's daughters. Medb, later queen of Connacht, is the first. She bears him a son called Amalgad, but soon leaves him. Her sister Eithne conceives a son by him, but Medb murders her by drowning her in a stream. Her son Furbaide is delivered by posthumous Caesarian section. Mugain bears him a son called Glaisne and remains his chief wife. The mother of Conchobar's eldest son, Cormac Cond Longas, is either Eochu's daughter Clothru or Conchobar's own mother Ness. Cormac is given to Fergus mac Róich to foster. His other sons include Cúscraid Mend Macha and Folloman. His daughter Fedelm Noíchrothach marries Cairbre Nia Fer, King of Tara, and they have a son, Erc, and a daughter, Achall. Conchobar has two sisters, Findchóem [8] and Deichtine. Findchóem marries the poet Amergin, and they have a son, Conall Cernach. Deichtine is the mother of Cú Chulainn, by either her mortal husband Sualtam or the god Lugh.

Cú Chulainn, also spelt Cú Chulaind or Cúchulainn, Irish for "Culann's Hound") and sometimes known in English as Cuhullin is an Irish mythological hero who appears in the stories of the Ulster Cycle, as well as in Scottish and Manx folklore. The son of the god Lugh and Deichtine (sister of Conchobar mac Nessa), his childhood name was Sétanta. He gained his better-known name as a child after he killed Culann's fierce guard-dog in self-defence and offered to take its place until a replacement could be reared. At the age of seventeen he defended Ulster single-handedly against the armies of queen Medb of Connacht in the epic Táin Bó Cúailnge ("Cattle Raid of Cooley"). It was prophesied that his great deeds would give him everlasting fame, but that his life would be a short one. For this reason he is compared to the Greek hero Achilles. He is known for his terrifying battle frenzy, or ríastrad (translated by Thomas Kinsella as "warp spasm" and by Ciaran Carson as "torque", in which he becomes an unrecognisable monster who knows neither friend nor foe. He fights from his chariot, driven by his loyal charioteer Láeg and drawn by his horses, Liath Macha and Dub Sainglend. In more modern times, Cú Chulainn is often referred to as the "Hound of Ulster". Cú Chulainn shows striking similarities to the Persian epic hero Rostam, as well as to the Germanic Lay of Hildebrand and the labours of the Greek epic hero Hercules, suggesting a common Indo-European origin, but lacking in linguistic, anthropological and archaeological material. Source: Wikipedia

Emer, in modern Irish Éimhear, or, Eimhear, Éimear or Eimer, daughter of Forgall Monach, is the wife of the hero Cú Chulainn in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Main article: Tochmarc Emire The Ulstermen searched all over Ireland for a suitable wife for Cú Chulainn, but he would have none but Emer. He visited her at Forgall's house at Lusk, County Dublin, and wooed her by trading cryptic riddles with her. Emer would accept Cú Chulainn as a husband, but only when his deeds justified it. However, Forgall was opposed to the match. He came to Ulster in disguise and suggested that Cú Chulainn should train in arms with the renowned warrior-woman Scáthach in Scotland, hoping the ordeal would be too much for him and he would be killed. Cú Chulainn took up the challenge. He learned all the arts of war from Scáthach, and while he was there slept with her rival Aoife, or Aífe, leaving her pregnant. In the meantime, Forgall offered Emer to Lugaid mac Noís, a king of Munster. However, when he heard that Emer loved Cú Chulainn, Lugaid refused her hand. Cú Chulainn returned from Scotland fully trained, but Forgall still refused to let him marry Emer. Cú Chulainn stormed Forgall's fortress, killing twenty-four of Forgall's men, abducted Emer and stole Forgall's treasure. Forgall himself fell from the ramparts to his death. An ally of Forgall's, Scenn Menn, tried to stop the fleeing couple, but Cú Chulainn killed him in single combat at a ford. Having proved his prowess, Emer now agreed to marry him. Conchobar mac Nessa, the king of Ulster, had the "right of the first night" over all marriages of his subjects. He was afraid of Cú Chulainn's reaction if he exercised it in this case, but would lose his authority if he didn't. A solution was found - Conchobar would sleep with Emer on the night of the wedding, but Cathbad the druid would sleep between them. Emer's only jealousy Main article: Serglige Con Culainn Though Cú Chulainn had many lovers, Emer's only jealousy came when he was entranced into love with Fand, wife of Manannán mac Lir, the king of the great sea, as recounted in the narrative Serglige Con Culainn ("The Wasting Sickness of Cú Chulainn"). She decided to kill her rival, but when she saw the strength of Fand's love for Cú Chulainn she decided to give him up to her. Fand, touched by Emer's magnanimity, decided to return to her own husband. Manannán shook his cloak between Cú Chulainn and Fand, ensuring the two would never meet again, and Cú Chulainn and Emer drank a potion to wipe the whole affair from their memories. Other stories When Aífe's son Connla came to Ireland in search of his father, Emer realised who he was and tried to persuade Cú Chulainn not to kill him, but to no avail. Emer was said to possess the six gifts of womanhood: beauty, a gentle voice, sweet words, wisdom, skill at needlework and chastity. Emer is the subject of William Butler Yeats' play, The Only Jealousy of Emer. This play is one of his five famous Cú Chulainn pieces and is written with heavy stylistic influences from the Japanese Noh theatre. The story is taken with some liberty from Lady Augusta Gregory's saga-story of the same name in her collection, Cuchulain of Muirthemne (1902). Jealousy premiered in 1922 in Amsterdam under the direction of Albert van Dalsum with masks created by the sculptor Hildo Krop. It did not play on the Irish stage until May 1926, when it was staged by the Dublin Drama League at the Abbey Theatre. Emer is mentioned in Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt as "The Greatest Pisser" in how she came to win Cuchulain's hand for marriage. Emer is also referenced as part of Táin based imagery in Máirtín Ó Cadhain'sThe Withering Branch.

Fianna (singular fian) were small, semi-independent warrior bands in Irish mythology and Scottish mythology. They are featured in the stories of the Fenian Cycle, where they are led by Fionn mac Cumhaill. They are based on historical bands of landless young men in early medieval Ireland known as kerns. The historical institution of the fian is known from references in early medieval Irish law tracts. A fian was made up of landless young men and women, often young aristocrats who had not yet come into their inheritance of land. A member of a fian was called a fénnid; the leader of a fian was a rígfénnid (literally "king-fénnid). Geoffrey Keating, in his 17th-century History of Ireland, says that during the winter the fianna were quartered and fed by the nobility, during which time they would keep order on their behalf, but during the summer, from Beltaine to Samhain, they were obliged to live by hunting for food and for pelts to sell. Keating's History is more a compilation of traditions than a reliable history, but in this case scholars point to references in early Irish poetry and the existence of a closed hunting season for deer and wild boar between Samhain and Beltaine in medieval Scotland as corroboration. Legendary depiction Some legendary depictions of fianna seem to conform to historical reality: for example, in the Ulster Cycle the druid Cathbad leads a fian of twenty-seven men which fights against other fianna and kills the twelve foster-fathers of the Ulster princess Ness. Ness, in response, leads her own fian of twenty-seven in pursuit of Cathbad. However, the stories of the Fiannaíocht, set around the time of Cormac mac Airt, depict the fianna as a single standing army in the service of the High King, although it contains two rival factions, the Clann Baíscne of Leinster, led by Fionn mac Cumhaill, and the Clann Morna of Connacht, led by Goll mac Morna, and lives apart from society, surviving by hunting. War cry and mottos The Diord Fionn was the war-cry of the Fianna, and they frequently employed its use prior to and amid battle, either as a mode of communication or to put fear into their enemies. In the legend "The Death of Fionn", Fionn raises the Diord Fionn when he sees his grandson Oscar fall in battle (Battle of Gabhra) against the armies of Cairbre Lifechair, and proceeds to strike back at the enemy with great furiosity killing many dozens of warriors.The Battle of Gabhra also marked the demise of the Fianna. They had three mottoes: Glaine ár gcroí (Purity of our hearts) Neart ár ngéag (Strength of our limbs) Beart de réir ár mbriathar (Action to match our speech)

Nessa, or Ness, is a princess of the Ulaid and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Her father is Eochaid Sálbuide, king of the Ulaid. According to one version of the legend, she asks the druid Cathbad what that day is a good day for, and he replies that it is a good day to conceive a king. There are no other men around, so Ness takes Cathbad to bed, and Conchobar is conceived. In other versions, Ness was brought up by twelve foster-fathers, and was originally called Assa ("easy, gentle"), because she was such a pleasure to foster. Cathbad, who is a leader of a band of fianna (landless warriors) as well as a druid in this version, attacks her foster-fathers' house, killing them all. Because the culprit cannot be identified, Eochaid is powerless to do anything about it, so Ness forms her own band of 27 fianna to track him down, and becomes known as Ní-assa ("not easy, not gentle"), or Ness. However, one day, when she goes off on her own to bathe, Cathbad comes upon her alone and unarmed and demands her as his wife. She has no choice but to agree. Eochaid gives the couple land in Crích Rois (a region covering parts of the modern counties of Louth, Monaghan and Meath), near the river Conchobar. One night Cathbad is thirsty, and Ness brings him a drink of water from the river, but when he sees two worms floating in it he makes Ness drink it. Although the story specifically denies this is what makes her pregnant, there are many Irish stories in which significant characters are conceived when their mothers swallowed a tiny creature in a drink. Here, the father of her child is said to be Fachtna Fáthach, the High King of Ireland, who is Ness's lover in spite of Cathbad. While Ness and Cathbad are travelling to visit Fachtna, Ness goes into labour on the bank of the river Conchobar. Cathbad prophesies that if she can wait until the following day before giving birth, her son will share a birthday with Jesus Christ. She sits on a flagstone by the river, and the following day gives birth to a son, who is named Conchobar after the river. The baby tumbles backwards into the river, and Cathbad lifts him out. Cathbad makes a prophecy in verse of his future glory, in which he refers to him as "my son and my grandson", suggesting there was once a tradition that Cathbad was Ness's father, and that Conchobar was born of incest between them. By the time Conchobar is seven, Fergus mac Róich is king of Ulster, and he falls in love with Ness. She consents to marry him on one condition – that he abdicate his kingship for a year in favour of Conchobar, so that his sons will be able to call themselves the sons of a king. Fergus consults with his nobles, and they advise him that the boy will be king in name only, so he agreed. But Conchobar, advised by his mother, is so crafty at distributing wealth and gifts that when the year is up, the Ulstermen won't have Fergus back, and Conchobar keeps the kingship. According to some traditions Ness is the mother of Cormac Cond Longas by incest with Conchobar (although in other traditions, Cormac's mother is Conchobar's wife Clothru). She is also the mother of Conchobar's sisters Deichtine and Findchóem. Source: Wikipedia

Táin Bó Cúailnge, "the driving-off of cows of Cooley", commonly known as The Cattle Raid of Cooley or The Táin is a legendary tale from early Irish literature, often considered an epic, although it is written primarily in prose rather than verse. It tells of a war against Ulster by the Connacht queen Medb and her husband Ailill, who intend to steal the stud bull Donn Cuailnge, opposed only by the teenage Ulster hero Cú Chulainn. Traditionally set in the 1st century AD in an essentially pre-Christian heroic age, the Táin is the central text of a group of tales known as the Ulster Cycle. It survives in three written versions or "recensions" in manuscripts of the 12th and later centuries, the first a compilation largely written in Old Irish, the second a more consistent work in Middle Irish, and the third an Early Modern Irish version. The Táin is preceded by a number of remscéla, or pre-tales, which provide background on the main characters and explain the presence of certain characters from Ulster in the Connacht camp, the curse that causes the temporary inability of the remaining Ulstermen to fight and the magic origins of the bulls Donn Cuailnge and Finnbhennach. The eight remscéla chosen by Thomas Kinsella for his 1969 translation are sometimes taken to be part of the Táin itself, but come from a variety of manuscripts of different dates. Several other tales exist which are described as remscéla to the Táin, some of which have only a tangential relation to it. Source: Wikipedia

The Gáe Bulg (also Gáe Bulga, Gáe Bolg, Gáe Bolga), meaning "spear of mortal pain/death spear", "gapped/notched spear", or "belly spear", was the name of the spear of Cúchulainn in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. It was given to him by his martial arts teacher, the warrior woman Scáthach, and its technique was taught only to him. It was made from the bone of a sea monster, the Coinchenn, that had died while fighting another sea monster, the Curruid. Although some sources make it out to be simply a particularly deadly spear, others—notably the Book of Leinster—state that it could only be used under very specialized, ritual conditions: “ The Gáe Bulg had to be made ready for use on a stream and cast from the fork of the toes. It entered a man's body with a single wound, like a javelin, then opened into thirty barbs. Only by cutting away the flesh could it be taken from that man's body.” In other versions of the legend, the spear had seven heads, each with seven barbs. In the Táin Bó Cuailnge, Cúchulainn received the spear after training with the great warrior master Scáthach in Alba. She taught him and his foster-brother, Ferdiad, everything the same, except she only taught the Gáe Bulg feat to Cuchulainn. He later used it in single combat against Ferdiad. They were fighting in a ford, and Ferdiad had the upper hand; Cúchulainn's charioteer, Láeg, floated the Gáe Bulg down the stream to his master, who cast it into Ferdiad's body, piercing the warrior's armor and "coursing through the highways and byways of his body so that every single joint filled with barbs." Ferdiad died soon after. On a separate occasion, Cúchulainn also killed his own son, Connla, with the spear. In both instances, it was used as a last resort, as once thrown it proved invariably fatal. Cú Chulainn's use of the Gáe Bulg in the Táin Bó Cuailnge exemplifies its deadliness and the gruesome nature in which it leaves its victims. This can be seen in the fact that after it is utilized, one must literally cut into the victim to retrieve it. This was the case in Cú Chulainn's slaying of Fer Diad. As it is stated in Ciaran Carson's translation of The Táin: “ Láeg came forward and cut Fer Diad open and took out the Gáe Bolga. Cú Chulainn saw his weapon bloody and crimson from Fer Diad's body... ” Etymology Traditionally, the name has been translated as "belly spear", with the second element of the name, bulga, being treated as a derivative of Old Irish bolg "belly, sack, bag". Several notable Celtic scholars, including Joseph Loth and Kuno Meyer, have preferred to derive it rather from Old Irish bolc "gap, breach, notch" (cognate with Welsh bwlch), suggesting a linguistic link with the second element in the name of Fergus mac Róich's sword, Caladbolg and King Arthur's sword Caledfwlch. Linguist Eric Hamp derives the second element, bulga, from a Proto-Celtic compound *balu-gaisos meaning "spear of mortal pain/death spear" (comparable to Old Irish fogha "spear, dart", from Proto-Celtic *uo-gaisu-). Once the second element *gaisos "spear" was no longer recognizable to Irish speaker, its Old Irish cognate, gáe, was reattached to the beginning for clarification, forming a new, tautological compound. Source: Wikipedia

Gráinne (Irish pronunciation: [ˈɡɾˠaːn̪ʲə]) is the daughter of Cormac mac Airt in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. She is one of the central figures in the Middle Irish text Finn and Gráinne and most famously, in the 17th-century tale The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne, which tells of her betrothal to Fionn mac Cumhaill, leader of the Fianna, and her subsequent elopement with Fionn's warrior Diarmuid Ua Duibhne. In The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne, Gráinne was promised in marriage to Fionn, but repulsed by his age, she forms a relationship with Diarmuid at their betrothal party. At first he refuses out of loyalty to Fionn, but she places a geis upon him to run away with her. Their long flight from Fionn is aided by Diarmuid's foster-father Aengus Óg. Eventually, Fionn pardons Diarmuid after Aengus intercedes on their behalf; the pair settle in Kerry and produce five children. Years later Diarmuid is wounded by a boar while hunting with Fionn, who stalls in healing him until it is too late; texts vary on Gráinne's subsequent actions. In some versions she mourns her husband until she dies herself, while in others she swears her sons to avenge their father's death on Fionn. In still others she forgives Fionn, or even marries him. According to historian Peter Berresford Ellis, "[Fionn Mac Cumhail] had many loves during his career but none is better known than his unrequited love for Gráinne. He was elderly when [the High King] Cormac Mac Art gave his daughter Gráinne to him in marriage. But before the ceremony, Gráinne eloped with one of Fionn's warriors, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne. ‘The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne' is one of the classic love tales and a major epic of the Fenian Cycle." Ellis goes on to note: "Gráinne's character is always drawn with consistency in the myths. She is a shallow person, wilful, ruthless and passionate, and what in modern terms would be described as a neurotic." The story of Gráinne and Diarmuid is one of a number of instances in Irish mythology of a love triangle between a young man, a young woman and an aging suitor, the other most famous instance being between Naoise, Deirdre and Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle. The same theme also shows up in other cultures, notably in the Arthurian legend, itself of Celtic origin. The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne shares a number of similarities with the story of Tristan and Iseult, and to a certain extent the love affair of Lancelot and Guinevere. Source: Wikipedia