Candlelit Tales Irish Mythology Podcast

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast. And to a brand new series. In this series, we are looking back at an old story, or set of stories, and telling it in a new way, from a lot of different perspectives. We are calling this the Táin Mosaic, as the shattered fragments of this story can be put back together in a multiplicity of ways, and we decided to shine a light on some of the lesser-known...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast. This is an old story. A story that tells Irish people where we come from. In a time where the world seems dark, and a lot of hate is being thrown around. We felt it was important to look back at our oldest stores. To release an old story. To reflect on its message. A message of unity. A short reminder that we all come from the same source, and we in Ire...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast. In this episode, we’re interviewing an Irishman who journeyed far and rooted deep in foreign soil. He’s a permaculture designer who runs a sustainable farm (and farm-to-table restaurant, and Irish bar) in Guatemala, and he’s also our big brother! We talk to the Other Hegarty Sibling about the power of stories in realising what it is you want to do with...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast. We have a special episode this week, a collaboration with the wonderful musician Connie Dawson, aka @thestretharpist. We have always been delighted to collaborate with musicians and artists, and we have known Connie for years from coming to our live shows. She has been bugging us since we met her to send her a version of this story so she could put her...

Live from The Sugar Club, Dublin, Ireland. Candlelit Tales & Special Guest, Sadbh Grehan, performs stories from Irish Mythology as The Dark Descends. Video of the performance is on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@CandlelitTales Please note the content of these stories may be triggering for some listeners, please take care of yourself as you listen. This podcast is proudly sponsored by...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast. In this series, we’ve been telling seasonal tales of Irish folklore in the run-up to the Celtic New Year, Samhain. This is a special time of year for many of us, with the traditions and stories of Samhain going back millennia in Ireland. Please note the content of these stories may be triggering for some listeners, please take care of yourself as you li...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast. In this series, we’re telling seasonal tales of Irish folklore in the run up to the Celtic New Year, Samhain. This is one of the stories reputed to have inspired the vampiric classic, Dracula. The tale of a wicked chieftain who could not be killed, and could only be appeased by offerings of human blood Please note the content of these stories may be tri...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast. In this series, we’re telling seasonal tales of Irish folklore in the run up to the Celtic New Year, Samhain. This is a story that has inspired many retellings of headless horsemen throughout the world, a spirit linked with the pagan chieftain Crom Dubh, who some believe was linked to the autumn harvest. The Dullahan is famously difficult to thwart, rid...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast. In this series, we’ve been retelling some of the Classics of Irish mythology, those stories that most people know, or at least know a version of. Please note the content of these stories may be triggering for some listeners, please take care of yourself as you listen. This podcast is proudly sponsored by the people who donate to us each month via https:...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast. In this series, we’ve been retelling some of the Classics of Irish mythology, those stories that most people know, or at least know a version of. In this podcast, Reflections on the Fianna, we're talking about the most famous stories of the Fianna. The young Fionn Mac Cumhaill and his encounters with magical fish, his pursuit of Destiny, and the dragon...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast. In this series, we’re taking a look at some of the Classics of Irish mythology, those stories that most people know, or at least know a version of. In this episode, Aron tells the story of The Children of Lir. Perhaps the best-known Irish myth. A tale of exile, betrayal, and a jealous stepmother. Please note the content of these stories may be triggerin...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast. In this series, we’re taking a look at some of the Classics of Irish mythology, those stories that most people know, or at least know a version of. In this episode, Aron tells of beautiful Deirdre and her doomed love story. Called one of the “three sorrows of storytelling” this is one that will tug at the heart. It is also known as one of the set-up sto...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast. In this series, we’re taking a look at some of the Classics of Irish mythology, those stories that most people know, or at least know a version of. In this episode, Aron tells of beautiful Deirdre and her doomed love story. Called one of the “three sorrows of storytelling” this is one that will tug at the heart. It is also known as one of the set-up sto...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast. In this series, we’re taking a look at some of the Classics of Irish mythology, those stories that most people know, or at least know a version of. In this episode, Sorcha tells of how the boy Setanta won the name that he would be known for: Cúchulainn, the Hound of Cullen. Please note the content of these stories may be triggering for some listeners, p...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast. In this series, we’re taking a look at some of the Classics of Irish mythology, those stories that most people know, or at least know a version of. In this episode, Sorcha tells the story of another legendary pair of siblings: The King of Ulster, Conchubar Mac Nessa, and his sister and charioteer, Deichtre. And the mysterious origins of one of the great...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast. In this series, we’re taking a look at some of the Classics of Irish mythology, those stories that most people know, or at least know a version of. In this episode, Sorcha tells the tale of young Fionn Mac Cumhaill stepping into his power and taking on the leadership of the Fianna, by defeating a monster that no one else could. Please note the content o...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast. In this series, we’re taking a look at some of the Classics of Irish mythology, those stories that most people know, or at least know a version of. In this episode, Aron tells one of the best-known and best-loved stories from Irish myth, the story of a magical fish, an obsessive poet, and a boy with golden hair and great destiny. Please note the content...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast. In this series, we’re taking a look at some of the Classics of Irish mythology, those stories that most people know, or at least know a version of. In this episode, Aron tells the story of Oisín in Tír na nÓg, a great tale of love, loss, and exile. Please note the content of these stories may be triggering for some listeners, please take care of yoursel...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast! In this episode, Aron and Sorcha sit down with a very special guest, Alan Titley, who has just written a new translation of The Táin. Alan Titley is one of Ireland’s most respected writers for children and adults, in both Irish and English. He has won prizes including the Children’s Books Ireland Éilís Dillon Award. “The Dirty Dust”, his translation of...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast! In this episode, Aron and Sorcha sit down with a very special guest, Alan Titley, who has just written a new translation of The Táin. Alan Titley is one of Ireland’s most respected writers for children and adults, in both Irish and English. He has won prizes including the Children’s Books Ireland Éilís Dillon Award. “The Dirty Dust”, his translation of...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales Podcast. In this episode, Aron and Sorcha discuss the stories and places that inspired our most recent Mythic Places series on Waterways. 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....

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast, and this last story (for now) in our series on Waterways. In this episode, Sorcha tells a tale of our largest waterway - the ocean that surrounds us. Manannán mac Lir is the god of the sea, and the Crane Bag holds all the treasures of the sea within it. This is the story of where that magical bag came from. Please note the content of these stories may b...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast, and this series on Waterways. In this episode, Aron tells us the origin of the River Lee. There are scant enough details about the event, but Saint Finnbarr is claimed to have settled a monastery on the island in the middle of the lake of Gougane Barra. The Rock of Barra. Was there already a standing stone there, a rock of limestone from the cliffs that...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales podcast, and this series on Waterways. This is the story of how the River Delvin got its name. The River Delvin is a small but significant river that runs the border between Co. Dublin and Co. Meath. Rúad was the son of a King in the East of Ireland. The people of Magh Muirigh or Moymurthy were his father's people, and he decided to leave one day to go north to...

Welcome back to the Candlelit Tales Podcast! In this episode, Aron and Sorcha sit down to chat about these tales of lakes and rivers and creatures that turn into people sometimes. Sources for these stories include Meath Folk Tales by Richard Marsh, and Daithí Ó hÓgáin’s book The Lore of Ireland. This podcast is proudly sponsored by the people who donate to us each month via https://www.patreon.com...