Story Archaeology

Fergus mac Léite gets to encounter the underwater world of the  Lupracán, a story which in the late middle / early modern Irish version, almost certainly, inspired Swift's wonderful satire, 'Gulliver's Travels'. The Story Archaeologists, ear herbs at the ready, dive right into the tale, but wonder how these small, but proud and fiercely independent, beings  have devolved, over the centuries into t...

In our very first Immrám, Immrám Bran, we met Manannán on his way to beget a wonder-child, Mongán. Now that we've finished rowing around the open seas, we've returned to dry land to find out what happened next. What we've found is one of the funniest stories we've ever looked at! So strap in your sides and prepare to get hilarious with the Story Archaeologists! Don’t forget to subscribe to get the...

Happy new year to our Story Archaeology listeners! Because we love ye thiiiiiis much, we're sending out a multimedia feast for our Samhain special. So, take a look at this video of a live Story Archaeology show, then have a listen to our episode, "A Tale to Remember", and peruse the attached texts and your leisure. Enjoy! Texts for this episode: The Fairy Palace of the Quicken Trees by P. W. Joyce...

King Cormac Mac Airt is often called "The Irish Solomon". But was this legendary king quite the wise old judge suggested by that epithet? Find out with the Story Archaeologists in this long-awaited - and lon-running! - 2 hour dig for truth and justice. Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest posts! Related Articles will be posted in the days to come… Story Archaeology is run on a voluntary not...

Passage of the Wisdom Keeper by Paul Bond The Adventures of Tadhg Mac Céin may seem like a Middle Irish vision of Theme Park Ireland, but this rollocking sea adventure has real surprises up its sleeve. Exactly what kind of Otherworld is it that our Jack-the-Lad hero has discovered? Join the Story Archaeologists as they plumb the unexpected depths of this hidden Immrám gem. Don’t forget to subscrib...

There are some characters in Irish story who are just hard to ignore. St Brendan the Navigator is one of them. Although his voyage is not one of the Immrama from the tale lists, he confidently sets of with his crew of monks to sail to the Land of Promise of the Saints. Join the Story Archaeologists as they follow in the wake of a saint. Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest posts! Related Ar...

The Galway Hooker, Eyre Square, Galway City: by Éamonn O'Doherty We are reaching the end of our voyage into “official” Immráma. As we turn for home with Mael Duin and his crew, we ask, “So what does it all mean?” Journey into new waters with the Story Archaeologists as we begin to chart our Immrám adventures. Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest posts! Related Articles will be posted in the...

When Máel Dúin sets out on a voyage to avenge the father he has never known, he encounters a seascape of wonders and terrors where nothing is what it seems. Join the story Archaeologists as they follow in his wake, discovering some unexpected marvels. This episode is only the first installment of this maratime epic, and it lasts over 2 hours. So get comfortable and enjoy the journey! Don’t forget...

This is Sydney Skybetter, Philip Montana, and Bryan Campbell performing in "The Voyage of the Húi Corra" (2008). Photo by Tony Dougherty. The tale of the Uí Corra may start out as an intriguing fairy tale, but their journey is not for the faint of heart. Their quest for knowledge soon deepens into a dark and stormy voyage of tortured souls and infernal visions. Join the Story Archaeologists as the...

Cat and Mouse decoration from the Book of Kells In the aftermath of the Battle of Mag Rath, the Men of Ross endure a harsh sentence: to be set adrift in the Atlantic Ocean. Inspired by this, Snedgus and Mac Ríagla, two of St. Colmcille's monks, decide to try it out for themselves. Hop aboard with the Story Archaeologists to explore another trench of watery wonders. Don’t forget to subscribe to get...

Welcome to Series 4, "Rowing Around Immráma", where we will be exploring a tale-type which straddles land and sea, conscious and unconscious, Christian and non-Christian.  In the first episode on these magical sea voyages, we follow Bran Mac Febul on his voyage to the Island of Women. Join the Story Archaeologists as they dig the first of their somewhat watery trenches, and discover why Bran recei...

In exploring the Dindshenchas of Inber Ailbine, we looked at the poem Nuall Fer Fio, "Fer Fio's Cry", to gain some understanding of the nine daughters of the sea in their bronze boats.  In the episode, I incorrectly attributed the translation to Dr. John Carey.  This is because I first read about the poem in his excellent article, ‘Téacsanna draíochta in Éirinn sa mheánaois luath’ [‘Magical texts...

Have your tickets ready for inspection and your guide-books open to page 1! To round off Series 3, we're going to discover some Dindshenchas gems in the Irish countryside. Join the Story Archaeologists as they take you on a magical mystery tour of mythic cartography, mapping myths as they go. Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest posts!  Related Articles will be posted in the days to come. C...

Long before Santa's sack was filled with seasonal gifts, Manannán Mac Lír had a wonderful craneskin bag full of magical treasures, which he frequently gave to those he favoured. But what will the Story Archaeologists pull out of the bag? Some unusual pets, a mythical Swiss Army knife and a Holy Grail. Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest posts!  Related Articles will be posted in the days t...

As we reach the final section of "The Wooing of Étaín", a game of fidchell leads to some epic gains and losses.  There will be archaic poetry, incest, a War of the Worlds and some civil engineering. Join the Story Archaeologists as they encounter a tale where text and archaeology come together in an extraordinary way. Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest posts!  Related Articles will be pos...

Étaín and Midir: illustration by Kathy Moore As Étaín grows up to be the most beautiful woman in Ireland - again - she is wooed and won by no less than the king of all Ireland. But no story can be that simple! Join the Story Archaeologists as they seek out the improbable causes of the “sick-lying” of Étaín’s new brother-in-law. Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest posts!  Related Articles w...

Sculpture of Étaín by Éamonn O'Doherty (Isolde's late uncle) The saga Tocmarc Étaíne, "The Wooing of Étaín”, is a complex and engaging tale of love, loss and time twists.  We encounter jealous husbands, repudiated wives and bewildering shape-shifting, all stretching over a thousand years. The Story Archaeologists wander through the first part this magnifigant story, rediscovering old friends and m...

Road sculpture, Táin Bó Cúailgne, Co Louth, photo by Paz In the context of Dindshenchas, we return to the fascinating tale, Echtrae Nerai / Táin Bó Aingene ("The Adventures of Nera / The Cattle Raid of Aingene"), which we dipped into in "Corpse Carrying For Beginners".  When Nera returns from his adventures in the síd, he ends up with even more than a time-travel headache. Join the Story Archaeolo...

Corleck triple faced stone from County Cavan After an exhausting treck around Ireland in pursuit of the Champion's Portion, it's time to sit back and examine the text of Fled Bricrenn as a whole.  There are many questions to be asked; such as who has been pulling our heroes' strings? Join the Story Archaeologists in their quest to understand this fascinating saga, and attempt to locate it in time...

Two-headed stone figure from Boa island, Lough Erne. In the final episode of Fled Bricrenn, our heroes head deep into the Otherworld, a.k.a. Kerry. They enter the mysterious revolving fort of Cú Roí Mac Daire, culminating in the iconic beheading game. Join the Story Archaeologists as they take an axe to the Gordian Knot of this magnificent, though bewildering, saga. Please note: This would origina...

In the second part of Fled Bricrenn, our heroes make their way to Crúachán to be judged for the Champion’s Portion. But their routes there and back are most circuitous. Follow on their heels with the Story Archaeologists as Cú Chulainn, Loegaire and Conall are tested in some unexpected ways! If you have any technical difficulties downloading or listening to the podcast, please leave a comment belo...

When Bricriu decides to hold a party, anyone who is anyone  must put in an appearance. But Bricriu has no intention of getting in a few beers and a few bowls of nibbles. No,  Bricriu's feast will set the greatest heroes of Ulster at each other's throats and send them racing off on adventures throughout Ireland. Join the Story Archaeologists as they revel in this  rumbustious epic exploring a selec...

Inis Clothrann, the largest island of Lough Ree, Co. Longford, is famous for more than just its venerable monastic remains.  It was here that Medb of Crúachán would bathe in the island's well in fulfilment of a geis, imposed for killing at least one of her sisters.  It was at this same well she met her death. Join the Story Archaeologists as they plumb its murky depths, encountering a lethal piece...

Mythic cartography is the art of mapping stories onto a living landscape.  In Ireland, these patterns are visible through the corpus of Dindshenchas poems and prose: in Australia, they have traditionally been painted onto rocks by the First Australians. Join the Story Archaeologists as they chart the Songlines and Storylines in these, environmentally differing, mythic map libraries. If you have an...

Begin Series 3, Dindshenchas and the Art of Mythic Cartography, as the Story Archaeologists interview Dr. Ranke de Vries, editor of "Two Texts on Loch nEchach". With Chris away in Australia, Isolde, left behind in chilly Ireland, had the pleasure of interviewing friend and former teacher, Ranke de Vries, after the recent launch of her book with the Irish Texts Society. Now re-united, the Story Arc...