Tales of Britain and Ireland

More tales from Manchester. Three stories with an emphasis on the post-mortem, with a light dusting of Boggarts and faeries to keep things interesting. Musical credits, sources and more at: https://talesofbritainandireland.com/episode-34-manchester-unite-dead/ #myth #mythology #folklore #legends #fairytales

Come with me to Cottonopolis where we’ve got two stories and an introduction. There’ll be more ill-advised ways to win a woman (see the last episode), and lots of mentions of a table that’s far bigger than I’d assumed. . Intro and incidental music by @alice-nicholls-music. Musical credits, sources and more at: https://talesofbritainandireland.com/episode-33-bizarre-botany-and-curious-collections-2...

Walter Map’s charming little tale of a Princess, ambition, obsession, one of the most taboo acts known to humanity, an unlikely weapon from an unlikely source and, of course, shoes. Let me take you to Constantinople…. Musical credits, sources and more at: https://talesofbritainandireland.com/episode-32-the-shoemaker-of-constantinople/ #myth #mythology #folklore #legends

A Knight! A Dark and Stormy night! A Castle! A quest! A hot headed wizard! A damsel! Northumberland! What more could you possible want? Musical credits, sources and more at: https://talesofbritainandireland.com/episode-31-the-seeker-knight/   #myths #folklore #legends

A short bonus episode about the lovable little Trows and their delightfully happy Christmas adventures! Proceed with caution. Musical credits, sources and more at: https://talesofbritainandireland.com/episodes-30-the-trows-christmas/ #myth #mythology #folklore #legends

This time we’ve got the conclusion to the Second Branch of the Mabinogion. There’s talking heads, the non-talking dead, talking birds, and I bitterly regret recording the whole episode without saying “A little bird told me”. It’s the longest episode yet and hopefully it’s worth it. Musical credits, sources and more at: https://talesofbritainandireland.com/episodes-28-19-second-branch-of-the-mabino...

A tale taken from the premier text of Welsh mythology, with part one of a story of London, giants, magic, marriage, international diplomacy and the age old question of: Families. Who'd have them? Musical credits, sources and more at: https://talesofbritainandireland.com/episodes-28-19-second-branch-of-the-mabinogion/ #myth #mythology #folklore #legends

This episode join us in York, for the story of Brother Jucundus... a liminal tale of monks, wild partying and coincidences. Musical credits, sources and more at: https://talesofbritainandireland.com/episode-27-brother-jucundus/ #myth #mythology #folklore #legends

This episode we've got three short stories of Stone circles. There's poor wedding planning, there's a beautiful view ruined, and there's a remote island community in midsummer, with cuckoos. Be afraid, be petrified! Musical credits, sources and more at: https://talesofthebritishisles.com/episode-26-stone-circles/

Do you like prank(e)s? Do you like jests? Do you like them mad and merry? Do you like characters who are cruel, capricious and also have super powers? Well if so, we've got just the tale for you! Musical credits, sources and more at: https://talesofbritainandireland.com/episode-25-robin-goodfellow-his-mad-pranks-and-merry-jests/ #myth #mythology #folklore #legends

The final part of the tale of the Enchanter of Pengersick, features destinies fulfilled, wizard school, magical battles, renovations and, just in the nick of time, an Enchanter. Musical credits, sources and more at: https://talesofbritainandireland.com/episodes-2123-24-the-enchanter-of-pengerswick/ #myth #mythology #folklore #legends

The second part of the Cornish tale of the Enchanter of Pengersick! There are plots, there's poison, there's ghosts, there's pirates! An Enchanter you ask? Did we mention the pirates? Musical credits, sources and more at: https://talesofbritainandireland.com/episodes-2123-24-the-enchanter-of-pengerswick/ #myth #mythology #folklore #legends

This time we have a short Christmas bonus episode for you, because it's the season for it. And because the episode we're meant to have isn't done yet. We're telling a narrative story of a popular old Christmas song... with a slightly gothic twist. Musical credits, sources and more at: https://talesofbritainandireland.com/episodes-22-the-mistletoe-bride-christmas-bonus/ #myth #mythology #folklore #...

In this episode we start a three part Cornish legend where Magic, marriage, murder and mayhem abound, in a story packed with more folkloric elements than you can shake an enchanted stick at: Musical credits, sources and more at: https://talesofbritainandireland.com/episodes-2123-24-the-enchanter-of-pengerswick/ #myth #mythology #folklore #legends

And we’re finally back! This time with a spooky story from Lancashire featuring, amongst other things, class politics, horses, a kiss and a lot of storytelling. Musical credits, sources and more at: https://talesofthebritishisles.com/episode-20-the-spectre-horseman/ #myth #mythology #folklore #legends

This time we’ve got the second in a two parter telling tales from the biggest smoke: London town. This time there are three stories of residents of the city: an entrepreneur who dares to think outside the box, a property developer with an unpaid debt, and an honest workman with a secret admirer. Musical credits, sources and more at: https://talesofbritainandireland.com/episode-19-london-legends-pa...

This delayed Tales of Britain and Ireland is the first of two episodes looking at some legends from that Heart of Darkness itself: London town. This time there are three stories of visitors to the city: one an original wonder woman, one an ancient train-buff and one a big dreamer. Musical credits, sources and more at: https://talesofbritainandireland.com/episode-18-london-legends-part-1-visitors/...

This episode we continue working our way through the origin phase of the Fenian cycle featuring everything you’ve grown to expect from a Fionn story: an evil Sidhe, animal transformations, and blatant overuse of Irish incidental music. Musical credits, sources and more at: https://talesofbritainandireland.com/episode-17-fionn-maccumhaill-part-4-oh-deer-oisin/ #myth #mythology #folklore #legends

Today we're back in the world of mythological Ireland, as we return to the tales of Fionn MacCumhaill. It's backstory time and changes are afoot, not least of strongly held opinions. We'll learn about the dangers of an angry ex, the benefits of signing a pre-nup with your nephew and how a beloved pet really can be one of the family. Musical credits, sources and more at: https://talesofbritainandir...

The second part in our look at Festive Ghost stories this episode is an unusual one for this podcast, featuring a straight reading of E. Nesbit’s wonderful Ghost Story “The Shadow” featuring no rambling asides, and little incidental music. Suggest listening to our first Christmas Ghost episode first, but if you’re still keen given to then give this a listen afterwards. If you're new to this podcas...

In this slightly delayed festive (read: spooky) episode we’ve got a number of ghost stories from the British Isles, featuring peculiar Medieval spooks of Yorkshire, toe-curlingingly embarrising attempts at emulating the crypt Keeper, Lovecraftian horrors of Victorian London and the nineteenth century’s most unflappable headmaster. After that there’s also another episode released today featuring a...

A Scottish fairy tale, name checked by none other than J.R.R. Tolkien features a whole lot of threes, an Epic Battle (off camera), a very valuable apple (no Steve Jobs required) and a fast and loose attitude to tying up narrative threads. Musical credits, sources and more at: https://talesofbritainandireland.com/episode-13-the-black-bull-of-norroway/ #myth #mythology #folklore #legends #fairytales

Concluding the first Branch of the Mabinogion we pick up again with Pwyll and Rhiannon. This time they'll be contending with legal technicalities, murder most foul, a dark game of horsey, claws encounters and Pwyll's general ineptitude. And I’ll fail to use the pun clawstrophobia. Much to my chagrin. Musical credits, sources and more at https://talesofbritainandireland.com/episodes-11-12-first-bra...

This episode we begin our look at the renowned collection of medieval Welsh tales, the Mabinogion. Join Pwyll prince of Dyfed on an unusual job swap, featuring a magical horse, some colourful hounds, acts of both uncivility and propriety, and some very dodgy pronunciation. Musical credits, sources and more at https://talesofbritainandireland.com/episodes-11-12-first-branch-of-the-maginogion-pwyll-...

With Halloween right around the corner we have a short bonus episode looking at another spooky tale. This story from Kent is not strictly about Halloween but does feature a host of seasonal favourites: Black magic, dismembered body parts, murder and a pug. Musical credits, sources and more at https://talesofbritainandireland.com/episode-10-the-hand-of-glory/ #myth #mythology #folklore #legends