Irish Mythology Podcast

This time it's war! We've been leading up to this battle since episode three and well, here it is. The Tuath Dé face the Fomóir at Moytura and Lugh will finally face his grandfather, Balor of the Destructive Eye. Starring: Lugh, Balor, Indech, Ogma, Airmed, Loch Half-Green. Co Starring: The Dagda, Macha, Nuada, Elatha, Bres, Gobniu, Dian Cecht, Luchta, Ochtriuil, Miach. credits Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode Cinematic Music-03 by Michael-DB (4.0) Medieval Combat - Yap Audio Production (3.0) Defense of Lanosia » Dark Battle - Tyops (4.0) BIG-REVERB-WARHORN - newagesoup (3.0) Ghost01 and 02 - Patrick Corra (4.0) Indech Indech Indech + Gwan Indech etc - Marcas and Stephie Metal workshop sounds - Marcas All other sounds Creative Commons

The walking dead, a talking corpse, a journey to the otherworld!  Join Nera as he accepts a Halloween challenge that ends up being a lot more than he bargained for.  We talk horror in Irish mythology, the good people, the restless dead and time travel! Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode All other sounds Creative Commons Sponsored by McCaffrey Crafts

The Fomorians are under attack! The invaders' plan to conquer Ireland has been severely disrupted by none other than the daughter of their king, Indech Mac Dé Domhnainn. Just when they think they think they are through the worst, they face a new foe, The Morrígan, the deadliest goddess of them all.  We talk about The Morrígan, death on the battlefield, the boundaries between our world and the otherworld, and who Jeff Goldbloom could play in the movie adaptation of this story.  Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Story: Marcas Ó hUiscín Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode   Cinematic Music-03 by Michael-DB (4.0) Tension in the air: Steven F. Allen - AuDioChosis https://soundcloud.com/user-574803010 All other sounds Creative Commons Sponsored by McCaffrey Crafts

The Fomorians are on their way and Lugh wants to fight, but the other gods are keeping him from the battle. Convinced his destiny is to defeat the sinister Balor, he bides his time and prepares his fellow deities for the coming confrontation.  We talk about the concept of destiny and ask "what would a Fomorian victory mean for Ireland?" credits Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Story: Marcas Ó hUiscín Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode Cinematic Music-03 by Michael-DB (4.0) Lugh, Lugh, Lugh by Marcas Ó hUiscín All other sounds Creative Commons Sponsored by McCaffrey Crafts

The Fomorians are ready to march to meet the Tuath Dé in Battle but their battle plans omitted a plan to ask the land spirits for permission to cross their territory. Will their lack of respect come back to bite them? Starring: Balor, Bres, Elatha, Indech Mac Dé Domhnan, and his unnamed daughter. Co-Starring various Fomorians, the forest, a river. A cautionary tale on why you should always make sure your family aren’t mad at you before you need their help. credits Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Story: Marcas Ó hUiscín Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode Cinematic Music-03 from https://freesound.org/people/Michael-DB/ on freesound (4.0) ending music for war game in vr soundtrack v2 .mp3 by https://freesound.org/people/klavo1985/ on Freesound (4.0) RDIOLyraCloudMusic.mp3 Global Warming Studios Albuquerque, NM  https://freesound.org/people/globalwm/ on Freesound (3.0) marching boots.wav from http://www.freesound.org/people/klankbeeld/ (4.0) Crowd of extras in a waiting room from https://freesound.org/people/nebulousflynn/ (3.0) Crowd of extras in a waiting room from https://freesound.org/people/nebulousflynn/ (3.0) All other sounds cc 0 licence from freesound.org Sponsored by McCaffrey Crafts https://mccaffreycrafts.com/

The episode contains some explicit content.  The Dagda is on a mission. He travels to the west to scout the invading Fomorian armies, but it's not all business for the supreme father. On his way, he meets up with The Morrígan for their annual tryst and later on, he hooks up with an unlikely lover. All's fair in love, war and sorcery.  We talk censorship, sex in mythology, the Tao of The Dagda, Ancient Mesopotamian smut and the Greek god Pan.  Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode All sounds cc licence from freesound.org Sponsored by McCaffrey Crafts 

We examine the curious folklore around the figure of St. Sheelah who isn't mentioned in Patrick's writings or in the works of his hagiographers. We travel to Newfoundland, Canada and Australia in search of answers. Written, presented and produced  by  Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh and Marcas Ó hUiscín. With special thanks to Theresa O'Keefe and Dymphna Lonergan. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

We talk about that old Irish harbinger of death, the Banshee, her connections with Badbh and the Morrigan, the tradition of keening at funerals and Professor of folklore, Patricia Lysaght's extensive research on the topic. credits Written, presented and produced  by Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh and Marcas Ó hUiscín. Music – Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode All sounds cc licence from freesound.org

Lugh is about to lead the Tuath Dé to war, but first he wants to bring his father's killers to justice.  We talk Lugh's epithets, ridiculous fines and reading the fine print.  credits Spnspored by mccaffreycrafts.com Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. This episode is sponsored by McCaffrey Crafts https://mccaffreycrafts.com Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode All sounds cc licence from freesound.org

Balor, a giant who lives in an invisible tower, commands one of the most fearsome armies that has ever been. He is prosperous, respected and feared, but there is something in his past that torments him. When Bres and the druid Lobais return to Balor's island stronghold from mainland Ireland  reporting the rise of a new hero, the skeletons in his closet grow new flesh. We talk Balor, his supposedly evil eye, place lore, prophecy, sleep paralysis, Assasin's Creed Valhalla - Wrath of the Druids, the 90's Balor PC RPG, Sauron in Lord of the Rings, Finn Balor in the WWE, and American Gods.  credits Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Story: Marcas Ó hUiscín Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode All sounds cc licence from freesound.org

Lugh goes to Tara to claim his place in the hall of the gods but first he will have to prove his value to them. To do this he must win at an ancient Irish version of chess called fidchell and undergo a test of strength from Ogma. We talk about Lugh, the festival of Lughnasadh, the continental celtic god Lugus, and the Welsh mythological figure Lleu Llaw Gyffes. Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode All sounds cc licence from freesound.org except "chanting Lugh's name", by Marcas O'hUiscín.

Bres and the Fomorians are raiding Ireland but Nuada doesn't want to drag the Tuath Dé into another war. Lugh and Bodbh Dearg take matters into their own hands and organise the riders of the sidhe into a resistance militia. We also talk placelore, Lughnasadh and what archaeology can tell us about the worship of Lugh. credits Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode All sounds cc licence from freesound.org except "riders of the sidhe chanting Lugh's name", by Marcas O'hUiscín,

Vikings! Fish! Goat headed men! Sliding into DM's Medieval style! A clue to the biggest mystery in Irish Mythology! Bres has lost the kingship of the Tuath Dé and now he's throwing a strop, but he has a plan. Maybe his estranged father and his people the Fomorian's can help him. He already knows one of them, a sinister figure known as Balor. Before anything can happen, he has to find his dad and the only one who can help is his mother, the Goddess Éire (EIriu). We talk Viking influence on Irish Mythology, misinterpreted poetry and the creation of deities, a disused Irish word that might reveal the identity of... Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode All sounds cc licence from freesound.org

It's time for Midir to face the music. He and Étain have been enjoying an extended honeymoon at Brú na Bóinne as guests of Aengus, but now he must return to Brí Leith where Fuamnach, the wife he left behind waits. Did we mention that Fuamnach is a powerful sorceress?  Starring: Midir, Étain, Fuamnach. Co-Starring Aengus, The Dagda, Ogma, Lugh.  We talk polygamy in early medieval Ireland, Brehon Law, sorcery , flies in mythology, story adaptation and what the Tao te Ching has to say about water. A cautionary tale on you should consult your first wife before bringing home a second one. Oh, and you might want to listen to the very end. credits Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode All sounds cc licence from freesound.org

A look at what's ahead this summer on the Irish Mythology Podcast.  The conclusion of subtale 1 of The Wooing of Etain The Fate of the Sons of Tuireann The Second Battle of Moytura Lugh, Balor and the Formorians, plus more from The Morrigan, The Dagda and Ogma. Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode All sounds cc licence from freesound.org

Midir loses an eye while trying to break up a fight; Dian Cecht works some healing magic; Aengus goes up to Down to woo Étaín for Midir; The Dagda fights an Octopus; WB Yeats is CANCELLED! We ask if Aengus really was a god of love and/or a god of poetry and how he came to be associated with these things and we talk about family and networks of mutual aid. There's a lot to unpack in this episode, the penultimate chapter in the first sub-tale of The Woing of Étain.  Support our work and get access to bonus content on our Patreon. credits Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode All sounds cc licence from freesound.org

Patrick has had a lot of success spreading the word of God in Ireland, but one native deity and his followers are not going without a fight. Who will win this epic confrontation? Patrick versus Crom Cruach; This time it's biblical! We talk Patrick, Cromm Cruach, hagiography, human sacrifice, Lóegaire mac Néill, and the different ways Christianity and native Irish Paganism interacted. We also make a bit of time to talk old St. Patrick's Day customs.  credits Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode All sounds cc licence from freesound.org 

Aengus believes he is the son of Midir, his foster father, but gets a rude awakening when a jealous Fir Bolg youth tells him otherwise. On finding out his father is actually The Dagda, the King in the Sidhe, he sets out to meet him and claim a Sidhe of his own. There's one slight problem though; Someone already occupies the mound The Dagda had in mind for his son. That someone is the husband of Aengus's mother, the one The Dagda had already duped when he had an affair with Boann.  A cautionary tale on why you should read the fine print of any contract.  credits Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode All sounds cc licence from freesound.org

Brigid returns from tending her flock to see women huddled around the hearth with only a bit of bread between them. A bit of divine magic might be just what the doctor ordered.  We talk about the goddess Brigid, Saint Brigid, how they are connected and why she is the patron of the festival of Imbolc, also known as St. Brigid's Day or Lá Fheile Bride.  credits Written, presented and produced  by Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh and Marcas Ó hUiscín. Story: Stéphanie Ní Thiarnaigh Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode All sounds cc licence from freesound.org Except Music for a film by EvanJones4 Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence on freesound.org

The Dagda has got his groove back, but though his power is restored, he longs for Boann, goddess and wife of his steward, Elcmar. He makes use of his control of the Sun and time to not only make a tryst possible, but to hide the conception and birth of a son. Despite the title, Étain doesn’t appear in today’s story as she isn’t introduced until later in the Saga. We ask: What was The Dagda’s role in myth and in the old pagan religion? Why is this story associated with the Winter Solstice? Does this story hint at the remnant of a pre-Celtic religious tradition? What was the significance of Newgrange for ancient astronomers? Could the Egyptian Book of the Dead help us interpret the importance of the Solstice at Newgrange for the dead? credits Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode All sounds cc licence from freesound.org

The Dagda has had enough of Bres's demands of his labour and Cridenbel's demands of his hospitality. Now, with the help of a magical child and a satirist, The Dagda Strikes Back. A cautionary tale outlining why you should always give your guests something decent with their cuppa. Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode All sounds cc licence from freesound.org (except Door - Stone - Large - by DWO Boyle attribution licence at freesound)

Marcas and Stephie talk about the various tales from Irish Mythology that reference Samhain and the ghastly cast of ghoulish entities associated with them. We also talk folklore, customs, games, robbing pallets for the bonfire and dressing up in bin bags to go out and scare your neighbours.  No main story this week but we do have one on our patreon, info below.  Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode All sounds cc licence from freesound.org

Dian Cecht receives Ogma’s message and sets out to find a way of fighting back against Bres’s tyranny. He recruits the blacksmith Gobniu and the silversmith Credne to help him create a new arm for the former High Chief of the Gods, Nuada. What was Dian Cecht's role in myth and in the old pagan religion? What is Dian Cecht’s relationship to Brehon Law? What makes Dian Cecht a symbol of the medical profession? Why were Blacksmiths considered to have supernatural powers? How do we resolve contradictions in medieval mythological texts? credits Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode All sounds cc licence from freesound.org

Ogma suffers under the reign of Bres, but from this suffering comes a great revelation.  We talk about Ogma, ogham script, attitudes to work in myth, and the Irish language. We ask: What was Ogma's role in myth and in the old pagan religion? What is Ogma's relationship to other deities? What was the Ogham system of writing? What attitudes to work in medieval Ireland are represented in this story? Are metaphors about the origins of language encoded in tales from mythology? Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode All sounds cc licence from freesound.org Full show notes available at irishmythologypodcast.ie

Have you heard about the Druid, Mog Ruith and his most famous deed?  I thought not. It’s not the sort of tale you would hear from a teacher or a priest. In this episode we hear about the druid Mog Ruith and his daughter Tlachtga travelling from County Kerry to the Middle East to study the magic of Simon Magus, and how on the way, Mog Ruith becomes the executioner of John the Baptist. We ask: Who was Mog Ruith? Why did he and his daughter, Tlachtga travel to the Middle East?  Does this story have a hidden meaning that points to the early Irish Church’s struggles with both imported heresy and native paganism? Why aren’t Mog Ruith and Tlachtga as well known as some other Irish Mythological figures? Why did Mog Ruith behead John the Baptist? Why were he and Tlachtga associated with Simon Magus? We also talk about heresy, Roman influences in Iron Age Ireland, the oared wheel, and Kerry UFO sightings .  credits Written, presented and produced  by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode Air traffic control audio courtesy of www.liveatc.net Full show notes on http://irishmythologypodcast.ie

The Culmination of a saga. A bloody battle that will decide the future of Ireland. Can the mighty Fir Bolg repel the almighty power of the gods? We talk about Nuada, Sreng, war gods and Cong, Co. Mayo. Written, presented and produced by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Celltic Warrior (Theme) by Damiano Baldoni (Attribution 4 Licence) Full Credits in show note at: http://irishmythologypodcast.ie

When Chief Eochaid Mac Eirc of the Fir Bolg ignores Sreng's advice to compromise with the Tuath Dé, Chief Nuada calls on three powerful goddesses with a passion for pandemonium to give them some supernatural encouragement.  Meet the Morrigan in her threefold form - Badbh, Macha, and Nemhain.  Find out about her role in Irish Mythology and her relationship to other female divinities in other mythologies.  Full show notes at http://irishmythologypodcast.ie Presented by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Written and produced by by Marcas Ó hUiscín. Support our work: https://www.patreon.com/irishmythologypodcast Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode) All sounds cc or attribution licence. Sounds on attribution licence from freesound.org - Miguetelo SINISTER ATMOSPHERE Joedeshon ADULTS GATHERING FOR A MEETING Juan FG - Never without my denture Melisapons - Wooshes Liezen3 -  Choir Women Men and Mixed Setuniman - Cinematic Moments + cinematic intros Luis_audp -  Celtic Tin Whistle in D Beast_Toil - Slow Mellow Suspense (They're Going to Get You!) Piano Farm - Cows Attacking Red Tail Hawk Yap_Audio_Production - Medieval Combat Innominatus - Booms of Innominatus GregorQuendel - Cinematic Percussion Trailer + Cinematic Chanting / Throat Singing Percussion Trailer Jobro - Cinematic stings Vedas - frantic searching Robinhood76 - CROWD & MASSIVE EVENTS sound shots (Licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/) 

When mysterious beings come from the sky and land on the mountains of Connemara, the Fir Bolg of Ireland mobilise to oppose them. Meet Sreng, champion of the Fir Bolg, inhabitants of Ireland, and emissary of the great chieftan Eochaid Mac Eirc, a fierce warrior who has never lost a battle.  Then meet the one thing that strikes fear into the very fabric of his being.  Full show notes will be available on http://irishmythologypodcast.ie Presented by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Written and produced by by Marcas Ó hUiscín. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

When mysterious beings come from the sky and land on the mountains of Connemara, the Fir Bolg of Ireland mobilise to oppose them. Ireland will never be the same. Over the coming weeks we'll be bringing you the story of the coming of the gods and the battles they fought against men, and other supernatural beings. Don't miss The Dawning of the Dé on the Irish Mythology Podcast. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode )

On this episode we’re going to be talking about the acts of defiance by divine femine figures that lead to the creation of rivers, hills, mountains and valleys.  Medieval and modern literature has created a pantheon of old Irish gods but we don’t really know how widespread worship of individual deities was. Some seem intimately tied to place, and may not have been particularly well known beyond their locale. One such individual is the goddess Boann, who gives her name to the river Boyne which runs from near the village of Carberry in Co. Kildare, through Co. Meath to the sea at Baltray Co. Louth.  Written, produced and presented by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode )

Given the week that’s in it, we’ll be looking at a character who bridges the gap between history and myth, In whose name, this comingTuesday, many glasses will be raised and even more shamrocks will be drowned. We’re talking of course about the Patron Saint of Ireland, the man credited with converting Ireland from native polytheism to Christianity, St. Patrick. Did Patrick really convert Pagan Ireland to Christianity? Did Patrick do it by using a shamrock? And what exactly was the story with the snakes? Written, produced and presented by Marcas Ó hUiscín and Stephanie Ní Thiarnaigh. Thomas Dineley voiced by Christopher Bowes. Music - Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 public licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode ) The schools collection can be found at https://www.duchas.ie/en