Into The Mythic - Ancient Irish Stories for Modern Times

Wintering, Bog Bodies and Marrying the Land

How did people winter in ancient Ireland and how did their understanding of the land and the seasons feed into the myths and legends of this society ? This wide ranging conversation takes us from Bog Bodies to Newgrange with few good stories along the way. If you've enjoyed what we've been doing with the podcast please come and support us on Patreon for lots more about the mythic world of ancient Ireland. https://www.patreon.com/cw/IntotheMythic Recorded at the Working Artists Studio in Ballydeh...

Into the Mythic Live Halloween Special 'Samhain and the Cailleach'

A special Halloween episode exploring the origins of the Cailleach. An exploration of this incredibly potent female archetype in Irish Mythology. More than a witch, more than a hag, she takes us right back to the origin of humanity. Recorded in front of a live audience at the Bandon Banshee Festival Oct 2025 Into the Mythic is presented by Leeanne O’ Donnell and Pol O Colmain and sponsored by Wild Goose Studios in Kinsale. Come and find us on Patreon where we have a new series about the fascinat...

Episode 9 : Mythical, Mystical Islands

Episode 9 : This week Pol tells us about mysterious islands off the coast of Ireland that have been talked about for thousands of years - floating islands that have been glimpsed out beyond the horizon but have never been mapped... If you've been enjoying what we've been doing with Into the Mythic come and join us over on Patreon where we have a new series of podcasts about the fascinating Brehon Laws of Ancient Ireland https://patreon.com/IntotheMythic?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_lin...

Episode 8: The Perfect Wife

In this story a radiant otherworldly woman emerges from the woods to marry an ordinary man .... with disastrous consequences .... If you've been enjoying what we've been doing with Into the Mythic come and join us over on Patreon where we have a new series of podcasts about the fascinating Brehon Laws of Ancient Ireland https://patreon.com/IntotheMythic?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink...

Episode 7 : The Sun God and the River Goddess

We are very happy to be back with a second season of Into the Mythic thanks to the sponsorship of our friends at WildGooseStudio.com in Kinsale. This week's story concerns two very ancient divine beings from Irish Mythology - Dagda and Boinne, who are two important characters in the stories about the Tuatha De Dannan. It seems that origins of this story go right back to the culture that built Newgrange. If you've been enjoying what we've been doing with Into the Mythic come and join us over on P...

Into the Mythic Update

Episode 6 - Sideways to the Sun

Where did the ancient inhabitants of Ireland come from and why did they end up here ? This week's story is an ancient epic about the Sons of Mil and the Tuatha De Dannan. It's a story full of magic - and if you've ever felt that Ireland is a place where the veil between the worlds can be very thin then this week's episode offers some mythological context !

Episode 5 : The Mystic and the Monk

This week's story is about an unlikely meeting between a female mystic and a monk. Written down 1600 years ago it contains elements that date back even further ... and it has inspired some beautiful 21st century poetry that gives a whole new twist to the tale ...

Intro

Join us as we find out what resonances our ancient stories have for us today

Episode 4 : Brotherly Love - Can it Survive a War ?

This Irish myth explores what happens when two friends get caught up on opposing sides of a war .... as their destines are shaped by forces much bigger than either of them what can survive of their brotherly love ?

Episode 3 : All's Fair in Love And War - Or Is It ?

In this ancient Irish story a powerful chieftain and a young warrior fall in love with the same beautiful woman .... in the love triangle that ensues honour is compromised and hearts are broken.

Episode 2 : The Birdman - A Curse or a Blessing ?

A curse or a blessing ? An Irish Chieftain resists the arrival of Christianity and is turned into a bird .... Sweeney must leave his home and family behind and live like a bird in the wild woodlands of ancient Ireland.

Episode 1: The King's Secret - An ancient Irish myth with a modern message

Delve into "The King's Secret," an ancient Irish myth exploring the crippling impact of shame and the unexpected power of confession to a sentient willow tree. Discover how a bard's harp, made from that very tree, reveals the king's hidden blemish, leading to his liberation. The hosts discuss the story's profound psychological implications, its connection to animistic beliefs, and its timeless lessons on truth, interconnectedness, and overcoming personal imperfections in a modern world obsessed with perfection.