The Milesians are here! Discover the mythical ancestors of the Gaelic Irish and their journey from the city known today as A Coruña in Galicia. Íth, Míl and their crew have set sail for the island from Íth’s vision but the sea and the gods who govern it have other ideas. Before they reach their destination they must weather a deadly storm, and even then, the island beyond the waves is not exactly welcoming. We talk about the euhemerising and re-enchanting myth, the archaeology and genetics of Ne...
Aug 22, 2024•1 hr 3 min
The Milesians are coming! Discover the mythical ancestors of the Gaelic Irish and their journey from the city known today as A Coruña in Galicia. Íth sees a mysterious island across the sea from atop his father's tower in the north west Iberian settlement of Brigantia. Despite the discouragement of the elders, he and his nephew Míl forge a plan to sail to this magical land that one day will be known as Ireland. We talk about the Book of Invasions, real life prehistoric migrations, the place lore...
Aug 10, 2023•57 min•Season 4Ep. 1
We talk about the relevance of Irish Mythology in a time of climate crisis, the meaning of The Second Battle of Moytura, ancient Irish calendar customs, astrological agriculture, and M People. Bres faces trial for treason! Does the Fomorian collaborator have anything to offer in return for his life? The Dagda, Lugh and, Ogma travel to The Hebridies to take back The Dagda’s harp and the stolen cattle herd of Ireland. Starring: Lugh, Bres, The Dagda, Ogma, Éire, Elatha. Co Starring: Máeltne Mórbre...
Jul 06, 2023•44 min•Season 3Ep. 8
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 Bald...
Dec 15, 2022•1 hr 12 min
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 othe...
Oct 31, 2022•48 min•Season 3Ep. 6
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 a...
Oct 26, 2022•44 min•Season 3Ep. 5
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 (licens...
Aug 18, 2022•30 min•Season 3Ep. 4
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...
Jun 02, 2022•47 min•Season 3Ep. 3
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 ...
Apr 27, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 2
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...
Mar 18, 2022•21 min•Season 3Ep. 1
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 f...
Oct 30, 2021•47 min•Season 2Ep. 12
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...
Sep 30, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 11
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...
Aug 12, 2021•52 min•Season 2Ep. 10
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 und...
Jul 30, 2021•54 min•Season 2Ep. 9
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 p...
Jul 26, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 8
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 ...
Jul 15, 2021•50 min•Season 2Ep. 7
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 ...
Jul 01, 2021•53 min
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/legalcod...
Jun 22, 2021•2 min
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 ...
Apr 15, 2021•57 min•Season 2Ep. 5
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 Marc...
Mar 11, 2021•42 min•Season 2Ep. 4
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 ta...
Feb 18, 2021•54 min•Season 2Ep. 3
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 Da...
Feb 01, 2021•53 min•Season 2Ep. 2
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 t...
Jan 07, 2021•45 min•Season 2Ep. 1
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/lice...
Nov 24, 2020•41 min•Season 1Ep. 10
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 unde...
Oct 30, 2020•49 min•Season 1Ep. 9
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 contradic...
Oct 22, 2020•36 min•Season 1Ep. 8
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 p...
Sep 22, 2020•47 min•Season 1Ep. 7
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...
Jul 30, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 6
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
Jul 09, 2020•46 min•Season 1Ep. 5
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 ...
May 21, 2020•42 min•Season 1Ep. 4
