Caves in the Irish Mythic Imagination: Truth in the Darkness

The bards  and poets of Ancient Ireland believed that being in the dark helped them access the truth. In this episode we explore the role of caves in the Irish Mythic imagination. We discuss the stories surround the legendary Oweynagat Cave in Co Roscommon and the concept of alternate realties existing along side our own. 

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/IntotheMythicRecorded at the Working Artists Studio in Ballydehob with Pól O Colmaín and Leeanne O' Donnell  https://workingartiststudios.com/With thanks to our friends at Wild Goose Studios in Kinsale https://wildgoosestudio.com/

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 2025Into 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 fascinating Brehon laws of ancient Ireland.  https://patreon.com/IntotheMythic?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLinkWildgoosestudio.comWorkingartiststudio.comLeeanneodonnell.com 

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_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

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

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 Patreon where we have a new series of podcast 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

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 ! 

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 ...

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