Chris’ Ramble 23 ~ Animal Companions in Early Irish Law and Folklore

William Robinson: Tallanbanna with cloud front. 1988 The Irish Otherworld goes by many names, Tír na mBeo, the Land of the Living, or Emhain Abhlach, the Plain of Apples, for example. It is a world that, in Irish mythology, lies unseen, adjacent to our own, a source of beauty and fertility and occasionally, danger. Join Chis as she explores its boundaries and wonders if it is, indeed, unique. This audio article is based on a paper I wrote a while back now, but for some reason was not published on Story Archaeology. A transcript with notes included is available for this episode. Links for this episode Echtrae Nerai Story 1 ~ Corpse Carrying For Beginners Story 2 ~ Dindshenchas Episode: 08 Tochmarc Étaíne (Dindshenchas: Episodes 09, 10 and 11) The Story Of Macha Compert Con Culainn Circling the Táin 03: The Birth Pangs of Ulster Download the transcript for this episode containing notes and further references.

Animal companions have played a variety of important roles in human societies over the millenia. Join Chris as she explores how dogs, cats and even the occasional crane, have been regarded and regulated both in the comprehensive early Irish law texts and Irish stories, mythology and folklore. Oweynagat: Cave of the Cats Links for this Episode This episode includes Isolde's explanation of the many grades of poet that existed, File, Bards, and even Bramble Hounds A useful article on the background to pre-Norman, early Irish law. The Lost Legal System: Pre-Common Law Ireland and the Brehon Law by Dr Noelle Higgins Fled Bricrenn: The Road to Cruachan

From 'Understories', by Phillipa Klaiber Phillipa Klaiber is an artist, specialising in photography, who celebrates stories in the landscape through her evocative images and poetry. Join Chris and Phillipa as they explore two of Phillippa's photographic projects, Understories and Vorest, and anticipate a new project inspired by the great river Shannon. In this conversation we discuss images from both Understories and Vorest. These links will allow you to enjoy the images and poetry either, during or after, listening to the conversation. Phillipa's photograph from 'Vorest' discussed in this episode The archive image discussed in this episode.

Recent DNA testing on a long ignored jawbone fragment has opened a viewpoint on the distant past to when and how animal companions began to alter the everyday lives of human communities. Join Chris as she explores this new research and wonders, on the way, what 'pet' names might they have chosen! I will be following up this ramble with one exploring animal companions in early Irish stories. If you would rather read than listen, a transcript is available for this episode. Links for this episode Listen to Chris' Ramble 21: Sheebeg and Other Cairns Dogs were widely distributed across western Eurasia during the Palaeolithic: Lead Author: William Marsh. Published in 'Nature' in March 2026. Direct link to the paper. Read the article from the Natural History Museum UK National Geograophic article on the earliest images of domestic dogs Scavenger and Sentry:The Roles of Dogs at Çatalhöyük. Author: Nerrissa Russell Ancient_Felines_and_the_Great_Goddess. I haven't fully read this yet but include it as it might be of interest. Ipuy's wife with her cat An ostracon with'cartoon' cats.

Sheebeg in the snow Dolmens, Barrows, Cairn ? They were built millennia ago to transport the human memory and imagination from one world to another and, in so many different ways, they still do. Join Chris on a personal exploration of these liminal places as she considers not only their archaeological importance but the impact they can still have on our twenty-first century experience. Carrowkeel Story Archaeology links for this Ramble Tales of Sheebeg: The 1931 excavation Tales of Sheebeg Podcast episode from 2012 Wider Links for this episode ~ including loads more information and pictures This is an unusual audio 'ramble' where I visit a great many ancient sites, cains, caves, even castles, I have included sites in England, Scotland and even Australia as well as Ireland. To do them justice, I have included links to sites that will offer good quality information, maps, images, and more. There are too many links to add to this page so I am providing a new dedicated 'Gallery Page'.

The Eglone Stone, Moytura The settling of the The Tuatha Dé Danann in Ireland and their struggle against the mysterious Fomoire, form the central strand of the ancient Irish Mythological Story Cycle. Join Chris as she explores why this great cycle of stories might just be the 'Jewel in the Crown' of Irish mythology. Explore series 2: The Battle of Moytura. Episodes 1- 6 Explore series 2: The Battle of Moytura. Rpisodes 7 - 12 Explore the new 'audio' modern re-telling of the Cath Maige Tuired designed for a wider audience including, but not limited, to older children. A telling of the Táin bó Fraích The Well and the Cheese ~ The unlikely story of Medb and her sisters If you explore further into the Story Archaeology archive You will encounter plenty of other articles, translations and information concerning the Mythological Cycle.

Stories in the landscape of Uzbekistan Sunrise over Khiva .One of the best travel experiences is to have all your preconceived perceptions overthrown without having time to gathered them up again. Join Chris as she explores the unexpected 'stories in the landscape' encountered in a recent trip to Uzbekistan. market in Tashkent Links for this episode Find out more about Igor Savitsky and the Museum gallery in Nukus as well as the autonomous region of Karakalpakstan Take a look at some images of the Tashkent metro. Find out more anout the 2025 Bukhara Biannial Explore a gallery page of images and more The Ulugh Beg Madrasa: Samarkand Thanks Thanks to my wonderful travelling companions Jackie and Phil. The chances of sharing this visit with a history teacher and a comparative mythologist must have been extremely unlikely but I couldn't have had more thoughtful and interesting companions. Your insights and interests really enhanced the whole experience. Thanks also to our guide KiKi who was knowledgeable , patient and, well, fun! Thanks also to Travel the Unknown a company I would highly recommend for their friendly, easily accessed support, choice of trips, and flexibility.

This audio re-telling of ‘The Battle of Moytura’ is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. In this final part. The heroes Ogma, the Dagda along with Lugh set out to put things right ensuring the land will become green and growing once more. Discover more about the The Cath Maige Tuired Notes for this story In this final section. Lugh, The Dagda and Ogma go to an un-named Fomoire feasting hall to recover the Dagda's harp. The Irish harp became a symbol representingIreland from the fouding of the Irish Free State in 1922 and had appeared on flags representing national and cultural identity long before that. It still appears on passports, coins and many official documents. Whether the symbol of the harp refers back to the Dagda's 'Harp of the Four Quarters' is doubtful but the Irish harp and the unique skills and knowledge of the early harpers is certain. If you would like to read the poetry of the Morrigan in translation you can find Isolde's unique translations here. These are very hard to find elsewhere as the early Irish is very obscure. Moytura secion 162 -167 Appologies for the slightly husky voice. I will re-record once my voice has recovered Statue of Turlough O'Carolan in Mohill Leitrim Music: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum , Ben Dwyer

his audio re-telling of 'The Battle of Moytura' is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. In part 11: The Great Battle, the Dé Danann, and the Fomoire come to blows and we discover what happens when the giant, Balor's withering eye is finally opened. The Labby rock Discover more about the The Cath Maige Tuired The Labby rock is a portal Domen. In folklore it is said to be the place where Nuada was buried. You can find the site where the Moytura story is set on the high plain to the east of Lough Arrow in County Sligo. Moytura 127 - 161 Music: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum , Ben Dwyer

Heapstown Cairn This audio re-telling of 'The Battle of Moytura' is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. In part 10: The Well and the Forge, Dian Cécht and Goibnu keep their promises but there are tragic results for Ruadhán, son of Bres when the Fomoire strike back. Discover more about the The Cath Maige Tuired Find out more about The Well of Octriul: Heapstown Cairn Notes for this story You can still see Octriallach’s cairn. It is near Loch Arrow. and today it is known as Heapstown cairn.  It is a megalithic passage tomb around 5000 years old and was once much higher than it is today. Keening was a traditional Irish form of vocal lament for the dead practiced by women until the early part of the 20th C. This tale suggests that it was connected with Brig. Cath Maige Tuired: 122 -126 Music: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum , Ben Dwyer