The History of Ireland

The old gods of Ireland never really died — they went under the hills, and people learned not to say their name. We follow the Tuatha Dé into folklore, where they become the fairies, the Sídhe, the Good People — and take the first step towards the changeling and the 1895 killing of Bridget Cleary.The episode cover image is a hawthorn tree, famously associated with fairies in Ireland. (Wikimedia Commons/Robin Somes) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode we finish off the last section of The Fate of the Children of Lír and explore how really it was the Christian Brothers who cemented it in the Irish psyche. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we look at how the Children of Lír slowly gained popularity over the 19th century and see what happens when you turn someone's children into swans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we look at The Fate of the Children of Lír and explore how Ireland's most famous myth is not a myth at all. In fact, it's a Christian parable in a shape of myth. A bit like a child who's been turned into a swan.The artwork for this episode is THE CHILDREN OF LIR. THE ENCHANTMENT by Jim FitzPatrick. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A slight diversion from our current series on mythology to look at a unique connection between Ireland and Palestine. If you'd like to donate to support the people of Palestine you can do so here: https://www.savethechildren.org/us/where-we-work/west-bank-gazaAs this could be a contentious episode, I wanted to ensure I shared all my sources. If it's something people find interesting, I'll keep doing for episodes moving forward. Seán W. Gannon, “The Formation, Composition, and Conduct of the British Section of the Palestine Gendarmerie, 1922–26,” The Historical Journal (2013). Cambridge University Press & AssessmentSeán W. Gannon, “‘Our Irish Constabulary’: The British Palestine Gendarmerie, 1922–1926,” in The Irish Imperial ServiceRichard A. Cahill, “The Image of ‘Black and Tans’ in Late Mandate Palestine,” Jerusalem Quarterly 40 (2009).Richard A. Cahill, “Going Berserk: ‘Black and Tans’ in Palestine,” Jerusalem Quarterly 38 (2009). Palestine StudiesUCC, The War of Words: Propaganda and Moral Force. University College Cork Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Fate of the Children of Tuireann Pt. 3 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Lug issues a fine to the Children of Tuireann and we look at how fines were the bedrock of medieval Ireland's decentralised system of laws. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode we dive into the Fate of the Children of Tuireann, a story from the 15th century that builds on The Second Battle of Moytura and introduces a fascinating (if slightly horrible) character in the form of Brian, son of Tuireann. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we explore the concept of honour price and how it was one of the most important legal concept in early medieval Ireland. We then dive back into The Wooing of Étain, where three games of fidchell (ancient Irish chess) demonstrate different approaches to keeping deals and saving face. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we look at how early medieval Ireland was ruled through a series of different kings and over kings, as well as continue our story of Etain, who is now living in early medieval Ireland with no memory of her time with the Tuatha Dé.Image, used with permission, is Nuada the High King by Jim Fitzpatrick.https://jimfitzpatrick.com/product-category/celtic-irish-fantasy-art/the-book-of-conquests-and-the-silverarm/page/2/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.