Fabula Celtica: A Celtic Studies Podcast

Tyler and Michael discuss the Hill of Tara and the legendary high kingship associated with it, alongside the actual history and archaeology of the site.

Main topics addressed: Iron Age, Tara, sacred kingship, sovereignty goddesses, and rather odd job requirements.

This episode contains references to alcohol, sex, and nudity.

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1l7tgf2gkqBgVRw8D-awpWCYyDY3M9v0RUkmiNOrghXE/edit?usp=sharing

References and Suggested Media:

Bhreathnach, E. (ed.) 2005. The Kingship and Landscape of Tara.

Bhreathnach, E. and Newman, C. 1995. Tara.

Carey, J. 2005. ‘Tara and the Supernatural’ in The Kingship and Landscape of Tara, ed. by E. Bhreathnach (Dublin: Four Courts Press), 32-48.

Dillon, M. 1946. ‘Baile in Scáil: The Phantom's Frenzy’ in The Cycle of Kings, electronic ed. https://www.ancienttexts.org/library/celtic/ctexts/phantom.html

Grogan, E. 2009. The Rath of the Synods, Tara, Co. Meath: Excavations by Seán P. Ó Ríordáin.

Gwynn, L. ‘De Síl Chonairi Móir’ in Ériu 6 (1912), 130-143 (pp. 138-141).

Herbert, M. 1992. Goddess and King: The Sacred Marriage in Early Ireland in Women and Sovereignty ed by L. Fradenburg.

Hull, V. ‘Geneamuin Chormaic’ in Ériu 16 (1952), 79-85 (§10); available at Irish Sagas Online: https://iso.ucc.ie/Geneamuin-chormaic/Geneamuin-chormaic-text.html#Section_10 

Koch, J. and Carey, J. (eds). 2003. The Celtic Heroic Age 4th edn: ‘Echtra Mac nEchach’ (The Adventures of the Sons of Eochaid Mugmedón), pp. 203-208 and ‘Togail Bruidne Da Derga’ (The Destruction of Da Derga’s Hostel), pp. 166-169 (§1-15).

Newman, C. ‘Procession and Symbolism at Tara: Analysis of Tech Midchúarta (the “Banqueting Hall”) in the context of the sacral campus’ in  OJA 26/4 (Nov. 2007), 415–438.

Ó Bróin, T. ‘Lia Fáil: Fact and Fiction in the Tradition’ Celtica 21 (1990), pp. 393-401.

O’Sullivan, A. and Kinsella, J. 2013. ‘Living with a sacred landscape: interpreting the early medieval archaeology of the Hill of Tara and its environs, AD 400-1100.’ in M. O’Sullivan (ed.) Tara: from the past to the future, pp 321-344.

Stokes, W. The Rennes Dindshenchas https://www.ucd.ie/tlh/trans/ws.rc.15.001.t.text.html

Wadell, J. 2022. The Prehistoric Archaeology of Ireland new edn, Ch.9.

What the Folklore? (comedy podcast) https://www.wtfolklorepodcast.com/ 

The episode title is in Latin (Incipit) and Old Irish, and translates to 'The Selected Language Begins'. Tyler and Michael discuss the legendary origins of the Irish language according to Auraicept na nÉces (The Scholar's Primer) and the Lebor Gabála (The Book of Invasions), finally concluding our overview of the Book of Invasions with the fifth and final taking of Ireland by the Sons of Míl. An overview of the historical reality of the development of Irish and the other Celtic languages concludes the episode.

Main topics addressed: Iron Age, Irish language, Scholar's Primer, Book of Invasions, Sons of Míl, poets and poetry.

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dV3Wovl92aqXdrFQvsHiaDfrJ7MFokcJnpohULT9-ng/edit?usp=sharing

References and Suggested Media:

Calder, G. Auraicept na nÉces: The Scholar’s Primer. Edinburgh: John Grant, 1917.

James, S. Exploring the World of the Celts (London: Thames & Hudson, 2005), pp. 152-163.

Macalister, R. A. S. Lebor Gabála Érenn vol 5. Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 1956.

Twist, C., Raferty, B., et al. Philip's Atlas of the Celts. Dublin: George Philip Limited, 2001, pp. 14-17.

Our new co-host Michael joins Tyler in exploring just what makes the Iron Age so mysterious. The enigmatic quality of the period is exemplified by the archaeology of the 'royal site' of Ulster, Emain Macha (Navan Fort) and a lesser-known site known as Corlea Trackway.

Note this episode contains reference to violence and sexual topics.

Main topics addressed: Iron Age, Navan Fort (Emain Macha), Corlea Trackway, La Tène.

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YLhg0DDC7mZqkCyB8zFIh00vIPUBb8IXb6ugeO6t5AY/edit?usp=sharing

References and Suggested Media:

A Barbary Ape Skull from Navan Fort, Co. Armagh: http://irisharchaeology.ie/2014/05/a-barbary-ape-skull-from-navan-fort-co-armagh/ 

Aerial Views of Ireland’s Ancient Royal Sites: http://irisharchaeology.ie/2014/10/aerial-views-of-irelands-ancient-royal-sites/ 

Bergin, O. and Best, R. I. Tochmarc Étaíne electronic ed, Cork: CELT, 2005, §3.8 https://iso.ucc.ie/Tochmarc-etaine/Tochmarc-etaine-text.html

Best, R. I., Bergin, O. and O'Brien, M. A. (eds). 2008. Book of Leinster vol 1 electronic ed. Cork: CELT, Section 2 (pp. 79-80) https://celt.ucc.ie/published/G800011A/index.html 

Gosling, P. ‘Placing Names in Táin Bó Cúailnge: “Findabair Chúailnge” and “Findabair Sléibe”’, Journal of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society 28(3) (2015), 309-325.

Gwynn, E. The Metrical Dindshenchas vol 4. Dublin: Irish Texts Society, pp. 3-9, 125-131, 309-311. Available electronically at https://celt.ucc.ie/published/T106500D/index.html

James, S. Exploring the World of the Celts. London: Thames & Hudson, 1993.

Keating, G. (2002, 2010) The History Of Ireland vol 2 electronic ed. Cork: CELT, pp. 153-157 (Sec 28), https://celt.ucc.ie/published/T100054/index.html

O'Donovan, J. (trans) The Annals of the Four Masters electronic ed. Cork: CELT, M4470.0-M4546.1 https://celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005A/index.html 

O'Sullivan, A. ‘Exploring past people's interactions with wetland environments in Ireland’, in Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 107 (2007), 147–203.

Twist, C., Raferty, B., et al. Philip's Atlas of the Celts. Dublin: George Philip Limited, 2001.

‘Visit Armagh’ website on Navan Fort/Emhain Mhacha: https://visitarmagh.com/places-to-explore/navan-centre-fort/ 

Wooding, J. M. ‘The Idea Of The Celt’ in Atherton, M. (ed) Celts And Christians. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 39-59.

This is a short news and announcements episode explaining upcoming changes to the podcast and when you can expect full episodes to resume (spoiler: mid-March!)

Main topics addressed: solar myth theory, podcast schedule and format.

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xdtnXBSQWZbO-Nursb4yZ_uUDP6LFqRL-ONVrVoRDTM/edit?usp=sharing

References and Suggested Media:

Chatterton, G. Rambles in the South of Ireland During the Year 1838. London: Saunders and Otley, 1839. https://archive.org/details/ramblesinsouthi03chatgoog/mode/2up 

Davies, E. Mythology and Rites of the British Druids. London: J. Booth, 1809. https://archive.org/details/mythologyritesof00davirich/mode/2up 

Georgiou, A. ‘Man Finds Prehistoric Hilltop Tomb With “Sun Altar”' Lost for 180 Years’, Newsweek 24 Jan 2024 [Accessed 25 Feb 2024] https://www.newsweek.com/man-finds-prehistoric-tomb-sun-altar-lost-180-years-1863597 

Müller, M. Comparative Mythology: An Essay. London: George Routledge and Sons Limited, 1909 (originally published 1856). https://archive.org/details/comparativemytho00ml/page/n3/mode/2up

We look at the major features of the Bronze and Iron Age, again drawing upon the Lebor Gabála Érenn (The Book of Invasions) as our legendary touchstone.

Note this episode contains reference to violence and sexual topics.

Main topics addressed: The Book of Invasions, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Classical propaganda, 'Royal Sites' of Ireland.

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JPExwyR2iRlRm9K-SErcv6fBmOwfgdRimqhTzuN9ZZA/edit?usp=sharing

References and Suggested Media:

An Iron Age bog body and his leather arm ring: http://irisharchaeology.ie/2015/05/treasures-from-the-bog-an-iron-age-leather-arm-ring-from-co-offaly/ 

Bronze Age artefacts: http://irisharchaeology.ie/?s=bronze+age 

Fraser, J. ‘The First Battle of Moytura.’ Ériu 8 (1915), pp. 1-63.

Koch, J. and Carey, J (eds.). The Celtic Heroic Age 4th ed. Aberystwyth: Celtic Studies Publications, 2003.

Macalister, R. A. S. Lebor Gabála Érenn vol 3. Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 1940.

O’Toole, F., ‘Bronze Age Dugout Canoe, Circa 2200 BC’, The Irish Times (2011).

Tyler and Kevin encounter the divine beings who lurk in the landscape of the Boyne Valley Neolithic burial complex, including the world-famous passage tomb, Newgrange.

Note this episode contains references to sex, rape, and incest.

Main topics addressed: The Wooing of Étaín, Neolithic passage tombs, the Irish Otherworld, Newgrange, dindshenchas, cultural memory.

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12e4aV8oAGNK8BCMSYGJirXXXAyRj96zcon0itKHDWfM/edit?usp=sharing

References and Suggested Media:

Bergin, O. and Best, R. I. ‘Tochmarc Étaíne’, Ériu, 12 (1938), pp. 142-193. Available on Irish Sagas Online: https://iso.ucc.ie/Tochmarc-etaine/Tochmarc-etaine-text.html 

Gwynn, E. The Metrical Dindshenchas vol. 3. Dublin: Irish Texts Society

• Vol 3: ‘Boand II’ and ‘Cnogba’ (Knowth), available on CELT: https://celt.ucc.ie/published/T106500C/index.html 
• Vol 4: ‘Dubad’ (Dowth), available on CELT: https://celt.ucc.ie/published/T106500D/index.html 

Koch, J. T. and Carey, J., The Celtic Heroic Age, pp. 144-145 (‘The Origin of Dowth’)

O’Kelly, M. J. et al. Newgrange: Archaeology, Art, and Legend (London 1982).

Newgrange and the Winter Solstice: http://irisharchaeology.ie/2011/12/newgrange-and-the-winter-solstice/

Stout, G. and Stout, M. Newgrange (Cork, 2008).

Timeline of Archaelogical Periods in Ireland:  http://irisharchaeology.ie/work/

Tyler and Kevin introduce the podcast, themselves, and our first series, 'Ancient Ireland'. We look at medieval legends about the earliest inhabitants of Ireland and compare these to what archaeology tells us about the people who first arrived on the island 10,000 years ago.

Note this episode contains sexual references..

Main topics addressed: The Book of Invasions, Mesolithic Period, Neolithic Period, Megalithic Tombs.

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WcErp75tLxcO-d_y7-T33edB21wQYFx1bqMZQ509fhw/edit?usp=sharing

References and Suggested Media:

‘Ceide Fields & Downpatrick Head’, Marren's Magical Mayo, 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LABxH9VFiTY 

Daltun, E. (2022) An Irish Atlantic Rainforest. Dublin: Hachette Books Ireland, pp. 126-129.

Macalister, R. A. S. (1939) Lebor Gabála Érenn vol 2. Dublin: Educational Co. of Ireland. pp. 182-195, 210-229, 268-273.

'Mount Sandel, a Mesolithic Campsite', Irish Archaeology. http://irisharchaeology.ie/2013/07/mount-sandel-a-mesolithic-campsite/ 

‘Mountsandel Hidden Heritage’, NIEA 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YXXdqCAn38 

Snook, J. ‘Ceide Fields’, 9 October 2020, World History Encyclopedia Online. https://www.worldhistory.org/Ceide_Fields/