ceramic on glass by Chris Thompson

The battle of Moytura is bettter known as the Mythological story cycle. This audio re-telling is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. In part 4,The Healers, we discover how Nuada getsanother shot at the kingship, the sad fate of Miach, Dian Cécht's son and get to meet meet his sister, Aimed, a gifted herbalist.

10(ish) to adult!

Discover more about the The Cath Maige Tuired

Listen to the podcast episode on Airmed

Notes for Part 4: The healers: When Isolde and I were working on this text we did wonder if this episode conerning Miach's death and 'rebirth' in the form of new plant growth might have once had an alternate context. Etymologically speaking. Dian Cécht has the meaning 'Eager Plough.' Miach and Airmid are both words used for measures of grain. So the cutting down of Miach, his burial and the regeneration of new geowth from the site where he was 'planted' has much in common with a number of agrarian myths; for eaxample, Isis and Osiris or even, in the Uk, John Barleycorn.

In this audo re-telling. I have just kept to the story, as it is given in the text(s), concentrationg on the characters, their actions and their relationships rather than any inherant symbolism that they may carry..

a gift from Abydos

Musc: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum: Ben Dwyer

The battle of Moytura is bettter known as the Mythological story cycle. This audio re-telling is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. In part 3, Wasteland, Dagda tells how the Dé Danann were mistreated and starved and we meet the terrifying one-eyed Formoire giant Balor and discover his strange story,

10(ish) to adult!

Discover more about the The Cath Maige Tuired

rish mythological and hero tales were not originally written for a young audience. No they were intended for an adult audience gathered together at feasts, Óenachs and to mark special events,. Youngsters may well have been present, may have enjoyed them, but tales weren’t considered as juvenelia.

However they contain so much that younger audiences will enjoy. They are full of adventures and wonders. They have characters, both male and female who show courage, compassion, and comradeship and who demonstrate a sense of wonder, a sense of purpose, and, most definitely a sense of humour.

I tell all of these stories regularly in schools and libraries. I have also recorded them as audio stories and I am happy to share them. Why? Well first they need to be shared. Second, I love audiobooks. As a story teller, I think these stories work best in this format.

Have fun. Chris

Musc: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum: Ben Dwyer

The battle of Moytura is bettter known as the Mythological story cycle. This audio re-telling is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. In part 2, Shadow of the Fomoire, we meet the the young warrior Bress. We discover just how he came to be chosen as the Dé Danann king and gets to uncover a dark Formoire secret!.

ten(ish) to adult

Discover more about the The Cath Maige Tuired

Irish mythological and hero tales were not originally written for a young audience. No they were intended for an adult audience gathered together at feasts, Óenachs and to mark special events,. Youngsters may well have been present, may have enjoyed them, but tales weren’t considered as juvenelia.

However they contain so much that younger audiences will enjoy. They are full of adventures and wonders. They have characters, both male and female who show courage, compassion, and comradeship and who demonstrate a sense of wonder, a sense of purpose, and, most definitely a sense of humour.

I tell all of these stories regularly in schools and libraries. I have also recorded them as audio stories and I am happy to share them. Why? Well first they need to be shared. Second, I love audiobooks. As a story teller, I think these stories work best in this format.

Have fun Chris

Music: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum , Ben Dwyer

Jim Fitzpatrick

The battle of Moytura is bettter known as the Mythological story cycle. This audio re-telling is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. In part 1, The First Battle, we meet the Firbolg champion, Streng and the Dé Danann king, Nuada and discover what happened when they met at the first battle of Moytura.

ten(ish) to adult

Discover more about the The Cath Maige Tuired

Irish mythological and hero tales were not originally written for a young audience. No they were intended for an adult audience gathered together at feasts, Óenachs and to mark special events,. Youngsters may well have been present, may have enjoyed them, but tales weren’t considered as juvenelia.

However they contain so much that younger audiences will enjoy. They are full of adventures and wonders. They have characters, both male and female who show courage, compassion, and comradeship and who demonstrate a sense of wonder, a sense of purpose, and, most definitely a sense of humour.

I tell all of these stories regularly in schools and libraries. I have also recorded them as audio stories and I am happy to share them. Why? Well first they need to be shared. Second, I love audiobooks. As a story teller, I think these stories work best in this format.

Have fun. Chris

Music: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum , Ben Dwyer

Fergus was a man with a plan. He wanted to become, and remain, the most important king in Ulster. Discover how this got him into such trouble with a horrible water monster! This entertaining, and funny story also offers a chance to see just how life was organised in Ireland long before the Normans arrived.

This is a ideal Introductory story which sets these wonderful tales firmly into their pre-Norman context.

For eight and over's.

Irish mythological and hero tales were not originally written for a young audience. No they were intended for an adult audience gathered together at feasts, Óenachs and to mark special events,. Youngsters may well have been present, may have enjoyed them, but tales weren't considered as juvenelia.

However they contain so much that younger audience will enjoy. They are full of adventures and wonders. They have characters, both male and female who show courage, compassion, and comradeship and who demonstrate a sense of wonder, a sense of purpose, and, most definitely a sense of humour.

I tell all of these stories regularly in schools and libraries. I have also recorded them as audio stories and I am happy to share them. Why? Well first they need to be shared. Second, I love audiobooks. As a story teller, I think these stories work best in this format.

Have fun Chris

Findabhair was the long suffering daughter of Medh of Connacht,. She was used to her mother's dramatic determination, but the quarrel she overheard one night, began a long series of events that eventually lead to war and destruction. The story is often known as 'The pillow talk'.

For adults: Explore this link for more background on the Ulster Cycle stories

Irish mythological and hero tales were not originally written for a young audience. No they were intended for an adult audience gathered together at feasts, Óenachs and to mark special events,. Youngsters may well have been present, may have enjoyed them, but tales weren't considered as juvenelia.

However they contain so much that younger audience will enjoy. They are full of adventures and wonders. They have characters, both male and female who show courage, compassion, and comradeship and who demonstrate a sense of wonder, a sense of purpose, and, most definitely a sense of humour.

I tell all of these stories regularly in schools and libraries. I have also recorded them as audio stories and I am happy to share them. Why? Well first they need to be shared. Second, I love audiobooks. As a story teller, I think these stories work best in this format.

Have fun Chris

Storytelling in changing times

Kate Lionis

It is always exciting when new scientific research is able to throw a new light on ancient stories. Join Chris in a new and wide-ranging ramble as she explores the extaordinary vistas of the early Irish Cath Maige Tuired (The Battle of Moytura) and contemplates a neolithic tragedy.

Links for this podcast episode

Story Archaeology links

The Battle of Moytura: Explore Series 2 (Episodes 1-6)

The Battle of Moytura: Explore Series 2 Episodes 7-12

Listen to a Conversation with Anthony Murphy from Mythical Ireland

Listen to a Conversation with Professor Patrick Nunn

External Links

Neil Carlin: Understanding Bell Beaker identities in Ireland - people, places and identities

Repeated plague infections across six generations of Neolithic Farmers (Paper in 'Nature' July 24)

Last Humans Standing with geneticist, David Reich (This particular talk does offer a clear explanation of recent genetic based evidence but is very long. I will try to provide a preferable discussion, or similar. )

David Anthony and Dorcas R. Brown: The Yamnaya Origins and the Expansion of Late PIE Languages, For those interested in liguistic exploration. I found David Anthony's The Horse, the Wheel and Language extremely useful in understanding how, where and why the bronze age migration took place. . Much of what he wrote in 2015 is now even better supported by recent genetic evidence.

Music for story: Lamentation by Ben Dwyer from SacrumProfanum

Every hero in Irish stories had something to boast about, a super-skill or a magical piece of kit! Finn and his friends were no different. They were the best fighters, the greatest hunters, and the most inspiring poets. Yes, you had to be good at poetry to join the Fianna! But there was one hero whose special ability was unique. Meet Conan Maol!

Irish mythological and hero tales were not originally written for a young audience. No they were intended for an adult audience gathered together at feasts, Óenachs and to mark special events,. Youngsters may well have been present, may have enjoyed them, but tales weren't considered as juvenelia.

However they contain so much that younger audience will enjoy. They are full of adventures and wonders. They have characters, both male and female who show courage, compassion, and comradeship and who demonstrate a sense of wonder, a sense of purpose, and, most definitely a sense of humour.

I tell all of these stories regularly in schools and libraries. I have also recorded them as audio stories and I am happy to share them. Why? Well first they need to be shared. Second, I love audiobooks. As a story teller, think these stories work best in this format.

Have fun. Chris

This is probably one of the best - ever- Halloween (Samhain) stories. During this Rathcroghan feast, given by Ailill and Medb, Nera, has to face up to his boastful words and undertake a terrifying quest, through the Samhain-dark land and into another world and time. It is an remscéla adventure that will ensure Nera's role in the great Battle of the Bulls, the Táin Bó Cúailnge.

Practical bits

The story is in two parts

Part 2 begins at 11.30 mins

For adults: Find out more about the background to this story.

Irish mythological and hero tales were not originally written for a young audience. No they were intended for an adult audience gathered together at feasts, Óenachs and to mark special events,. Youngsters may well have been present, may have enjoyed them, but tales weren't considered as juvenelia.

However they contain so much that younger audience will enjoy. They are full of adventures and wonders. They have characters, both male and female who show courage, compassion, and comradeship and who demonstrate a sense of wonder, a sense of purpose, and, most definitely a sense of humour.

I tell all of these stories regularly in schools and libraries. I have also recorded them as audio stories and I am happy to share them. Why? Well first they need to be shared. Second, I love audiobooks. As a story teller, think these stories work best in this format.

Hsve fun. Chris

Suggested age range around nine and up

The Two Pig Keeper poets, more often known as 'The Two Swineherds' is an early origin tale for the battle of the Two Bulls between Connacht and Ulster. It is an exciting story with plenty of time-and-shape shifting but most importantly, stands as a reminder of why it is works out best for everybody to avoid quarrelling with your neighbours!

For adults: Explore this link for a lot more on the original tale

Irish mythological and hero tales were not originally written for a young audience. No they were intended for an adult audience gathered together at feasts, Óenachs and to mark special events,. Youngsters may well have been present, may have enjoyed them, but tales weren't considered as juvenelia.

However they contain so much that younger audience will enjoy. They are full of adventures and wonders. They have characters, both male and female who show courage, compassion, and comradeship and who demonstrate a sense of wonder, a sense of purpose, and, most definitely a sense of humour.

I tell all of these stories regularly in schools and libraries. I have also recorded them as audio stories and I am happy to share them. Why? Well first they need to be shared. Second, I love audiobooks. As a story teller, I think these stories work best in this format.

Have fun. Chris