Story Archaeology

Ceramic on glass by Chris Thompson

Airmed is the daughter of the great Dé Danann physician, Dían Cécht.  Together, they created the healling well of Sláine, which restored injured warriors at the Second Battle of Moytura.  But do their names tell a different story?

Dig deeper through etymology in conversation with the Story Archaeologists.

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by The Story Archaeologists.

Music: “Tam Lin” by Gian Castello.

"Hope" - Clay sculpture & paint by Chris Thompson

The oral tradition provides vital pieces missing from the Irish manuscripts.  "The Birth of Lugh" is a prime example.  Reconstruct the story-seed of Eithliu and her many brief appearances in conversation with the Story Archaeologists.

Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest podcasts!

By The Story Archaeologists.

Music: “Tam Lin” by Gian Castello.

Bog yew sculpture by Davy Paton

Macha gives her name to Emain Macha (Navan Fort, the seat of the Ulster kings) and to Armagh.  She is also remembered for racing the king’s horses and cursing the Ulstermen.  Why should a woman about to give birth be forced into a contest against race-horses?

Explore this fantastical myth in relation to Early Irish status texts, illuminating the rural economy in pre-Norman Ireland.  Uncover the secrets of Macha in conversation with the Story Archaeologists.

Don't forget to subscribe to get the latest podcasts!

By The Story Archaeologists.

Music: “Tam Lin” by Gian Castello.

From a painting by Chris Thompson

Sinann is the mythological source of the river Shannon, the longest river in Ireland.  But who is she, and how far back does her story go?  Was she a wayward girl, or the flower of her people and bringer of deep poetic inspiration?

Delve into the original Irish texts in conversation with the Story Archaeologists.

Don't forget to subscribe to get the latest podcasts!

By The Story Archaeologists.

Music: "Tam Lin" by Gian Castello.

From 2012 until 2020 Chris and Isolde worked together creating six series of 'Conversations on Irish Mythology' combining Isolde's linguistic expertise in early Irish and Chris' knowledge of the wider context of world mythology, oral tradion and a life-long passionate interest in history and archaeology.

The pandemic brought about many changes and also new, unexpected opportunities. This was certainly true for the 'Story Archaeologists. Isolde has gone on to work with, for example, on-line theatre and wheelchair dance, remote creative writibg events and she has also returned to another of her main concerns, disability politics.

Chris has been designing projects for Irish Schools, in conjunction with the Tain March Project and other arts initiatives. The pandemic has also brought about exciting possibilities, allowing her to develop extensive on-line presentations, on the old stories, for schools and libraries, finding ways to break the Zoom 'fourth wall' so that drama in the classroom can still be included. Click here for further information

Chis has also been working with a number of international Arts Projects which are connected with storyarchaeology.com There will be more to come. Click here for futher information

The 'Conversations on Mythology' podcasts are continuing as well. There will be new regular episodes with interesting and highly knowledgable partners who have much to share about their 'Stories in the Landscape. The first of these conversations will be publishe in early March 2022

The Story Archaeology Archive

The whole archive of past episodes is complete and easily accessible through the site 'Top Navigation or through this link. So enjoy the archived work and look out for the new 'Stories in the Landscape'.

Listen to the original introduction to Story Archaeology.

Welcome to StoryArchaeology.com, uncovering the layers of Irish Mythology.  On this site, you will find a regular podcast and articles about Irish Mythology by the Story Archaeologists, Chris Thompson and Isolde Carmody.  To find out what Story Archaeology is, and how we apply this method to the exploration of Irish stories, listen to this introductory mini-episode.

To subscribe to the podcast, point your podcatcher of choice at feeds.feedburner.com/StoryArchaeology.

By The Story Archaeologists.

Music: "Tam Lin" by Gian Castello.