Story Archaeology

Ua na gCait - The Cave of the Cat at Crúachán Battle-hag.  Nightmare.  Phantom Queen.  The Morrigan has been called all of these.  But is the battle-cry her only anthem? Uncover the evidence 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.

St. Brigid's Well at Fochard Bríde Brigid: the much-loved irish saint and the revered Celtic tribal ancestress.  But is there a connection between the two? Sift through the strata of her story 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.

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. Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest podcasts! 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 2021 our working lives have begun to diverge into new, exciting, but different directions. It is unlikely that Chris and Isolde will be making further podcast episodes together . However all archived podcasts are still readily available and Chris will shortly be taking the site in a new direction exploring Stories in the Landscape. 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.