#Celtic#MythologyMonday for #MuseumDay: Moydrum Man (dated around 700-400 BCE) is famous for what has been found in his guts: 300 sloe fruit stones! Ned Kelly, the former Keeper of Irish Antiquities at the National Museum of Ireland, explains what he believes we are looking at here: „Nobody’s going to ingest 300 sloes no matter how hungry they are. I think we can say this is a ritual meal. First of all, the sloe ripens at the end of October and at the beginning of November. That is the festival of Samhain, modern Halloween. And that is the time of year which, according to the early Irish written material, kings were killed. (The Celts, Season 1, Episode 3, 42:40)
Kelly also interprets Clonycavan Man and Old Croghan Man as “clear evidence for . . . ritual killings”.“
Source: https://vridar.org/2018/05/09/doing-history-did-celts-ritually-kill-their-kings/
From the BBC video. X-ray showing hundreds of circles in Moydrum Man's intestine that were discovered to be sloe fruit stones
#Celtic#MythologyMonday for #MuseumDay: The Three Gods of Art (‘Trí de Dána’) settled in an area called Magh Rein, on the borders of Co Cavan and Co Leitrim. From there, it’s not a long trek to Corleck Hill, where a carved stone head with three faces was found, now on display at the Museum of Archeology in Dublin.
Source: https://aliisaac.substack.com/
#Celtic#FolkloreSunday: There are about 1200 known crannogs in #Ireland, but it is estimated that there are probably many, many more yet to be discovered. The majority are concentrated in the drumlins area of the midlands, the north and north-west of Ireland. There are thought to be up to 300 on Lough Gara. Lough Allen also has numerous crannogs with a submerged stone pathway leading to them. The Black Islands of Lough Ree numbered 52. They were often built in small clusters overlooking a larger one further out in deeper water… the home of the chieftain, perhaps.
Source: Ali Isaac | Substack
#Celtic#FolkloreSunday: Crannogs were in use in #Ireland from the middle Bronze Age into the seventeenth century. A crannog is an artificial island constructed from brush, timber, clay, peat and stone, often supported by timber piles. Large stones were added to their edges, probably to protect them from the force of the water. The surface would have been topped with a fine layer of earth and sand. The old Irish word is crannóc, from crann, meaning ‘tree’ and óg, meaning ‘young’. It is not known if this term refers to the island itself, or the structures built upon it.
Source: Ali Isaac | Substack
#Celtic#FolkloreSunday: Dún Dealgan means ‘the stronghold of Dalgan’ in #Irish. According to legend, long before it became the home of Ulster’s hero, #CùChulainn, it was originally the site of a fortress constructed by a Fir Bolg chieftain by the name of Delga.
This legendary and historic site is situated on a ridge just outside of Dundalk, overlooking the Castletown River, known also as Abhainn Chaisleán Dhún. The tower, known as ‘Byrne’s Folly’, which is still standing today, was built by a local landowner named Patrick Byrne. He was quite a character by all accounts, as he was reputed to have made his fortune by smuggling.`
Source: Ali Isaac
#FolkloreSunday: Behind the fortification of Cronk ny Merriu are the remains of a homestead. Originally believed to have been build in the #Celtic #IronAge it was later re-occupied during the Norse Period. The site has a building nearly rectangular in construction with three doorways and a standard Norse central hearth. Remains of this building are clearly visible.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cronk_ny_Merriu
#Celtic#FolkloreSunday: Angus is supposed to have made his home at #Newgrange, near the Boyne the underground temple which was formerly called Brugh na Boinne. The old stories say that three trees grew there which were always heavy with fruit, and whoever rested at Brugh na Boinne and ate of this fruit would be deathless.
Source: Heroes of the Dawn by Violet Russel
Each Fenian warrior was equipped by the smiths working in the caves of Keshcorran with a sword and spear of superlative quality. „Each sword had a different name, details of which were related in the tale. Fionn’s sword was called Mac an Luin. The happy warriors were also provided with accommodation and when they awoke next morning,
they found themselves back on Slieve Luachra still bearing their new weapons.“
Source: Antiquarian Research in Co. Sligo as a Background to the #Mythology and Archaeology of Moytura by Eamonn P. Kelly #Celtic
Each Fenian warrior was equipped by the smiths working in the caves of Keshcorran with a sword and spear of superlative quality. „Each sword had a different name, details of which were related in the tale. Fionn’s sword was called Mac an Luin. The happy warriors were also provided with accommodation and when they awoke next morning,
they found themselves back on Slieve Luachra still bearing their new weapons.“
Source: Antiquarian Research in Co. Sligo as a Background to the Mythology and Archaeology of Moytura by Eamonn P. Kelly #Celtic
#Culann, the smith, who was also a Divine and Prophet, is said to have lived for a time on the Isle of Man, where he manufactured sword, spear, and shield of such transcendent excellence for Conchobar, that he was invited by him to dwell in his realm.
Source: https://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/fim/fim04.htm#Celtic
`While awaiting the completion of his weapons on the Isle of Man, Conchobar was able to overpower a mermaid. To induce him to liberate her, she informed him that she was Teeval, the Princess of the Ocean; and promised that if he caused the smith Culann to form her representation on the shield surrounded with this inscription, 'Teeval, Princess of the Ocean,' it would possess such extraordinary powers that when ever he was about engaging his enemy in battle, and looked upon her figure on the shield, read the legend, and invoked her name, his enemies would diminish in strength, while he and his people would acquire a proportionate increase in theirs. Conchobar had the shield made according to the advice of Teeval, and, on his return to Ireland, such extraordinary success attended his arms, that he won the kingdom of Ulster.
Source: https://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/fim/fim04.htm#Celtic
After Culan had crafted weapons of transcendent excellence for Conchobar on the Isle of Man, he accepted the offer of the ambitious young man from #Ulster, to dwell in his realm, and settled on the plain of Murthemne, which was fabled to have been formerly situated beneath the sea. It was here that he was visited by Conchobar, accompanied by his Court and Setanta. Culann was the possessor of a terrible hound, which was slain by the youthful Setanta; who was in consequence called #CúChulainn, i.e., Culann's hound.`
Source: https://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/fim/fim04.htm#Celtic
Each Fenian warrior was equipped by the smiths working in the caves of Keshcorran with a sword and spear of superlative quality. „Each sword had a different name, details of which were related in the tale. Fionn’s sword was called Mac an Luin. The happy warriors were also provided with accommodation and when they awoke next morning,
they found themselves back on Slieve Luachra still bearing their new weapons.“
Source: Antiquarian Research in Co. Sligo as a Background to the #Mythology and Archaeology of Moytura by Eamonn P. Kelly #Celtic
Fergus delayed the host until such time as the men of Ulster should have gathered together an army. Because of love and affection for his kindred of the men of Ulster he did so.
„Medb perceived this and she upbraided him for it, and chanted the lay:—
Medb:
"Fergus, speak, what shall we say?
What may mean this devious way?
For we wander north and south;
Over other lands we stray!"
Fergus:
"Medb, why art thou so perturbed?
There's no treacherous purpose here.
Ulster's land it is, O queen,
Over which I've led thy host!"
Medb:
"Ailill, splendid with his hosts,
Fears thee lest thou should'st betray.
Thou hast not bent all thy mind
To direct us on our way!"
Fergus:
"Not to bring the host to harm
Make these changing circuits I.
Haply could I now avoid
Sualtach's son, the Blacksmith's Hound!"
Medb:
"Ill of thee to wrong our host,
Fergus, son of Ross the Red;
Much good hast thou found with us,
Fergus, in thy banishment!"
"If thou showest our foemen love,
No more shalt thou lead our troops;
Haply someone else we'll find
To direct us on our way!"
Source: The Project Gutenberg eBook of TÁIN BÓ CÚALNGE, by Joseph Dunn. #Celtic
Like other unusual traits, second sight was not necessarily believed to be a gift. It was rarely envied, and seers often wished to be rid of it. It was generally hereditary but could make its appearance in anyone who suffered a trauma or spiritual awakening.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore
#Celtic#WyrdWednesday: `A fairy cow might decide to settle down on this side of the veil, producing prodigious amounts of milk until, like the mythical cow of abundance called the Glas Ghaibhleann, she was driven away by greed. One farmer who attempted to slaughter his fairy cow found her and all her progeny called away by a lake-maiden.
#Celtic#WyrdWednesday: In ancient #Ireland „the role of a physician was a hereditary one. He passed down his skills and knowledge to his offspring, and often to apprentices living with the family. In later years, this wealth of information was written down in manuscripts and books. The most famous of these is the Book of the O’Lees.“
Source: https://aliisaac.substack.com/p/march-wise-woman-or-witch
#FairyTaleTuesday: The sons of Conall, son of Eochaid, were turned into badgers by the goddess Grian after they attacked her fort on the mountain of Knockgraney.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore
#FairyTaleTuesday: Like the seal, the badger was sometimes seen as a shape-shifting person; the #Irish hero #Tadg found their meat revolting, unconsciously aware that they were really his cousins.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore
Highland folklore tells of an “Isle of Women,” located somewhere off the coast of #Scotland, on which a green well marked the edge of the world. This mysterious island represents a portal to the #Celtic#Otherworld. Sometimes the island is called Eilean nam Ban Móra, the Island of the Big Women, suggesting that the residents were giants. The name was sometimes applied to an actual island, the Isle of Eigg.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore
#Celtic#LegendaryWednesday: „When people are desirous to know whether or not any day will rain, they look at the top of Knock Firinn, and if they see a vapour or mist there, they immediately conclude that rain will soon follow; believing that Donn of that mountain and his aerial assistants are collecting the clouds, and that he holds them there for some short time, to warn the people of the approaching rain. As the appearance of mist on the mountain in the morning is considered an infallible sign that that day will be rainy, Donn is called 'Donn Firinne,' Donn of Truth“."
In 'Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland' by Thomas Crofton Croker (1828).
Source: https://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/7901/knockfeerina.html
#Fergus Mac Roich was obliged to fight to the death against his own foster son #CúChulainn so that Queen #Medb's army could invade #Ulster. To save face and the life of a hero, they agreed that this time the younger CúChulainn would give way, but next time Fergus would. And so it came to pass. #nonviolence
#Celtic#FolkloreThursday: The lay of Fergus explains how Queen Maeve's army was prevented from entering Ulster by #CúChullinn for one night: ---
"What bespeaks this withe to us,
What purports its secret rede?
And what number cast it here,
Was it one man or a host?
"If ye go past here this night,
And bide not one night in camp.
On ye'll come the tear-flesh Hound;
Yours the blame, if ye it scorn!
"Evil on the host he'll bring,
If ye go your way past this.
Find, ye druids, find out here,
For what cause this withe was made!"
A druid speaks:
"Cut by hero, cast by chief,
As a perfect trap for foes.
Stayer of lords—with hosts of men—
One man cast it with one hand!
"With fierce rage the battle 'gins
Of the Smith's Hound of Red Branch.
Bound to meet this madman's rage;
This the name that's on the withe!
"Would the king's host have its will—
Else they break the law of war—
Let some one man of ye cast,
As one man this withe did cast!
"Woes to bring with hundred fights
On four realms of Erin's land;
Naught I know 'less it be this
For what cause the withe was made!"
Source: Gutenberg‘s The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Táin Bó Cúalnge
When his son Conla had died in #CúChulainn‘s arms, „a burst of anguish like the breaking of a heart came from him. And he cried aloud:
“The end is come indeed for me:
“‘I am a man without son, without wife,
I am the Father who slew his own child,
I am a broken, rudderless bark,
Tossed from wave to wave in the tempest wild;
An apple blown loose from the garden wall,
I am over-ripe, and about to fall.’” #Celtic
Source: „Cuchulain, the Hound of Ulster“ by Eleanor Hull
Fergus began to sing praise of #Cuchulain, and he made a lay thereon:—
"Here behold the famous fork,
By which cruel Cuchulain stood.
Here he left, for hurt to all,
Four heads of his border-foes!
"Surely he'd not flee therefrom,
'Fore aught man, how brave or bold.
Though the scatheless Hound this left,
On its hard rind there is gore!
"To its hurt the host goes east,
Seeking Cualnge's wild Brown bull.
Warriors' cleaving there shall be,
'Neath Cuchulain's baneful sword!
"No gain will their stout bull be,
For which sharp-armed war will rage;
At the fall of each head's skull
Erin's every tribe shall weep!
"I have nothing to relate
As regards Dechtirè's son.
Men and women hear the tale
Of this fork, how it came here!" #Celtic
Source: Gutenberg‘s The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Táin Bó Cúalnge
A lay of Fergus:
"Grenca's ford shall change its name,
From the strong and fierce Hound's deed.
Here we see a four-pronged fork,
Set to prove all Erin's men!
"On two points—as sign of war—
Are Fraech's head and Fochnam's head;
On its other points are thrust
Err's head and Innell's withal!
"And yon ogam on its side,
Find, ye druids, in due form,
Who has set it upright there?
What host drove it in the ground?"
(A druid answers:)
"Yon forked pole—with fearful strength—
Which thou seest, Fergus, there,
One man cut, to welcome us,
With one perfect stroke of sword!
"Pointed it and shouldered it—
Though this was no light exploit—
After that he flung it down,
To uproot for one of you!
"Grenca was its name till now—
All will keep its memory—
Fork-ford be its name for aye,
From the fork that's in the ford!" #Celtic
Source: Gutenberg‘s The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Táin Bó Cúalnge