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/

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/

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).