Course Archives:

Fionn mac Cumhaill is the central character of what’s commonly known as the Fenian Cycle. He is by far the better known hero of the Gaelic-speaking tradition, from the earliest surviving manuscripts through to modern folktales and graphic novels, known the length and breadth of Ireland and Gaelic-speaking Scotland. In these stories, Fionn is aContinue reading “Tales of Fionn”

Before you begin this course, please get yourself a copy of Thomas Kinsella’s excellent translation of The Táin, available in print or ebook.

All reading materials are provided with this course.

You can follow this 10 chapter video course, and all the other video courses on this website, by signing up for a membership on this page. Before you begin . . .

Do you have a story in you that needs to be told? Or perhaps a poem to compose or a painting to make? Or do you have an idea you would like to research and develop into an article or an essay? Myth Mountain is a programme for anyone who wants to work seriously onContinue reading “Myth Mountain”

A free 7 part course. The Goddess of Sovereignty is one of the most ancient archetypes found in the Celtic tradition. As well as embodying the abundance and prosperity of the land, she also has a strong connection to sacred wells, divine knowledge and horses. Rhiannon, Epona and Macha, to name but a few, areContinue reading “The Goddess of Sovereignty”

You can follow this as a live, 11 week course and come to the weekly discussions, or follow it at your own pace whenever you like. The videos and recordings are always available to anyone with a subscription. The start dates for the live course over the coming year are: Group 1, Mondays 7pm –Continue reading “Taliesin Origins (Old)”

Ystoria Taliesin is the title given to the earliest complete version of Taliesin’s story to have survived. It was written down by Elis Gruffydd sometime in the 1540s and published as part of his epic ‘Cronicl’ of everything. Gruffydd’s version is a very intriguing record of Welsh folklore and contains many folk verses that have soContinue reading “Ystoria Taliesin”

The Four Branches of the Mabinogi is an old Welsh classic that was first written down about 900 years ago. It appears to be a collection of traditional tales that probably originated in the oral storytelling tradition of the early Welsh. But in truth, we don’t know much about their history, the only real certaintyContinue reading “Mabinogi”

The Native Tales of the Mabinogion are classics of Celtic mythology. Each story is firmly rooted in the fertile soil of Welsh culture and draws on the same themes, symbols and archetypes that find both in other ancient Welsh tales, as well as those of Ireland, France and elsewhere. Yet even though each tale drawsContinue reading “Native Tales”

The Three Romances of the Mabinogion, Geraint, The Lady of the Well (or Owain) and Peredur, are three Arthurian tales that were copied down sometime in the 12th and 13th centuries. They are similar to the 12th century metrical romances of Chrétien de Troyes, Erec et Enide, Yvain and Perceval, written in Old French andContinue reading “Three Romances”

The Welsh Fair Folk are central to the folk beliefs and practices of Wales. Sometimes called Plant Annwfn, ‘The Children of Annwfn’, the Welsh otherworld, and also Y Tylwyth Teg (‘Fair Folk’), these supernatural people aren’t fairies in the modern sense of tiny, winged spirits, but are instead very similar to humans in size andContinue reading “The Welsh Fair Folk”