Ireland's Myths & Legends: Four-Week Online Introduction Course

About this experience

Ireland’s Myths and Legends

Four-week online course

With Anthony Murphy of Mythical Ireland

Begins Tuesday 24th March at 8pm Irish time on Zoom. Four sessions: 24th March, 31st March, 7th April, 14th April.

Join author and mythologist Anthony Murphy for a one-day introduction to Irish mythology, legend and folklore. Learn all about the four great cycles of Irish mythology – the Mythological Cycle, the Ulster Cycle, the Finn Cycle and the era of the High Kings.

We will look at key manuscripts in the mythological traditions of Ireland, such as Lebor Gabála Érenn (The Book of Invasions), Dindshenchas (Lore of the Sacred Places), and the sources specifically relating to the myths and legends of Brú na Bóinne and the Boyne Valley.

There will be a special focus in this one-day course on the Tuatha Dé Danann, the pre-Christian, prehistoric pantheon of deities who are very closely associated with the great monuments of Brú na Bóinne – Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth.

Included in the course fee will be comprehensive notes (a PDF will be sent to all participants) running to over 50 pages.

Here is the programme for our four-week course:

Week 1

·        Introduction

• Ireland’s manuscripts and their origins.


• Key monasteries associated with writing our myths.


• What was lost, and what survives?


• Ireland preserves much more myth than other Celtic nations.


• The Four Cycles of Irish mythology: The Mythological Cycle, The Ulster Cycle, The Fianna Cycle and The King’s Cycle.


• Key scholars in the development of the cycles.


• The patronage of kings and nobles.


• What is original versus what was altered by Christian scribes?


• The nativist versus anti-nativist debate.


• Irish creation myths.

Week 2

•         Two good examples of Irish creation myths.


•         Lebor Gabála Érenn, the Book of Invasions – key influences.


•         Lebor Gabála Érenn – what are its genuine pre-Christian myths?


•          Lebor Gabála Érenn – The six ‘takings’ of Ireland.


•         Who were the Tuatha Dé Danann?


•         Where did they go?


•         How the church ‘repackaged’ the Tuatha Dé Danann.

Week 3

•         Key figures of the Tuatha Dé Danann.


•         Folk beliefs about the return of the Tuatha Dé Danann.


•         What do the medieval sources say about their return?


•         Who are the Milesians, ancestors of the Irish?


•         Who is Amergin, the Milesian bard?


•         What secrets are hidden in Irish mythology?


•         The 20 most influential scholars of Irish myth and tradition.

Week 4

•         Discussion and questions, focusing on specific myths:


•         Tochmarc Étaín – the Wooing of Étaín.


•         Aislinge Oengusso – The Dream-Vision of Oengus Óg


•         Cath Maige Tuired – Second Battle of Moytura


•          The four great objects of the Tuatha Dé Danann


•          Suggested reading: My top 15 books about Irish myth and folklore.

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