This Nine Wave immersion will weave together the Tain as in the principle sources with Karina Tynan’s body of work telling the Tain from the perspective of the female figures. We intend to focus on the difference between the two tellings and use the small group discussions to pull out learnings and implications. Karina’s tellings have been a central part of the Bard events. For the last 15 years and have always enchanted participants and opened up new perspectives on the myths.
Obviously, one of the key areas of interest will be the comparison from the genders perspective. We can also address questions as to whether the Tain might be heard as a critique of the warrior ethos and culture and perhaps a defence of the Goddess Culture of the Tuatha de Danaan. As always there will be a lot of time given to discussions and the collective points of view of the group and also the implications for modernity. Our Six Week Experience in the unique Irish Mythology through Oral Myth Telling, Group Discussion and exploring contemporary relevance.
| Saturday PM 4.30pm-6.30pm | Karina’s Telling | |
| Sept 4th | The Tain: Cú Chulainn – the Birth and Boyhood deeds These are the stories that build the background to the great Irish epic. They follow many of the classic motifs of hero stories. | Neasa –grandmother who becomes a warrior after her family slaughtered Dechtine –CuChullain’s mother speaks |
| Sept 11th | Curse of Macha The goddess Macha comes into the life of a farmer Crunnchu. All his needs and dreams are met….. But he can’t resist boasting! | Macha – perspective from the goddess Scáthach – the warrior’s guide |
| Sept 18th | Deirdre of the Sorrows This is one of the great love stories in the Irish Myth tradition and one of the most tragic. It can be seen as an encounter between an older “goddess” culture and the “warrior” culture. | Deirdre of the Sorrows The story from Deirdre’s perspective |
| Sept 25th | Medb and Pillow Talk The discussion between Medb and her husband that sets up the great battle. Is it jealousy or envy that starts the great fight, the civil war | Medb 1 and Finabar The woman’s role in the battle |
| Oct 2nd | Scáthach and Aife We cover here some of the key women in Cu Chullain’s life and the pivotal role that they play, as guides, opponents and lovers | Fand and Morrigan The otherworld lover and the war godddess |
| Oct 9th | The Battle at the Ford This is the great brother battle of the epic told from the perspective of the typical narrator and then from a close interested observer, | Emer What is the perspective of the hero’s wife on all this |
| Oct 16th | Connla and the Death of CuChullain The consequences of living the warrior code become tragically evident in the final stories in the epic | Medb 2 the Queen and Goddess reflects |
| Oct 23rd | Review and Reflections Where are we now on the Tain. Reflections on the Immersions and some further retellings | Group Reflections |
