and the concept of sovereignty in the Irish Tradition
The King Cycle in Irish Myth
For a country and culture with a colonial history, the concept of a King is always going to be problematic. What actually seems to have happened is that the King stories are no longer told.
Professor Dáithí Ó hÓgáin of UCD Folklore Department spoke to the King Tales as being one third of the myths told before the Colonial period but only 3% by the end. Colonised people do not tell King stories!
What we have here is a remarkable body of King Lore and a world view that outline the characteristics of the exemplary King and the consequences to the culture of the behavior of the good or bad king. Essentially this is a style of Kingship embedded within the political and cultural systems of the distributed power of the “Fifth Province” and the idea of the Sacred Centre. This wisdom is of considerable relevance today to a world with little trust in its leaders.
| Tuesdays 7 to 9pm | |
| I) Feb 1st | The Tradition of the King, the Sovereign in the Irish Tradition & Lugh Lamfada The rightful King in the Mythological Cycle and |
| 2) Feb 8th | Cormac MacAirt & Labraidh Loingseach Fir Flathamon and the duty of the King to always judge and act fairly and how these judgements were connected to prosperity for all. |
| 3) Feb 15th | Conaire Mor The obligations of the leader, Geasa and Buada and the consequences of breaking the sacred obligations |
| 4)Feb 22nd | Conn Caed Cathach & Conor Mac Neassa Exploring the flawed King |
| Break for a week | |
| 5) Mar 8th | Niall of the Nine Hostages & Mongan The exemplary King and the mating with the Goddess of Sovereignty – the land |
| 6) Mar 15th | Medb, Emer & Graine Uaile The story of two powerful queen figures in the Irish Myths. What is the role of the Queen in the Irish Tradition. Graine Uaile as myth and history |
| 7) Mar 22nd | Re Tellings: What aae the insights, themes and connections to modernity from these tellings and what are the re-tellings the participants feel inspired to share |
| 8) Mar 29th | Final Re Tellings and Reflections on the Immersion |