Introduction: The Mór-Ríoghain is a phantom Queen known to be the Irish Goddess of war often taking the shape of a crow. She features in the first and second battles of *Maige Tuired. The first between the *Fir Bolg and the *Tuatha Dé Danann and the second between the The Tuatha Dé Danann and the *Fomhóire. …
Against my Sister a Retelling by Karina Tynan
Introduciton : Scáthach was a warrior queen who lived on Skye, an island that is part of the archipelago called the Hebrides, west of Scotland. Young warriors from Ireland and other kingdoms nearby were sent to be trained by her in the arts of battle. But while Scáthach taught her pupils she also had to …
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The Boy with the Beautiful Name, a Retelling by Karina Tynan
Introducion: Dechtine daughter of Neas was the mother of the legendary Cú Chulainn whose birth name was Setanta. This is her account of the story of his conception, birth and early life before he left his home at Muirthemne to join the Court of her brother King Conchubar Mac Nessa. There was a cup, …
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Midir and Étain a Retelling by Karina Tynan
Introduction : Midir and Étain is an ancient Irish myth from the mythological cycle of the myths of Ireland. It is a story about love, reincarnation and transformation. I have told it from the perspectives of the three women in the myth: Fuamnach, Étain and Meas Buachalla Fuamnach I tell you this from the only place it …
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A Mare’s Nest – a poem by Karina Tynan
They did not know her - gods are hard for mortals to recognise - Homer His gate was closed. A rusty lock kept a low profile pretending its job but there was no quibble in the creak. It seemed like time had stopped. The flowers were gone. Weeds filled the cracks consolidating the …
Crete: The Art Of Ariadne by Karina Tynan
There are some places in this world that are almost untouched; where mother nature has made it impossible to be conquered. Scorching heat, mountains that defy agriculture. On Crete, as on the other islands in Greece you are almost always in landscape and the myths are never far away. As in Ireland the …
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The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne a Retelling by Karina Tynan
Introduction : The beautiful Gráinne, daughter of King Cormac Mac Airt was promised to be the new wife of the ageing Fionn mac Cumhaill, the leader of the band of warriors called *The Fianna. At their betrothal feast Gráinne slipped a sleeping potion into the drinks of the guests so she could ask Diarmuid Ua Duibhne to come away …
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Photos of Croagh Patrick from Clare Island by Karina Tynan
Croagh Patrick is a holy mountain situated in Co Mayo, West Coast of Ireland. The mountain is called after Saint Patrick, Ireland's patron saint who is reputed to have fasted on it's summit for forty days and nights 441AD. Each year it is climbed by thousands of pilgrims on what is called Reek Sunday or …
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Eulogy for a Seal, a poem by Karina Tynan
The sea was blue before I saw you, before I heard your mother cry, “Everything is worse without you: the earth, the sea, the sky.” The sea was blue before I thought a crow or seagull must have fought for your changeling eyes. It’s in the myth, not many know, you came to …
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