This is an ancient Gaelic tale that has been told in both Ireland and Scotland for countless years. In Ireland, the story of Deirdre is part of the Ulster Cycle of mythology, but the version that I am telling comes from a fellow named John Macneil, who told it from his home on the Isle of Barra in 1867. The story of Deirdire was told in Gaelic and taken down by Alexander Carmichael, who later translated it into English and published both versions in 1905. This is the most comprehensive Scottish version of this story on record, and while it differs in some ways from the Irish telling, it’s no less of a cracker!

You can read Alexander Carmichael’s original Gaelic transcription and English translation here

Many thanks to Caoimhe Keohane of Wild Anam for helping with the many Irish Gaelic pronunciations in this tale!

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The man, the myth, the legend. Robert the Bruce is one of Scotland’s most iconic figures, and for good reason too. As King, he led Scotland to a monumental victory against the English at The Battle of Bannockburn, paving the way for independence.

From itsy-bitsy spiders to superhuman feats of endurance and skill, the stories that survive about Bruce paint a picture of a tenacious hero. But behind the legends lie a ruthless leader who took chances when they appeared and used force when they didn’t, but above all, he never ever gave up.

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Join Jenny as she dives into the folklore behind Glasgow’s rather odd coat of arms and its remarkable patron saint, St. Mungo. Although a religious figure, the stories of St. Mungo and his mother, St. Thenew, are steeped in folklore, mythology, and magical happenings - much of which is handily condensed into this little rhyme:

The tree that never grew,

The bird that never flew,

The fish that never swam,

The bell that never rang

Every school child in Glasgow learnt this rhyme and the stories behind it, and now, thanks to this episode, you can too!

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