Sheela Na Gig

Sheela Na Gig

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2305989/fan_mail/new] What ancient artifacts are there explaining the role of woman in ancient society as opposed to modern society? A Sheela na gig is a figurative stone carving of a naked woman explicitly displaying or pulling open her vulva, commonly found on Romanesque churches, castles, and historical buildings, particularly in Ireland and Britain, dating roughly between the 11th and 16th centuries. These enigmatic figures, often featuring exaggerated, hag-like features, are interpreted as protective talismans (apotropaic) against evil, fertility symbols, or warnings against the sin of lust. There are also two monuments in Ireland that were built in the shape of a womb. The mystery surrounding these is deep and exciting. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2305989/support] Irish Mythology - Mythical Cycle - Book of Invasions

Rapparees - Ireland's Robin Hoods

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2305989/fan_mail/new] A rapparee was a 17th-century Irish irregular soldier, guerrilla fighter, or bandit, particularly active during the Williamite war in Ireland (1689–91). Derived from the Irish word rápaire (meaning a short pike or stabber), they used these weapons to resist English forces, often attacking supply lines before retreating into bogs. They were largely dispossessed native Irish Catholics  After the Irish army surrendered, many rapparees continued to operate as bandits, highwaymen, and robbers, often living as outlaws in the countryside. They are often compared to Eastern European hajduks or Robin Hood-style figures, representing resistance against British authority. ****Shoot me a fan mail for a chance to win a free audio version of my book "The Celtic Code" ******* Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2305989/support] Irish Mythology - Mythical Cycle - Book of Invasions

The Grapefruit Ladies - How 11 young people changed the world

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2305989/fan_mail/new] The "Grapefruit Ladies" were 11 young Irish Dunnes Stores workers who went on strike from 1984 to 1987 to protest apartheid in South Africa. Led by 21-year-old Mary Manning, they refused to handle South African fruit. Their 3-year protest led Ireland to become the first Western country to ban all South African imports.  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2305989/support] Irish Mythology - Mythical Cycle - Book of Invasions

The Werewolves of Ireland

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2305989/fan_mail/new] Irish werewolves, known in folklore as Faoladh or Conriocht  are distinct from European legends, often portrayed as noble protectors of children, the wounded, and the community rather than malevolent monsters. Rooted in early Irish tales—notably the "Werewolves of Ossory [https://www.google.com/search?q=Werewolves+of+Ossory&oq=werewolves+of+ireland&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yDQgCEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgDEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyBwgEEAAY7wUyBggFEEUYPdIBCTc3NjBqMGoxNagCCLACAfEFVr-YW1d7FprxBVa_mFtXexaa&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&ved=2ahUKEwintYPPu-iSAxW-tIkEHdeoL38QgK4QegYIAQgAEAY]"—these beings were sometimes depicted as cursed individuals or warriors with the power of transformation. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2305989/support] Irish Mythology - Mythical Cycle - Book of Invasions

Irish Socialist - The Beloved, The Great & The Deported

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2305989/fan_mail/new] James Connolly (1868–1916) was an Irish socialist, trade union leader, and revolutionary nationalist, renowned for his role in the 1916 Easter Rising. Born in Scotland to Irish parents, he was a key figure in fighting for worker rights, founding the Irish Citizen Army (ICA), and aiming for a socialist republic before being executed by the British. "Big Jim" Larkin (1876–1947) was a towering Irish trade union leader, socialist, and revolutionary who championed workers' rights in the early 20th century. He founded the Irish Transport and General Workers Union (ITGWU) [https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/easterrising/profiles/po08.shtml] and was the central figure in the 1913 Dublin Lockout [https://www.visitdublin.com/jim-larkin], fighting against extreme poverty and for the rights of unskilled laborers. James Gralton (17 April 1886 – 29 December 1945) was an Irish socialist leader who became a United States citizen after emigrating in 1909 and, later, the only Irishman ever deported from independent Ireland. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2305989/support] Irish Mythology - Mythical Cycle - Book of Invasions