Iron Age Ireland
The Ancients

Iron Age Ireland

B2Upper-intermediateSeptember 10, 202652 min
  • Interview
  • History

How much of Iron Age Ireland is myth, and how much is archaeological reality? At the monumental Hill of Tara, sacred kings ruled over a landscape steeped in ancient ritual and ancestral memory. Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. John Waddell, author of The Celtic World, to explore the truth to be found through the mist and beneath the hills. We hear about legendary rulers like Queen Medb, epic cattle raids, massive ceremonial feasts, and lawless, roaming war bands. MORE Iron Age Britain Listen on Apple Listen...

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a fundamental debate, a question of how, or even if, Ireland became Celtic.

guest Dr John Waddell, emeritus professor of archaeology at the University of Galway.

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1:47

Welcome to The Ancients. I'm Tristan Hughes, your host. And today we journey to Iron Age Island, exploring monumental royal sites like the Hill of Tara and Rathkrohan, these great centres of Ireland some 2,000 years ago. The story of Iron Age Ireland is steeped in mythology. It was at Tara that King

2:09

Leewy Macneil reportedly challenged St Patrick defending his ancient pagan sovereignty. At Rathkrohan, the formidable Queen Maeve launched her legendary cattle raid. While at Navan, King Krahor Mac Nessa ruled Ulster through warrior codes and divine decree. Yet, while surviving mythology paints a vivid picture of these rulers and their kingdoms,

2:33

it reflects medieval tradition as much as Iron Age reality. And behind the legends lie a fundamental debate, a question of how, or even if, Ireland became Celtic. Join us as we interrogate the myths and unpack the archaeology of Iron Age Ireland with our guest Dr John Waddell, emeritus professor of archaeology at the University of Galway.

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