Brave is an upcoming American 3D computer-animated fantasy adventure film. In the film, a skilled archer named Merida (voiced by Kelly Macdonald), defies an age-old custom, causing chaos in her kingdom. After consulting a mysterious wise old woman (voiced by Julie Walters) for help, her family becomes cursed and Merida is forced to undo the spell herself before it is too late.

The movie is being produced by Pixar, making this their thirteenth feature film, and will be released by Walt Disney Pictures. It was written by Mark Andrews, Steve Purcell, Brenda Chapman and Irene Mecchi, and is being directed by Andrews and Chapman and co-directed by Purcell. The film is scheduled for release on June 22, 2012 in the United States.

The Background to the Story

In Scotland, stories of battles and legends have been passed through generations. Merida (Kelly Macdonald), a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson), is determined to prove her worth.

After ignoring an age-old custom sacred to Lords MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), Macintosh (Craig Ferguson) and Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane), Merida inadvertently causes controversy and chaos in the kingdom. When Merida turns to an eccentric witch (Julie Walters) for help, a curse is inflicted on her. She must now save the kingdom from the curse, and in doing so, discover the true meaning of bravery. [wiki]

Concept Art

Courtesy of Entertainment Weekly, we can get to some see some of the amazing concept art behind what promises to be an amazing film for all the family and especially all Celtophiles everywhere!

‘Brave’ Merida Concept Art Pic: Entertainmetn Weekly

In many ways, Pixar’s 13th feature-length movie Brave (out June 22, 2012) ventures into new territory for the animation studio: The Scotland-set adventure film will be Pixar’s first fairy tale, its first picture starring a female protagonist, and its first film co-directed by a woman. EW.com has the first look at some of the concept art for the project, and we can also confirm that Reese Witherspoon will no longer voice the movie’s heroine, a tomboyish princess named Merida, due to scheduling issues. Instead, the character will be played by the (appropriately) Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald (No Country for Old Men, Boardwalk Empire).

‘Brave’ Castle Bravo Sunset Concept Art Pic: Entertainmetn Weekly

Announced in April 2008 as The Bear and the Bow, Brave is Pixar’s first fairy tale, and is somewhat darker and more mature in tone than their previous films. The story takes place during the 10th century in the highlands of Scotland; Brenda Chapman considers it as a fairy tale in the tradition of Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm.

Chapman conceived the project and was announced as the director of the film, making her Pixar’s first female director, but in October 2010, she was replaced by Mark Andrews following creative disagreements.

Merida is the first female protagonist in a Pixar film. She was originally to be voiced by Reese Witherspoon, who declined due to scheduling issues. Instead, the character will be voiced by Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald, recently acclaimed for her role as Margaret Schroeder in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire.

[wiki]

———————————

You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Description Page.
You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. You can find it on Handster at http://www.handster.com/celtic_myth.html or by using the QR code opposite. It’s als found on the Opera Marketplace as well as AppBrain in the US.
If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

The CMP Logo

In this show, we bring you the second of our special features about the mythic film, The Spirit of Albion: the Movie and celebrate Beltane along the way! We meet Damh the Bard,who created the songs used in the films and Gary Andrews, the Director, Author and Editor for the film. We meet them on a nice, quiet afternoon in the beautiful country pub, The Giant’s Rest which is almost at the feet of the mighty giant known as The Long Man of Wilmington, a huge chalk figure that makes his acting debut in the film to have a fun chat about the film.

The film will première a couple of days after this show is released and we’ll all get our chance to see this long-awaited production! We also celebrate Beltane with a couple of wonderful pieces of music supplied by the amazing Spiral Dance and the talented George Nicholas of Cernunnos Rising.

Thanks go out to the wonderful manager of the Giant’s Rest, Gary (oh yes, another Gary!) who gave us permission to record in the pub which has been known for over a decade as the Most Druid Friendly Sussex Public House!

Hope you enjoy it,

Gary & Ruthie x x x

How to Listen

The Episode is available for subscribers on the feed, or you can download it or listen to it from our Episodes page. You can find the Shownotes for this episode in the Shownotes section.

If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

———————————

You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Description Page.
You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. You can find it on Handster at http://www.handster.com/celtic_myth.html or by using the QR code opposite. It’s als found on the Opera Marketplace as well as AppBrain in the US.
If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

The CMP Logo

In this show, we hope to bring you a wonderful gift for Ostara, or Easter, with our first ever documentary show. Starting from conception as a play performed by young actors to a film about to hit our screens, the Spirit of Albion Movie promises to bring the Celtic Gods to the World of Film for possibly the first time! We bring you the long-awaited, full story of ‘the Spirit of Albion the Movie’ along with interviews with all the actors.

We also include many ‘Behind the Scenes’ audio clips to bring you a feel of what it was like to be on the set of the film as it was being made.

How to Listen

The Episode is available for subscribers on the feed, or you can download it or listen to it from our Episodes page. You can find the Shownotes for this episode in the Shownotes section.

If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

Hope you enjoy it,

Gary & Ruthie x x x

———————————

You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Description Page.
You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. You can find it on Handster at http://www.handster.com/celtic_myth.html or by using the QR code opposite. It’s als found on the Opera Marketplace as well as AppBrain in the US.
If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

Wireframe model (enlarge to see it textured) Pic: Trinity3D.com

OK… Well one of my dreams has been the possibility of re-telling the Celtic Myths visually by using the medium of 3D Animation. In fact, Ruth and I started our whole concept of re-telling of the myths by beginning to create an animated film. Story-boards were produced, scripts were started and not being used to patience, I made a start on creating the terrain for the opening shots of the film and then plotted a camera track, recorded some voice over and with some accompanying music began to put together the opening scenes of the film.

 It rapidly became apparent that after three and a half months, we had produced just under 2 minutes of film!!!!

Not only that, but I discovered animating tumbling rocks required a knowledge of physics that escaped me and those unlucky few who were subjugated to my attempts fell about laughing at these balloon like boulders careering unrealistically down the hill-side! Scrap that idea then…

So, the podcast was born and the rest, they say, is history..

However, the knowledge, love and desire to produce using my 3D design skills has remained with me, which is why I guess, I have occasionally produced Wallpapers for screen or phone.

In the Windmills of my mind

The myths are still very visual in my mind, and maybe that is why when it comes to editing the final audio podcasts I make an attempt at re-creating in a sound-picture what I can ‘see’ inside my head. Technology proceeds faster than we can keep up with it though, and now my mind si whirling with new possibilities.

You see, not only do we have the incredible shading, light and built-in hardware possibilities of today’s top-of-the-range Graphics Cards (OK, I admit still well out of my reach financially), but we have several Game editors that are designed to utilise these technological advances and have pre-scripted sequences or cut-aways, that would be ideal for using to clip together the scenes of a movie! Now you see the Windmills whirring furiously

Not only that, but for the purposes of development the editors are free. Well, I think 3 out of the 4 are. There is something called Unity that mixes well with much Open Source software (Blender being used as a 3D modelling tool) and I love Open Source, and then there is the Source Engine developed by Valve and using Havok physics. You can see this in operation in the latest Half-Life games. Although it was one of the first editors to make use of Ragdoll physics and was/still is groundbreaking in many areas, in terms of creating believable outside areas it relies upon the skills of the artist and trickery to try to re-create the outside world.

Unreal Development Kit (UDK)

Now, however, there are two very real contenders remaining for the title of King of the Hill when it comes to bringing you your mythological stories in movie format! The first has evolved out of the very successful Unreal series of games – the Unreal Development Kit.

(https://plus.google.com/u/0/110838162887713508997/posts/gX3Etmk57SK)

As you can see, the terrain is quite simplistic but passable. There is a technical demo reel of an amazing scene showing jungle, rain, water trickling over rock surfaces and its all very exciting but I can imagine that it probably took a team of Unreal designers weeks to produce that demo, On the down-side, I have read frequently in forums, that the UDK is ideally suited to developing interiors (easy use of Phong shading) but you have to struggle to produce terrain, although it is well served by the community with documentation and tutorials.

The Tech Demo Reel looks pretty good though, especially the Realistic Foliage…

Search.flv Watch on Posterous

CryENGINE

Lastly, the choice that has really caught my eye in terms of terrain development is the latest incarnation of the Design Environment behind the Crysis series of games developed by the Crytek company. I remember playing the original FarCry and being blown away by the water, trees and shadows and things have come on so far since then!

(http://www.incrysis.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=31543)

The disadvantages are that the Engine is purportedly buggy, with many crashes, and has a very steep learning curve with only a growing developer community.

Last words?

Yes, I think the only option is to try both pieces of software. I’m still going to have to use traditional 3D design s/w to produce models and objects, still going to have to use serious art software for textures and still have the import/export pipeline to consider in the workflow. In addition, whilst productions made by the latter, and possibly the former, and free for non-commercial use – if we reach the stage where we wish to make something in addition for sale, then there are licensing considerations to be taken into account. If every single frame has been hand-crafted by myself – that ceases to become a financial problem. But then 3 months for 2 minutes of film?? Get serious, Gary!

Mind you, those rocks and trees, soft ambient shadows and diffuse glows are very tempting… (sigh..)

Lastly, the very impressive CryEngine 2012 demo reel, including DX11 features not yet implemented.. :{

CryEngine_3_GDC_2012_Tech_Trailer_(Cam).mp4 Watch on Posterous

———————————

You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Description Page.
You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. You can find it on Handster at http://www.handster.com/celtic_myth.html or by using the QR code opposite. It’s als found on the Opera Marketplace as well as AppBrain in the US.
If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

As you probably know by now, we have been following the progress of the making of a new film called The Spirit Of Albion: the Movie. The name of the movie comes from the title of an Album and song by the Pagan Folk musician Damh The Bard. Filming started in April 2011 and final production of the film is taking place now ready for a Beltane release (May 1st 2012). The film revolves around the lives of three young people who are all facing personal challenges of one kind or another. Then on 31st October they find themselves drawn to a clearing in the woods, and nothing is ever quite the same again….

Following on from our blog on The Spirit of Albion: The Movie on April 6th 2011, we thought we would bring you up to date on the creation of the Movie and how it came into being.

The Archway Theatre Production

As you may know the idea for the Movie came from a play that was originally written and created by a group of young people between the ages 16-24 at a Young Adults Workshop under the guidance and direction of Gary Andrews. The play was inspired by the emotive music of Damh the Bard, a famous British Pagan Folk singer. These talented young people chose ten of his songs and weaved a magical, modern day story of very real social issues and how three young Adults are struggling to deal with these challenges in their lives.

Archway Theatre Production Pic: Spirit of Albion Movie

The play became well loved by the Pagan community. At first it played at The Archway Theater in Horley, Surrey for three nights where it was a huge success! Damh, his wife Cerri and many other people from the pagan community attended along with friends and family of the cast and crew. People were deeply moved by the powerful play and many people were in tears by time the final curtain fell and the talented young actors bowed to a standing ovation. After the success at The Archway Theater, the play was revived for a performance at WitchFest International at The Fairfax Halls in Croyden. By this time many of the original cast had moved on to University and “a new age-appropriate cast made up of experienced actors” was brought in for this one-off performance.

The Spirit of Albion at Witchfest

Again it proved to be a strong emotive performance. The following review is a review of the performance at Witchfest by our talented friend, Craig Sacket:

“In a packed auditorium, I sat among the audience waiting to see how the show would use the songs of Damh the Bard to tell it’s own tale of magick and mystery.  For two enjoyable hours I was drawn in by the story, losing myself entirely to it’s woodland setting and the unfolding drama.  So enwrapped in the adventure was I, that I almost forgot I was actually a member of an audience! Each one of us had been captivated the same way, with only our shared laughter and tears reminding us of others around us.

“Most shows dazzle with fancy illusion, but SOA weaves real magick that rekindles an old fire in each of us.  The cast gave faultless performances, with their acting and singing, raising both the bar AND our spirits with every verse.  While the original Archway line up buzzed with a youthful enthusiasm, the Witchfest cast took things further with a grace and gravity that added another way toward the heart of that woodland grove. “As the story came to it’s conclusion, I felt refreshed and invigorated…as did everyone in the theatre. “Every voice sang along to the final song, and from the smiles from audience and cast alike, it’s clear to see that SOA is something very special indeed….not only a show to watch, but also a story to be a part of.

Witchfest Production Pic: Spirit of Albion Movie

“With two performances now leading to the movie, the magick is set to continue and once again deliver a fresh yet familiar message to pagans and lovers of good storytelling alike.

“Bravo to all the cast and crew!

“Thanks as always to Damh the Bard.

“And may the Spirit of Albion long continue to call you home!”

As Craig mentioned above, and with the demands of its audience, it was realised that this story could have a much wider appeal if a movie was produced.

Filming begins!

The Shooting script was finished by August 2010; and by April 2011, technical equipment for shooting the movie had been gathered, songs storyboarded, locations chosen, and cast, costumes and make-up were in place. It was time to record the songs for the film sung by the principal cast members and overseen by Damh the Bard.

Gary Andrews filming Damh the Bard “Do you dream of drinking from the Grail, That the truth is held within a tale…?” Pic: Lusete

The first shoot was at a private woodland on a beautiful sunny day. Damh was to be filmed playing his song Pagan Ways, and it was here that the flash-back section to Damh’s song Green and Gray was shot, with Gary Andrews playing the priest and Séan George portraying The Horned God. When commenting on this filming, Damh, in a state of wonder, said: “It was just as I imagined it when I wrote the song” From this comment it sounded to us like Gary and the cast were creating something magical, and we couldn’t wait to find out more.

The filming continued throughout the Spring and Summer, taking place on location at The Weald and Downland Museum in Singleton Sussex, then a trip to the West Country to Grimspound, Stonehenge, Wayland Smithy and other wonderful magical sites. Afterwards back to Surrey for some indoor filming which we were lucky enough to see.

It was quite magical to watch Damh’s songs brought to life by these talented actors and their supporting crew as well as keeping up with the production via Marq English‘s Video Production Diaries. More than once many of us felt shivers go down our spines as certain scenes were acted out.

The final Marathon over-night shoot

Then came the Finale! The over-night and final shoot – at an idyllic private woodland called Morgan’s Wood owned by the lovely Darren and Siobhan Thomas.

Well, we arrived late Saturday evening, said “Hello” to everyone, pitched our tent and went to find out what was happening. The principal characters were being made up and changing into costume in a gazebo. A generator and a lighting tower had been set up and there was a buzz of excitement in the air. While everyone was getting prepared for shooting, it gave us an excellent opportunity for some impromptu interviews with cast and crew, which you will hopefully be hearing in upcoming shows.

Gary, Simon & Dodie Discussing Scenes Pic: Lusete

The Cast prepare for the Final Shoot

Now is our chance to show you how amazing the actors looked while playing their roles.

Lucy Brennan as ‘Arianrhod’ Pic: Lusete

Séan George as ‘The Horned God’ Pic: Lusete

Lucy Brennan looked stunning and ethereal as the Goddess Arianrhod, the narrator of the story, and it was fascinating to watch Lucy Darkness, Makeup & Prosthetic expert, turn Séan George into the very masculine Horned God.

Lucy Darkness – Make-up and Prosthetics Pic: Lusete

Redvers G. Russell as Robin Goodfellow (Puck) “Why is it that you people think that anything that doesn’t conform to your world-view is evil?” Pic: Lusete

Lucy, above working on the Make-up for George (James Abbott), also did the prosthetics for Redvers G. Russell to turn him into the mischievious Puck.

Joy Tinniswood as ‘Cerridwen’ “That’s enough. Leave him be!” Pic: Lusete

Joanne Marriott as the Morrighan Pic: Lusete

Joy Tinniswood looked almost elven dressed for her unique portrayal of Cerridwen and Jo Marriott was beautifully intimidating dressed in her armour to play The Morrighan.

Filming took all night, with constant supplies of coffee and a welcome warm meal at about 2 a.m. Everyone was tired but in good spirits. The camaraderie between members of the cast and crew was high and it was a pleasure to feel a part of the team.

Around the Camp-Fire

Most of the filming that night took place in a Grove of trees where the scene was set for the Primary human characters to meet up on the 31st October.

The troubled humans around the fire Pic: Lusete

The talented young actors who played the primary Human characters were Emma Doubleday as ‘Esther’, Ella Sowton as ‘Annie’ and James Abbott as ‘George’ and they played very real and believable parts, drawing us all into the story. The magic of a woodland fire, and the fantastic lighting gave us observers the feeling that for a while we had stepped into an otherworldly realm where the Celtic Gods and Fae walked and that something unseen but magical was happening.

As dawn started to break the last of the filming for that night took place. After the final cut at 8.30 am, a lovely warm breakfast of porridge was served (including the hidden ingredients of muscavado sugar and double cream!), after which many of us went off to our tents for a couple of hours sleep, before people started arriving for an afternoon of filming.

After four hours sleep we crawled out of our tents, and went to join the many people who had arrived to take part in the afternoon shoot. The heavens had opened and everyone was drenched, but were drinking coffee, eating pastries and still smiling. This was the final shoot of the movie and it was huge.

The scene was set for the story to Damh’s song Morrighan, with the dead of war singing in the woodland, and lots of battle scenes for a montage during the song. With over 40 extras, re-enactors and stunt performers you couldn’t move for people in uniforms. Filming was due to start at 12.00 pm, but due to the rain it was delayed an hour. So at 1.00 pm the weather had cleared a little and the filming started. Jo Marriott looked glorious in her Raven Feather Cloak and battle armour as The Morrighan, and it was a haunting experience to see people re-enacting death scenes from the trenches of the First and Second World Wars – amongst other conflicts.

The Morrighan still taking the souls away from Battle I am the Phantom Queen, and everything you’ve been…” Pic: Lusete

Death through the years “All the bullets, swords and guns…” Pic: Lusete

Many battle scenes through the ages were filmed that afternoon, and after the Final Wrap for the whole Movie was announced at 16:45, there was a strong mixture of joy and sadness because the filming had finished. Many people had worked closely with old friends, had made new ones throughout the year, and, unsurprisingly, love had even bloomed among the make-up, wardrobe and cameras. Now that the actors’ and supporting crews’ roles were over, it was time for the post-production team to at last put the movie together.

The exciting bit right now is that Joy Andrews/Tinniswood and the post-production team at Egotrip Media Ltd. have worked really hard, and they tell us the film will be ready for its’ Release Date of May 1st 2012.

We hope to be bringing you Special Episodes that will include interviews and excerpts with the cast and crew over the next few weeks to help you share in this unique experience that we were lucky enough to enjoy.

We would like to thank Gary, Joy and the cast and crew of the Spirit of Albion movie for welcoming us with open arms and allowing us to be included in this very special and magical journey.

Pic: Spirit of Albion

We will be attending the Crawley Premiere and hope to see some of you there!!!

The DVD is now available for PRE ORDER from The Spirit of Albion: The Movie shop as well as
Calenders, T-shirts, Hats, Bags, Cups and posters. Why not preorder the DVD and some merchandise for a novel birthday gift?

At the time of writing there were still Premiere tickets left. The Movie will be shown at The Hawth, Theater, Crawley, Sussex, UK and should be ordered by calling 01293 553636. Tickets are £15. The event will take place on Monday 30th April, where you’ll be able to meet with the cast and crew. You should arrive from 7:00pm (bar open), the Doors will open at 7:30pm and after a Live Concert by Damh the Bard at 7:45pm, the Film will start at 8:30pm. After the film, there will be a chance to mingle/buy DVDs (!)/have a drink and so on. The bar closes at 11pm.

There will also be another Premiere Screening taking place in the North of England to coincide with the main Premiere for those who are too far away to make the Crawley Premiere. This will take place on the same day and approximately the same time, Monday 30th April, at the Mitchell and Kenyon cinema at the University of Central Lancashire. Unfortunately, we will not have Damh performing, nor the cast and crew (unless we can persuade some to come north) but we will have refreshments and a chance to mingle and chat! The cinema seats 150 so I expect they will fill up quickly. Tickets are expected to be £6. Please email Linda if you’re interested on: lsever@uclan.ac.uk

———————————

You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Description Page.
You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. You can find it on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Wizzard-Media-Celtic-Myth-Podshow/dp/B004W8QR58 or by using the QR code opposite.
If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

The CMP Logo

In this show, released on St. Patrick’s Day, we follow the birth of the young Spring Maiden with some fascinating information about the Irish Saint Brigit and the Goddess Bride, as well as a beautiful section from The Druid Isle by Ellen Evert Hopman which is a follow-on from The Priestess of the Forest excerpt we read in SP06, a great piece of poetry accompanied by the wonderful harp of the much-loved Scott Hoye, and another 5 superb pieces of music.

You can hear the inspiring Damh the Bard, the high-energy Spiral Dance, the evocative and traditional Jennifer Cutting’s Ocean Orchestra and lastly, the atavistic Amergin by the MIGHTY Dolmen!! Is this all going to fit into one show? Only time will tell!

Hope you enjoy it,

Gary & Ruthie x x x

How to Listen

The Episode is available for subscribers on the feed, or you can download it or listen to it from our Episodes page. You can find the Shownotes for this episode in the Shownotes section.

If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

Hope you enjoy it,

Gary & Ruthie x x x

———————————

You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Description Page.
You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. You can find it on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Wizzard-Media-Celtic-Myth-Podshow/dp/B004W8QR58 or by using the QR code opposite.
If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

The exposed “causeway” must be watered constantly in order to preserve it Pic: BBC News

Jason Palmer- Science and technology Reporter for  BBC NEWS  tells us: Renowned Bronze Age archaeological site Flag Fen in Cambridgeshire will host a first-of-its-kind dig that makes the public integral to the project.

The idea combines both “crowdfunding” and “crowdsourcing”; for contributions starting at £125, donors can get their hands very dirty and dig for a day.

The venture’s website will also stream live video from the dig as well as host lectures and interviews with experts.

The aim is to fully explore the site before it dries out and is destroyed.

Flag Fen was discovered in 1982 by archaeologist Francis Pryor, who uncovered part of a one mile (1.6km) causeway across the Fenland marshes in
Cambridgeshire.

The site lies largely underground, preserved for 3,000 years beneath a layer of peat that keeps artefacts from decaying.

An exposed part of the site, called the preservation hall, shows some of the thousands of timbers that make up the site poking up through the ground, and
these are regularly watered to stave off decay.

“It’s the only place in Europe where you can see this kind of archaeology exposed,”

said Lisa Westcott Wilkins, managing director of Digventures, the firm behind the new project.

Beneath, the peat will have preserved not just the wood artefacts such as  leather and other organic material, which at other Bronze Age sites will have
long since been consumed.

“The reason Flag Fen doesn’t have the sort of public profile of Stonehenge is  that there aren’t all these huge stones everywhere people can see – the entire site rests on top of very sensitive archaeology,”

she told BBC News.

But the water that has kept Flag Fen preserved until now is seeping away, due in part to climate change but largely to active drainage and the sprawl of neighbouring Peterborough, which nearly reaches the borders of the site.

Pic: BBC News

So the team at Digventures chose Flag Fen as its flagship site to try a new kind of archaeology, against a difficult global economic climate.

To read more about this fascinating project visit the BBC News report

———————————

You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Description Page.
You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. You can find it on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Wizzard-Media-Celtic-Myth-Podshow/dp/B004W8QR58 or by using the QR code opposite.
If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

We found a short film by Mairéid Sullivan about the importance of the Hill of Tara on You Tube. She writes:

Over the past decade there has been considerable controversy regarding construction of the M3 Motorway through the Tara Valley, especially in light of the discoveries at Roestown and more recently Lismullin. While those finds are extremely significant, they pale in comparison to a more recent discovery at Tara.

This short film by the award winning documentary filmmaker and musician, Mairéid Sullivan, shows that the complexity and importance of The Hill of Tara goes well beyond what we’ve known about the site for the past few millennia.

Support the Anam Cara for Tara Arts Action Campaign
[Source]
(Anam Cara means “Soul Friend” in Irish Gaelic) an initiative of the http://GlobalArtsCollective.org

Originally posted 2009-04-12 08:52:28. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Pic: Wiki.

Woo-hoo! The Simpsons are coming. On St Patrick’s Day Homer and Grampa will come home in an episode being broadcast in Ireland ahead of its transmission in the US for the first time in the 20-year history of the show, reports the Irish Times.com. In The Name of the Grandfather sees Homer make Grampa’s dream of a final beer in a pub in the village of Dunkilderry come true.

Homer is prompted into the out-of-character act of kindness for Abe Simpson after forgetting to join him in the father and son three-legged race at Springfield Retirement Castle’s seniors’ sports day.

After a scolding by Marge, Homer takes Grampa across the water to O’Flanagan’s where he claims to have spent the best night of his life. On arrival, however, the village isn’t quite how he remembers it. Continue Reading »

Originally posted 2009-03-01 09:07:12. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Nicol Williamson Pic: Aintitcool

It is with incredible sadness yesterday that we heard that the great Nicol Williamson, multi-talented actor and musician, whose portrayal of Merlin in the genre-breaking Excalibur broke the mould for many of us, had passed away. His Merlin’s wisdom, link to the earth energies and intense, and spark-filled relationship with Helen Mirren as Morgana added a whole new dimension to our perception of the Merlin archetype. As an actor, he has always remained as one of what my family considers, The Classics – those actors whose work is always powerful and innovative.

Every film I’ve seen him in, from Robin and Marian (as Little John), his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in the 7% Solution to Father Morning in Exorcist III. I’m still looking forward to finding Wind in the Willows with him portraying Badger and his role as Cagliostro in Spawn (1997) has been memorable. We are thinking of his family in this hour of their grief and of Luke, in particular, who maintained his father’s website and has told us of Nicol’s sad passing and hidden fight with Cancer. Having fought some of that fight myself, I feel particularly empathy for him in his struggles.

Nicol now walks with his ancestors and we pray for his peace, but mostly for the peace and love that those who are left behind sadly need. Our love and admiration goes with him.

His Son, Luke’s, Statement

It’s with great sadness, and yet with a heart full of pride and love for a man who was a tremendous father, friend, actor, poet, writer and singer, that I must bring news of Nicol’s passing. Dad died peacefully in the early hours of the 16th of December after a two year all out, balls to the wall struggle against esophageal cancer. He gave it all he had: never gave up, never complained, maintained his wicked sense of humor to the end. His last words were ‘I love you’. I was with him, he was not alone, he was not in pain.

He leaves behind him an immense body of work: movies, stage performances, music, book narration, poetry and prose. When you saw “Jack, A Night On The Town With John Barrymore” you realised as he sang Nessun Dorma that this man could have been anything, done anything, and been one of the best. The mould is broken, we will never see his like again in the world.

He was the most honest, funny and intelligent man I have ever had the pleasure of knowing; he was my father and words cannot adequately express how proud I am of him. Before he died Nicol was able to finish the CD he had been working on, albeit slightly shorter than it might have been. In the coming month i hope to have it up here on his website.

If anyone would like to express their love or appreciation of Nicol, I would ask them to make a donation in his name -however small- to a charity for children suffering from cancer or other life threatening illnesses.

Nicol was a very private man, he didn’t want people to know that he was ill, he was hoping very much to come out the other side of his battle with “Seamus the Squamous” and bring some awareness to the plight of children suffering from the horrors of cancer in all its various forms.

Dad will live in the memory of all those who knew him, all those who were affected by a performance of his they saw, and all those he made laugh until they couldn’t breathe.

Read about his life and work on his website at nicolwilliamson.com and, if you can, make that donation to such a worthy cause.

———————————

You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Description Page.
You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. You can find it on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Wizzard-Media-Celtic-Myth-Podshow/dp/B004W8QR58 or by using the QR code opposite.
If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.