Stonehenge Pic: Stonehenge News

There has been some controversy over the route of the Olympic Flame as  it wends its way during July 2012 to the Olympic Games which are currently being held in the UK. This is Bath reports that:Olympic torch relay organisers have reassured tourism bosses that the Olympic flame will visit the iconic backdrop of Stonehenge, after it was left off the official relay route through the West.

Instead of forming part of the public route through Wiltshire in July, the Olympic flame will be taken at dawn to the stones for a closed photo opportunity the morning after its overnight stop in nearby Salisbury.

The decision does mean, however, the public will not be able to descend on Stonehenge to see the once-in-a-lifetime moment it is carried around the Neolithic monument.

English Heritage, which manages the stones, and Olympic Torch Relay bosses confirmed the early morning visit after publishing a route which did not include Stonehenge or Avebury.

Western Daily Press reader Margaret Scott said:

Obviously Stonehenge is one of the major tourist attractions in Britain and it just seemed ridiculous if the torch relay is going to Amesbury but not going a mile to the west to be run around Stonehenge. They surely are not missing it out?

A spokesman for English Heritage said that they had been informed by the Olympic organisers that the torch would be driven to Stonehenge and back again early on July 12, before it is scheduled to leave Salisbury Cathedral, for a photocall.

Read the full story on the This is Bath website.

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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.

Do you fancy playing an online game as an ancient celt in the worldof the Mabinogion? Nexus are developing a computer game called ”Mabinogi” in which you can play online with thousands of other people also trying to survive and better themselves. These types of games are known as MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-playing Game), the most famous probably being World of Warcraft. The English closed beta of this game has been started and so we can only wait to start hearing the news of its success or failure. It is an anime style game, with a version scheduled for release on the XBox.

I”m not a computer gamer, but my son informs me that this is a very exciting release and enables its players to accomplish some ”pretty neat” things – such as aging. I notice that players can create their own music and their online personas can play it – virtual bards, I guess.

In-game characters age over the course of weeks, and can engage in numerous activities besides the hack and slash of gameplay. Alternate games include actual music composition, cooking, farming, and working with a spouse to maintain a household.

says www.massively.com. A slightly worrying aspect to the imminent launch of this game is that it already appears to have been hacked – see here.

I would appreciate if any of our members who do have experience of this type of modernmedia as well as being fans of Celtic Myth would comment in the Modern Survivals section of our forums.

To me, it is good to see Celtic Myth still being re-told but how far away fro the core can we take the symbols and stories without losing its unique identity? I don”t know.

Originally posted 2008-01-30 20:53:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The Olympic Torch Pic: Meath Chronicle

The Meath Chronicle reports that a call for the Olympic torch to stop in Meath on its visit to Ireland has been made by Meath County Council and the Kells and District Tourism Forum.The Kells forum is to make a bid to have the Olympic Torch visit Teltown, outside Kells, on its way from Newry to Dublin in advance of the London Games in 2012.

Teltown is the home of the ancient Tailteann Games, which date back over 4,000 years to 1829BC, and pre-date the ancient Greek Olympic Games.

The possibility of having the Olympic torch stopping in Meath was also raised by Cllr Noel Leonard at a special pre-budget meeting of Meath County Council this week.

Cllr Leonard asked the county manager to contact Pat Hickey of the Olympic Council of Ireland “as soon as possible” with a view to getting the torch to stop at a location in Meath. He said the famous Tailteann Games in Meath pre-dated the Olympic Games by 1,800 years and a stopover by the torch-bearers would showcase Meath to millions of TV viewers throughout the world.

According to Kells Tourism Forum secretary, Lucy O’Reilly, the hill of Tailtiu (modern Teltown) is one of the most important ritual landscapes in Ireland, for it was here that the celebrated Aonach Tailteann, the Lughnasa Festival, was first held.

The Games and the Festival of Lughnasa were initiated by Lugh of the Long Arm in memory of his foster mother, Tailtiu.

We know that Greek traders featured at the Tailteann Games, and that the Tailteann Games predated the ancient Olympic Games by about 500 years. Ptolemy charted the course of the Boyne River in the second century BC – showing the familiarity that the Greeks and other travelers had with the area at that time.

There are clear similarities between the ancient Greek Olympics and the Tailteann Games – and we would even suggest that, in the ancient world, games such as the Greek Olympics originated here in this area in Ireland.

Ms O’Reilly said it was brilliant that the Olympic Council of Ireland had fought for the torch to come to Ireland.

We suggest that it would be entirely appropriate for the torch to visit the site of the ancient Games at Tailteann on its way from Newry to Dublin. It would be a marriage of legends – the torch coming back to its possible ancestral home before moving on to London.

Read more at the Meath Chronicle.

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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.

Pic: Adventure Gamers

For those of you with a bent for computer games, you will have no doubt heard us talking about the new adventure game set in Wales and based firmly in Celtic Mythology, Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches, and created by the Welsh design team, Arberth Studios. Adventure Gamers have been fortunate enough to secure an interview with one of the three team members responsible for the design of the game, Noel Bruton.

Ruthie bought and played this game and got stuck in what appeared to be a game glitch; sadly after many hours of play she gave up. I would imagine by now that they have fixed or patched the game to prevent this happening.

In the interview, Adventure Gamers say: Continue Reading »

Originally posted 2009-06-17 08:02:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Pic: Inc. Gamers

We’ve reported on the development of this game from Nexon before but were unfortunately not able to test it as they had no European servers open. Now that is all about to change. Nexon has announced that the open beta test for its upcoming MMO Mabinogi will go live on 27 January. This beta test for the free to play fantasy MMO, which is based on Welsh and Celtic mythology, will allow hard-core fans as well as new users to try out many of the game’s features such as battles, quests and skill allocation. You can see a trailer for the game over on IGTV.  For more information about this title, check out the official site.

Mabinogi is a revolutionary 3D cartoon-rendered MMORPG, offering gamers a true-to-life, yet fantastic experience through animation-like graphics, a fantasy-life supported by self-sufficiency and dynamic combat. Players will sing, cook, make clothes, chop trees, and fight against the curses that have been plaguing Mabinogi’s fantasy world “Erinn”. The beautiful scenery of “Erinn” is not only a breathtaking view to admire, but offers vital foundation and materials for prosperous and exciting life at Mabinogi.

Mabinogi’s game content updates take place on a frequent, regular basis. Currently, there are two major “Generation Updates” in Mabinogi, each of which is organized by seasons. Players can look forward to a huge amount of new contents and systems that will make their lives at Mabinogi more vigorous and challenging with each update.

Free to play, Free to Download

The Fantasy Life of Mabinogi is free of cost!
Players can take advantage of the Rebirth System to upgrade their characters, and visit our soon-to-come Premium Shops and Item Shops to further develop their characters depending on their liking and game-play method.

You can read more, download the client and start playing from the Mabinogi site at Nexon!

Pic: Travian

After yesterday’s post about the new RPG add-on, Scion, it’s quite a coincidence to discover another game with a strong Celtic connection. This one, called Travian, is played entirely within your browser and allows you to take charge of a Vilage. You can play as either Roman, Gaul or Teuton and as you expand you’ll discover that the world is full of other villages run by other players all over the world. Obviously, lovers of the Celts will play the Gauls but this game allows you to exerience growth, trade and expansion in lots of different ways. I haven’t had a go at it yet, but it does look like fun – sort of a small, browser-based Age of Empires perhaps?

The Romans

The Roman empire is the easiest for newcomers to Travian. Because of their significant social and technological developments, the Romans are the masters of building coordination, and their troops are the Travian elite. Continue Reading »

Originally posted 2009-02-28 09:50:06. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The RPG Vault have managed to secure an interview with the designers of the Mabinogi Online Role-playing Game. Mabinogi is Nexon’s popular massively multiplayer title based on a world and themes derived from medieval Celtic mythology. Mabinogi is a cell shaded 3D MMO based on an Asian interpretation of Celtic and Welsh mythology. On the surface, the art quite often appears to be pretty or cute, but below it, there are some truly horrendous evils the player must face. The main influence would be an anime style trying to convey a medieval setting, while hiding a dark, concealed world.

Continue Reading »

Originally posted 2008-05-02 16:06:37. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

This exciting and dynamic world has brought The Faery Crossing to life. Now you can walk within the Crossing, visit the Light Side of Faery, choose the Dark Path, or explore the Middle Road of Faery…. the path to Elfland. There are villagers who dwell in the hobbit homes in the Hollow Hills, trooping fae who live in gypsy tents and caravans, and wood sprites living in the trees. Continue Reading »

Pic: Adventure Gamers

Do you remember the computer game company Sierra making such great adventure games some years ago? Well, Adventure Gamers have a superb review of the game about this MIDI soundtrack game with EGA graphics. Andrea Morstabilini says: Although there is no voice acting in Camelot, each location features a unique MIDI theme that manages to create a strong particular mood, from the courtly main theme to the gloomy sounds of the forest to the middle eastern score in the desert

surrounding Gaza and later in Jerusalem. The soundtrack, orchestrated by Mark Seibert, always manages to be fitting. There is also one particular theme – bright and yet melancholic, in the fashion of goliardic music – that I found very addictive. Maybe that’s because I heard it a lot, as that’s the one which plays when King Arthur fails one of his perilous tasks and sheds his mortal coil. Continue Reading »

Pic: Snapzilla

Second Life is a free online virtual world imagined and created by its Residents. From the moment you enter Second Life, you’ll discover a fast-growing digital world filled with people, entertainment, experiences and opportunity. Imagine my surprise when I discovered the Independent State of Caledon whose Library, the Library Militant, is running a whole series of lectures on folklore, including Celtic Mythology!

Independent State of Caledon

Caledon is a small, windswept forested country at a temperate latitude. Wild creatures, country estate life, sights and sounds that were common well over 100 years ago are the hallmark of the land.

Technology is approximately that of the 19th Century, though some astonishing breakthroughs have provided for incredible wonders. Ground vehicles, airships, and even a device known as a ‘telehub’ are made possible through the power of exotic material properties and the wonders of Steam Technology.

The government is an expansionist monarchy, supported by a strong aristocracy (i.e., residents). Caledon once offered the opportunity for residents to take their turn at “Stewardship”, a post which can involve answering questions, restarting sims, banning obvious griefers &c. As the complexity of a large estate grew, the burden on one Steward’s shoulders became too great, and the role is now filled by a corps of about 10 estate managers appointed by the Guvnah–some serving openly, some quietly.

The Caledon Library & The Library Militant

The Caledon Library serves the Independent State of Caledon. We maintain a collection of materials for the use of residents and other interested parties. We also host exhibits, book talks, lectures, and the occasional donnybrook.

The collecting policies of the Caledon Library have two main foci: the 19th century and Caledon’s defining literary genres, Steampunk and Alternate History. Within these areas, we collect, first of all, primary source material: 19th-century novels, nonfiction works, and periodicals, along with materials from earlier eras considered important in the 19th century; and of course defining works in Steampunk and its parent genres. Second, we collect  research materials concerning the world of the 19th century and its imagination, and secondary materials useful for studying Caledon’s important genres.

This site draws its name from the Chivalric Order of the Duchy of Caledon Primverness.  The order was founded by the Duchess of Primverness, who is also the head of The House of Wu, the Library’s main source of support.  Members of the Order take vows of Literacy, Obstinacy, and Bibliomancy.*  

The Independent State of Caledon is located in the virtual world of Second Life.

Folklore Lectures

New Series at the Caledon Library!
Folklore of the British Isles with Afsaneh Metaluna
3rd Mondays, 4pm

Inaugural lecture, Mon, April 20, 4pm – 5pm
Tinyville Library, Tinyville, Caledon Tanglewood
 http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Tanglewood/23/214/23/

Folklorist Afsenah Metaluna will guide us in a new exploration each month; with illustrative stories and her own commentary she’ll expose to our understanding some facet of the rich and varied folklore of the British Isles. In the Storyteller’s Own Words…

“Rather than a repository of Märchen (wonder tales more or less of the “Grimm’s” variety) much of the folklore of England is comprised of local legends that combine references to beliefs and customs and aspects of daily life, particularly rural life. This is contrasted with English ballads and broadsides, which have a strong tradition of their own, as well as the folklore around customs, dance and belief. The wonder tales exist too, though more in the Celtic regions.”

This month and next, to get us started, she will tell and comment on short tales from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. 

English Lore
The Apple Tree Man – a legend that deals with customs as well as systems of land tenure and inheritance, this story is kind of a microcosm of the strength of English narrative lore. 

Welsh Lore  
Later in the series, we will have a session entirely devoted to the relationship between Welsh traditions (including the somewhat heroically invented or compiled Mabinogion,  analogous to, though less well known than, the Finnish Kalevala) and the stories of King Arthur and the wizard Merlin. To start this topic off,  this time we will hear “The Cave of the Knights.”

Irish Lore
To explore this tradition means to follow the threads in a perfect Celtic knot of history, myth and folklore and Christianity and Celtic belief.  One place to begin is to  situate this is relation to stories of The Children of Lir. As our series continues, Afsaneh will put The Golden Fly (which her fans heard recently at the West of Ireland Library) in context for us as a forerunner to the the story cycle of Conary Mor. 

Scottish Lore
A Selkie story, of the kind we will encounter in future discussions. This time, Afsaneh will explain why she sees this tradition as exemplary of Scottish lore, with its ties to the environment, and its status as a cautionary tales where actions in one realm are mirrored in another.

This Month’s lecture will be presented using SL voice.