About this episode

The episode explores the myth of Cuchulainn as presented by W.B. Yeats, focusing on themes of eternal life and distraction.

This is the beginning of the Myth of Cuchulainn as set out by W.B. Yeats. There exists a fountain in Scotland that is said to give a person eternal life, but only bubbles up once every few years. However, it is watched over by the Guardian who resembles a Grey Hawk, which in Irish Tradition is a symbol for death. In this play, we witness an old man who has waited to drink from it, but has always been distracted by the stone guardian in one way or another. Will this new man, Cuchulainn, who comes for the same be able to withstand her distractions and be able to share the fountain of life between him and the old man?

People in this episode

Host: Brendan Moir

Topics covered

• Irish mythology
• W.B. Yeats
• Cuchulainn
• eternal life
• theatre
• symbolism
• distraction

Keywords

• W.B. Yeats
• Cuchulainn
• mythology
• eternal life
• Irish tradition
• theatre
• distraction
• Guardian
• Hawks Well

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Myth of Cuchulainn

Places: Scotland, fountain, stone guardian, Hawks Well

More episodes of Brendan Moir's Playwright Corner

• W. B. Yeats: On Baile's Strand, Pt. 2 · April 17, 2026 · 20 min
• W. B. Yeats: On Baile's Strand, Pt. 1 · April 10, 2026 · 24 min
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• Alfred Lord Tennyson: Juvenilia, Pt. 2 · March 20, 2026 · 27 min
• Alfred Lord Tennyson: Juvenilia, Pt. 1 · March 13, 2026 · 36 min
• W.B. Yeats: The Green Helmet · February 27, 2026 · 26 min

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