W.B. Yeats: At the Hawks Well
From Brendan Moir's Playwright Corner by Brendan Moir
February 21, 2026 · 24 min · Season 3 · Episode 18
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
- George Bernard Shaw: Mrs. Warren's Profession (Act III) · June 13, 2026 · 31 min
- George Bernard Shaw: Mrs. Warren's Profession (Act II) · June 6, 2026 · 42 min
- George Bernard Shaw: Mrs. Warren's Profession (Act I) · May 30, 2026 · 34 min
- W. B. Yeats: The Death of Cuchulainn · May 9, 2026 · 21 min
- W. B. Yeats: The Only Jealousy of Emer · May 2, 2026 · 24 min
- W. B. Yeats: On Baile's Strand, Pt. 2 · April 18, 2026 · 20 min
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