Celtic Hero (radio)

“Celtic Hero” is a radio program from the American radio anthology series Radio Tales. The anthology series adapted classic works of American and world literature for the radio. The series was a recipient of numerous awards, including four Gracie Allen Awards from the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television (in 2004, [ [http://www.awrt.org/press-releases/2004/Press_Release_%20Announce_Winners.pdf "AWRT Press Release"] AWRT.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] 2003, [ [http://www.npr.org/about/press/030402.gracie.html "NPR Productions Win Gracie Allen Awards"] NPR.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] 2001, [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20011126020253/www.awrt.org/awards/2000GracieWinners.html "2001 Gracie Allen Award Winners"] AWRT.org, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] and 1998), a New York Festivals WorldMedal, [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20050207122048/http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/res/pdf/2004RPwinners.pdf "2004 Winners, Radio Programming and Promotion, New York Festivals"] NewYorkFestivals.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] and a Golden Reel Merit Award. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20010802161539/www.nfcb.org/2001reelsinfo.html "NFCB Announces 2001 Golden Reel Award Winners"] NFCB.org, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] The “Celtic Hero" program from the Radio Tales series was a dramatic musical program that was based on events from the Tochmarc Emire, or the “Wooing of Emer” story from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. The script was written by Winifred Phillips.

Broadcast History

The Radio Tales production of “Celtic Hero” was first broadcast via NPR on Feb. 29, 2000 [National Public Radio: "NPR Quarterly Edition Winter 2000". NPR Marketing, Jan. - March 2000, Vol. VI, No. I] . The program encompassed two half-hour installments that were distributed to NPR member stations as part of the NPR Playhouse cultural series. Since November 28th, 2002, the entire Radio Tales series has aired in reruns on the Sonic Theater channel (163) of the XM Satellite Radio service [ [http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/features/sonictheater.xmc "Sonic Theater"] XMRadio.com. Accessed May 22, 2008.] . The “Celtic Hero” program debuted on XM Satellite Radio on July 12, 2003.

Production Information

The program was produced and script edited by series producer Winnie Waldron, who also served as the on-air host [ [http://www.winifredphillips.com/wp_bio.html "Winifred Phillips Official Site: Biography"] Winifredphillips.com. Accessed May 19, 2008.] . The series’ composer Winifred Phillips created over fifty-six minutes of music for the program, and also performed as the featured actress [ [http://www.mninter.net/~jstearns/nprPH.html#top "NPR Playhouse - January - March, 2001"] MNinter.net. Accessed March 21, 2008.] . “Celtic Hero” was part of the fifth year of Radio Tales on NPR Playhouse [National Public Radio: "NPR Quarterly Edition Winter 2000". NPR Marketing, Jan. - March 2000, Vol. VI, No. I] .

“Celtic Hero” was part of a miniseries of musical programs in the Radio Tales series inspired by Celtic mythology. Another program in this series was Lord of the Celts (based on the “Fionn and Sadbh” story from the Fenian Cycle). The programs in this miniseries deviated in several ways from the rest of the series: differences included the use of a unique musical theme, and the inclusion of several songs in each program. The songs were written for the programs by the series producer Winnie Waldron and the series composer Winifred Phillips. Vocals are credited to the choral group ‘’Pure Celtica’’, and were performed in a traditional Celtic music style.

ongs

*Tales of the Celts (Main Theme)
*Harp of Dreams
*Doo Da La Day
*Sail to Shore
*Walk with Me

Media

The Radio Tales production of “Celtic Hero” has been available in numerous formats and venues, including burn-on-demand CDs manufactured and distributed by MP3.com [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20031129193548/artists.mp3s.com/artists/33/npr_radio_tales.html "MP3.com: Radio Tales"] MP3.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed July 15, 2008.] and Ampcast.com [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20060212003627/http://www.ampcast.com/music/25229/artist.php "Ampcast.com: Radio Tales"] Ampcast.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed July 15, 2008.] . Beginning in 2005, programs from the series, including the “Celtic Hero” program, have been available for download via the Audioville.co.uk web site [ [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view_productcategory.php?Id=59 "audioVille | Stor>>Fiction | Radio Tales | Download Audio Books, Podcasts and more in MP3. Comedy, Fiction, sport, news, science, drama."] Audioville.co.uk. Accessed May 24, 2008.] .

Opening narration

Plot Summary

The main character of the story, Cúchulainn, has an outstanding birthright – his father is the sun-god Lugh, and his mother is the king’s daughter. Cúchulainn himself grows to be so handsome as a young man that the husbands of the realm grow concerned that their wives and daughters might not be able to resist the young man’s charms. Therefore, a massive hunt is undertaken to find Cúchulainn a bride. But Cúchulainn has already become infatuated with Emer, the daughter of Forgall Monach. Cúchulainn scales the walls and slips into Forgall’s gardens to find Emer playing her enchanted harp and surrounded by her maidens. After a short conversation, Emer decides that Cúchulainn pleases her. Regardless of this, Emer’s magical harp has long ago given her a vision of the three tasks any suitor must accomplish in order to win her hand. These include –
* Striking down nine men with a single sword thrust (killing all but one), and accomplishing this deed three times in a row
* Leaping as high and far as a salmon in the stream
* Carrying in his arms both a woman and her weight in gold and silver.

After Emer lists these requirements, Cúchulainn leaves. Emer’s maidens immediately report all that has occurred to Emer’s father. The lineage of Forgall includes that of the “giants who live below the sea” (see Fomorians), and so Forgall’s wrath at hearing about Cúchulainn’s visit causes his body to swell and steam as he plans his revenge against the unwanted suitor.

The next day, during the festival known as the “gathering at high summer” (see Lughnasadh), Forgall suggests to King Conchobar mac Nessa that Cúchulainn is in need of training and should be sent to the famed ‘Isle of Shadows’ to train with the renowned warrior-woman Scáthach. As Cúchulainn listens, Forgall makes it clear that such training would be a prerequisite of gaining permission to marry his daughter Emer. Hearing this, Cúchulainn agrees to go. He sets sail immediately, coming ashore at Scáthach’s homeland (see Isle of Skye).

Cúchulainn’s journey across the Isle of Shadows is fraught with perils, including:
* Numerous attacks by monsters while traveling through the fabled ‘perilous glen’.
* A close escape from drowning in a sinkhole while traversing a bog. In this case, a mysterious stranger pulls him out and supplies him with a magical wheel that burns hot while rolling and bakes the ground before him until it is hard. This is how Cúchulainn survives the bog. The helpful stranger is later revealed to be Cúchulainn’s father Lugh.
* An enchanted bridge that rears up and throws him off when he tries to cross. Cúchulainn finally makes it to the other side by performing the ‘salmon’s leap’, thus fulfilling the first of Emer’s challenges.

Surviving these dangers, Cúchulainn reaches the abode of the warrior Scáthach, who agrees to teach him after hearing him earnestly express his desire to win his beloved’s hand in marriage. When his training is complete, Cúchulainn returns home. Emer’s father Forgall, however, has no intention of keeping his promise (having sent Cúchulainn away in the hopes that the boy would be killed). With his body swollen into giantish proportions by rage, Forgall sends his warriors to kill Cúchulainn.

Forgall and Emer watch from the balcony of his treasure room as Cúchulainn performs the ‘salmon’s leap’ over the surrounding walls, then strikes three blows against Forgall’s men. Each blow kills eight, but spares one (fulfilling Emer’s second challenge). Seeing these accomplishments, Forgall grows afraid, and shrinks to normal size again. Cúchulainn enters the treasure room, and his approach frightens Forgall into stumbling backwards, which causes him to fall from the balcony to his death. Cúchulainn then lifts Emer in one arm and her weight in gold and silver in the other, fulfilling the last of Emer’s challenges. Cúchulainn and Emer are wed soon after.

References

External Links

* [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view.php?Id=532&ProductCategoryId=59 Celtic Hero page on Audioville.co.uk]
* [http://www.radiotales.com/ The Official Radio Tales® Web Site]
* [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view_productcategory.php?Id=59 Radio Tales® Full Catalog on AudioVille]
* [http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/channelpage.xmc?ch=163 XM Satellite Radio's Sonic Theater Channel]