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BERNARD DUNNE’S MYTHICAL HEROES ***NEW SERIES***

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BERNARD DUNNE’S MYTHICAL HEROES

  1. SERIES SYNOPSIS 

Our history is filled with wondrous tales of mystical characters, heroic deeds and great battles.

The tales of Cúchulainn, Fionn MacCumhaill, Tír na nÓg and the Children of Lir have been passed from generation to generation and in this 6 x 20’ series, former World Boxing Champion, Bernard Dunne brings these stories to life for this generation of children.

Each episode features one story as Bernard takes on the role of storyteller, using a combination of documentary footage, live action reconstructions and stunning animation to re-create these compelling and dramatic tales.

Episodes 1 & 2 tell the story of the boy Setanta who grows to become Cúchulainn, the greatest Irish hero of Celtic lore. Episode 3 tells the story of the Children of Lir while Episode 4 introduces the young audience to the story of the celtic god, Lugh. The final two episodes focus on Fionn Mac Cumhaill who became the leader of the Fianna and his son Oisín who famously travelled for love to the land of eternal youth.

In a world where children are captivated by superheroes of all shapes, sizes and skills – this series shows our audience how Irish superheroes were an original of their kind.

 

  1. SERIES ONE-LINE DESCRIPTION

Former World Boxing Champion, Bernard Dunne, turns storyteller as he brings some of the greatest Irish Mythical heroes’ stories to life through documentary, drama reconstruction and animation in a six part series.

 

BERNARD DUNNE’S MYTHICAL HEROES – EPISODE BREAKDOWN

Episode 1: ‘A Boy Called Setanta’

Billing

Setanta was destined for greatness from birth and this episode begins with his magical birth and recounts his formative years until he joins the famous Red Branch Knights as a precocious child.

Description:

In the first episode, former World Boxing Champion Bernard Dunne tells the story of the boy Setanta who would grow to become an iconic figure in Irish Celtic history.

His father was the celtic god, Lugh, and his mother was Deichtine, sister to the King of Ulster Conor MacNeasa. Setanta’s birth itself was a magical event and it was clear from the beginning that he was a special child.

By the age of 5, he left his home and walked the 50 kms from Dundalk to Armagh so that he could join the famous Red Branch Knights – taking his first steps to becoming one of the greatest warriors in Irish history.

 

Episode 2: ‘The Hound of Culann’    

Billing:

Episode 2 tells the story of how Cúchulainn got his name and how he became a great warrior and member of the Red Branch Knights while still a teenager.

Description:

Having joined the Red Branch Knights as a child, Setanta soon proves himself a leader among the boy troop.

 

When he is invited to join his Uncle, King Conor Mac Neasa at a feast in the home of Culann the blacksmith, he faces a life or death moment when confronted by Culann’s ferocious hound. He kills the hound with his sliothar and from this moment on he is known as Cúchulainn.

 

It is clear that the teenage Cúchulainn will become a great warrior but he is eager to prove himself in battle. One day, he hears of a legend that any man who takes up arms that day will gain eternal fame but the price they will pay will be a short-lived life and Cúchulainn sees this as his moment of destiny.

Episode 3: ‘The Children of Lir’

Billing:

Episode 3 tells the tale of the Children of Lir, how the children are turned into swans by a jealous stepmother and how the spell is finally broken 900 years later.

Description:

The Tuatha Dé Danann was an ancient tribe of Ireland who moved between the ‘Otherworld’ and the human realm.

Lir was one of their leaders and he and his wife Aoibh had four beautiful children. Their happiness was shattered by young Aoibh’s passing to the Otherworld. When Lir then married her sister Aoife, it seemed as though the family might regain some of that contentment but it was not to be.

In a fit of jealousy, Aoife cast a magical spell on the children and turned them into swans and they were forced to spend 900 years in this form until their torment was finally ended when they received the blessing of a monk and rejoined their parents in the afterlife.

Episode 4: ‘Lugh of the Long Arm’  

Billing:

Episode 4 tells the story of the god Lugh, who returns from exile to lead the Tuatha dé Danann in battle against their great enemies, the Formorians.

Description:

Lugh’s mother Ethniu was a Formorian princess while his father Cian was a warrior of the Tuatha Dé Danann. The two tribes were great enemies and so when Lugh was born, his life was in great jeopardy.

His grandfather, known as Balor the one-eyed warrior giant, was one of the most feared Formorians. There was a prophecy that Balor could only be killed by his own grandson and so when Lugh was born, Balor tried to kill him. The boy survived and was reared by Manannan, the celtic god of the sea.

When the time came for Lugh to fulfil the prophecy, he returned to his people to lead them against Balor in what was known as The Second Battle of Mag Tuireadh

Episode 5: ‘Fionn Mac Cumhaill’

Billing:

Fionn MacCumhaill is one of the most famous Celtic legends and in this episode, Bernard tells the story of how Fionn tasted the Salmon of Knowledge and became leader of the Fianna.

Description:

There are many stories of the deeds of Fionn and the Fianna but this episode begins with the dramatic events around his birth.

He was born when his father, Cumhaill and his mother Muirne, were on the run. Cumhaill had been leader of the Fianna but when he eloped with Muirne, he became a fugitive and when the Fianna caught up with them, he was killed at the hands of his former friend Goll MacMorna.

To keep Fionn safe, Muirne entrusted his upbringing and training to Liath Luachra, a warrior woman. When Fionn came of age, he was sent to study with the druid, Finnegas and it was during his time with Finnegas that he placed his thumb in the Salmon of Knowledge. This unique power changed everything for Fionn and he was able to use it to return to Tara and claim his father’s position as leader of the Fianna.

Episode 6: ‘Oisín & Niamh’    

Billing:

In the final episode of this series, Oisín, son of Fionn MacCumhaill, is now an old man as he recounts his life and talks about the Ireland he knew before he left for Tír na nÓg.

Description:

This episode begins with Oisín as an old man, recounting the memory of  his family, his life and old Ireland. With Bernard’s help, Oisín tells the story of how his parents met while Fionn was out hunting with his two hounds Bran and Sceolan. They picked up the scent of a magical doe who was in fact, Sadbh, his mother-to-be who had been enchanted by an evil druid. Fionn released Sadbh from the curse long enough for Oisín to be born and Fionn then raised him to be a great warrior and poet in the Fianna tradition.

Old Oisin recounts meeting the beautiful Niamh and travelling to Tir na nOg for what he thought was 3 years but when he returned to Ireland, he discovered that 300 years had passed and so his father, his home and all that he had known had disappeared and a new Christian Ireland had taken it’s place.

 

BERNARD DUNNE’S MYTHICAL HEROES

Short Billing Descriptions 

Former World Boxing Champion, Bernard Dunne, turns storyteller as he brings some of the greatest Irish Mythical heroes’ stories to life through documentary, drama reconstruction and animation in a six part series.

Episode 1: ‘A Boy Called Setanta’

The story of the boy Setanta who would grow to become an iconic figure in Irish Celtic history. From his magical birth, this programme recounts the story of Setanta’s formative years and remarkable strength and skills to the point where – still a child – he joins the famous Red Branch Knights.

Episode 2: ‘Cúchulainn’

The story of how Cúchulainn got his name and how he became a great warrior while still a teenager. Facing a life or death moment when confronted by Culann’s ferocious hound the young Setanta kills the hound with his sliothar. From this moment on he becomes known as Cúchulainn.

Episode 3: ‘The Children of Lir’

The tale of the Children of Lir – how the children are turned into swans by their jealous stepmother and banished to far flung lakes and islands around our coast for 900 years until, finally the spell is broken by the blessing of a monk and the four children rejoin their parents in the afterlife.

Episode 4: ‘Lugh’

The story of the god Lugh, who returns from exile to lead the Tuatha de Danann in battle against their great enemies, the Formorians. Prophecy had foretold that Balor, the one-eyed giant leader of the Formorians could only be killed by his own grandson. Lugh fulfils that prophecy.

Episode 5: ‘Fionn Mac Cumhaill’

Fionn MacCumhaill is one of the most famous Celtic legends. In this episode, Bernard tells the story of how he tasted the Salmon of Knowledge and became leader of the Fianna.

Episode 6: ‘Oisín’

Oisín, son of Fionn MacCumhaill, fell in love with beautiful Niamh and travelled to the magical Tír na nÓg with her. After what he thought was 3 years he returned to Ireland to discover that it had in fact been 300 years – all that he had known had disappeared and a new Christian Ireland had taken its place.