Unleashing the Olagón

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The ancient Irish legend Táin Bó Cúailnge is a tale of greed, envy and hubris which has been passed down from generation to generation for centuries. At the centre of it is the Olagón - a cry of anguish from deep within. Best selling author Colm Tóibín meets the international artists who have come together for the premier of the retelling of The Táin, and how, through poetry, music and an ancient singing style, they reimagine and retell the story as a commentary on modern day Ireland He meets Pulitzer Prize winning poet Muldoon, Ó’Lionáird, the lead singer of The Gloaming and master of the ancient sean-nós style of singing, who made a cameo in the film version of Tóibín’s novel Brooklyn, and American composer Dan Trueman who has put the rich and varied themes of Olagón to music, along with the four-time GRAMMY award-winning Chicago sextet Eighth Blackbird. As they put the last touches to the piece at Princeton University, Colm explores with the cast the reasons they are retelling this tale. What does this tale of an epic battle and tragic outcome tell us about Ireland now?