In The Studio: Unleashing The Olagón

In the ancient Irish story The Táin, two brothers are forced by their mother Queen Medhbh to fight each other until the death. After an epic battle that neither of them wants to win, Ferdia is killed, prompting Cuchulainn to unleash a pained, harrowing cry, Olagón.

Irish novelist Colm Tóibín, the author of Brooklyn, meets the artists who have united at Princeton University in the USA to stage a re-telling of this famous Irish folk legend in a production that combines poetry and experimental orchestral music.

In the days leading up to its world premiere, Tóibín meets Paul Muldoon, considered one of the greatest English language poets of his generation; singer Iarla Ó’Lionáird; and the piece’s American composer Dan Trueman.  Muldoon has taken the ancient story of The Táin to explore themes of greed, adultery and envy, set in the context of the collapse of the modern day Irish ‘Celtic Tiger’ economy.

Colm revels in the playful lyrics of Muldoon, who uses the Táin to paint a stark picture of an Ireland of drug-infested ghosts estates, and how Ó’Lionáird, one of Irelands most acclaimed traditional singers, has brought them to life.

For In The Studio, Tóibín will sit down with Muldoon, Ó’Lionáird and Trueman to discuss the themes of a story that has resonated throughout Irish history - and find out what it says about modern Ireland.  Plus how they have brought poetry and music together to tell this epic story and to bring the Olagón to life.

• Produced by Richard McIlroy for BBC World Service

Publicity contact: EM3