Roots of the Past 🎶🧙‍♂️🌳🌿

Dive into the fifth episode of Roots of the Past, where bard Dilwyn tackles the labyrinthine story of the Druids by digging through both written myths and the silent evidence of the landscape. What begins as a search for ancient sources quickly transforms into a true detective story, exposing how generations—from Greek poets to Roman generals—reimagined Druidic tradition at every retelling.This episode peels back the layers of hearsay and invention, journeying from the foggy accounts of Caesar and Tacitus to the latest archaeological discoveries in places like Anglesey and Colchester. Listeners will explore enigmatic sacred groves, mysterious burial mounds, and shimmering hoards of broken torcs, discovering how ritual and memory were inscribed into the land when texts failed. Alongside the story of legendary sites like Bryn Celli Ddu and the so-called Druid of Colchester—where grave goods hint at priestly or magical roles—Dilwyn brings to light how hard evidence and folklore intersect, sometimes confirming, other times challenging, the stories handed down by conquerors and revivalists alike.The result is a gripping, candid look at cultural survival and reinvention: how memory, ritual, and resilience kept Celtic traditions alive even after Rome’s conquest, and how the truth about the Druids is both harder to find and far more fascinating than any romantic legend. This episode invites audiences to reconsider not just what we know about the Druids, but how history itself gets rewritten—sometimes buried in books, sometimes hidden beneath our feet.

In this deeply personal and evocative episode of 'Roots Of The Past', Dilwyn the Bard commemorates eight years since the passing of his mentor, Fenra, with a moving pilgrimage to Fenra’s Oak near Little Bol*ock. Interwoven with wit, original music, and honest reflection, Dilwyn unpacks the profound legacy of Fenra—a high-ranking Druid, healer, and teacher whose influence stretches far beyond his years, anchoring modern seekers to the ancient Welsh-Irish tradition.Listeners are invited on a journey threaded with nostalgia as Dilwyn wrestles with grief, unfinished bardic training, and lessons that, heartbreakingly, went untaught. The oak itself—planted with Fenra’s ashes and descended from the fabled Merlin’s line in Carmarthen—stands as a living symbol of memory, continuity, and the ever-renewing cycles of nature. Through stories of ritual, myth, and the unseen connections binding roots and people alike, Dilwyn finds wisdom, gentleness, and gentle acceptance in the rhythms of the land and the ties that endure across generations.Amidst the countryside of Derbyshire, you’ll encounter wild flora, the ancient mystique of the oak, and the lightness of spirit that brings solace even in loss. Dilwyn also shares the madcap joys and challenges of teaching (complete with a saga of chocolate-fuelled chaos and an original song for class 9SDE), and salutes everyday heroics, including a mate’s ultramarathon tenacity.Blending heartfelt storytelling, folklore, poetry, and humour, this episode draws you into a sacred grove where history lives on in the soil, laughter mingles with sorrow, and every listener is gently reminded that our roots—and the marks we leave—carry forward into the world.Join Dilwyn beneath Fenra’s Oak for comfort, inspiration, and the resilience to weather your own storms, as the echoes of the past continue to guide us all.

In the third episode of Roots of the Past, Dilwyn the Bard welcomes the enigmatic Lady Absynthia Carnage for a captivating, free-flowing conversation about how we can truly understand the ancient places that surround us. Together, they invite listeners to step beyond the surface of familiar landscapes and consider what it means to walk in the footsteps of those who came before.Dilwyn and Absynthia explore both practical and imaginative ways to connect with older sites. They discuss the value of slowing down and noticing subtle features in the land—old boundaries, standing stones, and forgotten pathways that hint at stories from long ago. Absynthia shares her approach to researching local myths, archaeological records, and oral histories to piece together the layered past of a place. Both hosts reflect on the power of physically walking ancient routes, suggesting that moving through these spaces can evoke a sense of connection and insight unavailable from books alone.The episode is peppered with humorous bits and spontaneous, laugh-out-loud moments. Dilwyn and Absynthia’s banter is lively and full of wit. As the discussion deepens, they reflect on what we can learn by engaging with ancient sites and cultures. This episode weaves together folklore, personal anecdotes, and thoughtful discussion. Listeners are encouraged to approach familiar places with fresh eyes, ask questions about the origins and meanings of local landmarks, and embrace the mystery and ambiguity that come with exploring the distant past. Whether you’re a history buff, a lover of myth, or simply curious about the world beneath your feet, this episode offers inspiration to seek deeper connections with the places you inhabit—and to enjoy the laughter and surprises along the way. But, also, to exercise caution when infusing absinthe with Christmas pudding...

In this episode of Roots of the Past, Dilwyn the Bard takes listeners on a journey through the curious crossroads where ancient tradition meets modern life, all while marking the 40th anniversary of Live Aid. He reflects on how that legendary concert was far more than just a musical milestone—it sparked a new era of global charity, celebrity activism, and the belief that music can genuinely drive social and political change.The episode then delves into Dilwyn’s own story as an apprentice to Fenra, a mentor who claimed to belong to an unbroken Druidic lineage stretching back to the Iron Age. Blending memoir, humour, and original music, Dilwyn recounts his double life: university student by day, student of ancient oral tradition by weekend. He shares the scepticism, secrecy, and surreal moments that come with investigating claims that challenge the official historical narrative.Listeners are treated to tales of chance encounters in Derbyshire pubs, invisible energy balls, and rituals that blur the line between myth and reality. Dilwyn explores the difference between modern Druid revivalism and alleged unbroken traditions, questioning what’s real, what’s possible, and how the past might survive in hidden places. He also reflects on the challenges of studying oral tradition in the digital age, and the personal growth that comes from asking awkward questions.With wit and warmth, this episode invites you to explore the space between myth and memory, fact and folklore. Whether you’re here for the history, the humour, or the music, you’ll find yourself questioning what you thought you knew—and perhaps keeping your tea a little closer, just in case.

In the debut episode of Roots of the Past, host Dilwyn Mac Amhraín (a.k.a. Dilwyn_The_Bard) pulls back the curtain on his unlikely journey from Derbyshire journalism student to apprentice of a secretive Welsh-Irish Druidic tradition that claims to predate the 1700s Druid Revival. With wit and humility, Dilwyn recounts his first meeting with Fenra—a man who seemed equal parts Gandalf and Tesco regular—and the jaw-dropping moment that shattered his scepticism: witnessing a mysterious “energy ball” that defied everything he thought he knew about reality.
This episode is part origin story, part investigation, and part musical experiment. Dilwyn shares how his years of training with Fenra introduced him to an unbroken oral lineage of Druidic wisdom, far removed from modern Neo-Druidry. Listeners get a taste of the tradition’s secrecy, the twenty-year path to becoming a Druid, and the blend of ancient ritual with modern life—including original AI-generated music that channels the spirit of the bards (and occasionally confuses the ancestors).
With humour, journal readings, and a few self-deprecating jokes about mystical beards, Dilwyn invites listeners to question what’s real, what’s possible, and how forgotten traditions might still shape us today. Whether you’re a sceptic, a seeker, or just here for the bard-core tunes, this first episode sets the tone for a podcast where the old ways aren’t just remembered—they’re still alive, hiding in plain sight (sometimes behind a Tesco Express)