One of my favorite events on the annual calendar is the Black Gryphon Inn, the signature tavern event of the Canton of Gryphonwald. It’s a small, local gathering that offers an afternoon of relaxed activities, including a brewing competition, a kubb tournament, and some dancing. What makes it even more special is that it hosts The Barony of Settmour Swamp’s Bardic Championship.

This year the event is being hosted by the current bardic champion, the masterful writer and storyteller Brógáin Ó Ríain. Brógáin is known for his deft technical skills in crafting poetic stories in rhyming couplets or iambic pentameter. I had the opportunity to interview him for the return of “Inside the Bardic Circle.”

Spending time with Brógáin reveals his deep passion for storytelling and a genuine curiosity about the passions and interests of others. His keen observations find their way into his stories, making his performances poignant, authentic, and often hilariously entertaining. Last year, his performance of “Nate’s Long Night,” an original work that humorously chronicles the overnight exploits of Nate during the Beggar King’s Tournament of Thieves at Pennsic 49, earned him the title of Champion for Settmour Swamp. His focus on inspiring and encouraging others to show off their bardic prowess is one of his greatest strengths, creating an inclusive and supportive atmosphere within the Bardic Circle.

Here’s a bit more about our current Champion, Brógáin Ó Ríain.

1. What is your favorite word?

They – It is my most resent favorite word. Definitely because it has elicited so much robust conversation around function, usage, meaning, and evolution within the English language. It symbolizes the pronouns of my non-binary partner and is at the heart of some very broad conversations that occur within my life at the moment. I think it has sparked a renewed love for the history of language and its origins within me. The oxford English dictionary at your local library is a great resource for the origin and usage of the words in the language. A perennial favorite may also be innovative. I love innovation, give me new and shiny all day. New ways to think, or look at a problem, or solve a problem, or look at the world, all of the above.

2. What is your least favorite word?

Hypocrisy – I abhor that word as much as I abhor the action. I despise hypocrites. With a passion. Repetition – I hate the same when it comes to art. Once I am remotely proficient in a thing I want to be on to the next. I don’t want to hone my craft to a razors edge. I want to be out making big bold mistakes. I was raised in the school of thought that it is ok to be wrong, so I am never scared to be wrong in any meaningful way. But wrong is very different than ill informed. Never be ill informed.

4. What turns you off?

Critics – Criticism for criticisms sake makes me tectonically annoyed. Constructive criticism is great and welcome but people who criticize to show off, especially if they don’t know shit about shit drive me mad. I have been so lucky to have people fan my passions, often unjustifiably, and I try and do that for others. But to have someone just dump on someone else performatively sucks.

5. What is your favorite curse word (bonus points if it is a period appropriate slur)?

Cunt – I was raised by English people who used this word to express strong emotion. It is an Atom Bomb of a word in America. But you can’t pass up on Alan Ford using it in Snatch after his nemesis monologue. I love it but reserve it for special occasions.

6. What bardic-related sound or noise do you love?

Snorting laughter – The kind of laugh that lets you know someone is not in control anymore. Gasp for air laughter, beg to stop laughter, nothing beats that in my book.

7. What bardic-related sound or noise do you hate?

Booing – When I was younger and still working the deli line we started a thing where we booed coworkers who made mistakes. And I can attest that boo’s hurt. We had to stop because it was affecting us. I can’t imagine how rough it must be to truly be booed on stage and I definitely don’t want to know.

8. What area of bardic performance (other than those that you already work in) would you like to attempt?

I would love to learn how to write songs. I took a music theory class many moons ago and fell in love with it. I have played around with it since but definitely need some more understanding of the topic especially in a historical context.

9. What area of bardic performance (other than those that you already work in) would you not like to attempt?

I don’t really have any. I am down to have any experience and try anything at least once.

10. Your name is called to appear in court. What would you hope to hear Their Majesties say?

I want to be the bardic champion, the character assassin of the court. To be used as history intended, to deride through tales and songs the enemy of the crown. To raise up and spread the character of the nobles through cunning words spoken to the masses. To bolster the fame of our heroic combatant and deride the fitness of station of our enemies in their camps at night. But that’s just me, awards are also cool.

What are you currently working on?

My entries to the Bardic Champions tournament at Black Gryphon Inn 2024! I’ll be hosting, but the show pieces I am working on are so much fun to write. I hope to see some of you there.