HomespunHistory

It's Halloween, so of course we HAD to pay a visit to the seat of the Kings of Ulster, Navan Fort! After all, it says in the Book of Leinster that if you don't attend at AllHallows you're as good as dead... So why not come with us? Hear the story of how Emain Macha got its name, learn about the great *6 DAY* Samhain fire festival that was held here, & contemplate the mysterious mound & the...

In a special ***BONUS EPISODE*** Gavin & Anne make a detour on their way home from County Fermanagh to visit the scene of one of Ireland's most famous and well-documented hauntings... Bridget Murphy and her children were reportedly terrorised by paranormal phenomenon at their small farmhouse in Cornarooslan townland. The 'ghost' moved objects around, banged and scraped on the walls...

Gavin & Anne are BACK with a bumper episode from an iconic location! Join us as we venture beyond Co. Down to visit Boa Island in Co. Fermanagh, for a very special Spring visit. We cover: acid jazz (!), news from the world of Irish archaeology & history, Turlough O'Carolan's Fermanagh connection, & come up with new theories about the meaning behind the famous 'Janus' st...

In this episode, Gavin and Anne are joined by well-known local Irish language pedagogue and itinerant ukulele songster, Dr Ian Malcolm!  Join us on our visit to the remains of an old shebeen on Knock Iveagh & the nearby birthplace of Patrick Bronte (Prunty), the father of the famous Bronte sisters. We'll take a closer look at the landscape in which Patrick grew up to discover a place rich...

Will you join us in the graveyard as the sun goes down...?  In this hour-long Samhain Special Gavin, Anne, and special guest Arlene Copeland exchange some ghostly yarns at one of the spookiest spots in County Down! Phantom horses, encounters with the Banshee, mysterious dark hounds, stories of Rathfriland's notorious Hell-Fire Club and much more - Listen if you dare...

In this episode come with us on a trip to the famous dolmens at Goward & Ballykeel. Dolmens are megalithic structures known as 'portal' or 'chamber' tombs and can be found in various places worldwide.  We'll be looking at the history & mythology of with these two magnificent Ulster dolmens and their associated monuments. Huge thanks to musician Niamh Ní Charra for permi...

In this episode we travel to the townland of Ardbrin in County Down, where a magnificent and important Bronze Iron Age trumpet was unearthed in 1809! Grateful thanks to Ancient Music Ireland for their generosity in allowing us to share some of their music this episode. You can visit their website here:  www.ancientmusicireland.com Or follow their work on Facebook here:  www.facebook.com/Ancient. I...

In this episode we visit the grave of Captain Arthur Magennis at Clonduff Old Church in Hilltown to learn more about the origins of Ulster's famous 'Red Hand' symbol, hear about a missing harp, and find out what both these things have to do with the Magennis of Iveagh.