National Leprechaun Museum Talking Stories

Eleanor and Mark explore Stephen's story of Poor Man's Bridge near the town of Abbeyleix, Co. Laois, and discuss the Poor Man himself, the "Bacach Ruadh" or Red Beggarman, dying a wealthy miser, and possible leprechauns in Brazilian folklore? If you have any question you'd like us to answer, topics you'd like us to discuss, or stories you'd like us to tell, tweet us at @leprechaun_ie with #AskASto...

Mark (the Abrasive) and Eleanor (the Measured) are talking stories - specifically a story called The Cave of the Cats, set in Rathcroghan Co. Roscommon, a gateway to the Otherworld. They take this story of diplomacy and terrifying cats told by Emily, and discuss Queen Maeve, navigating old stories when history is written by the victors, and the fragile male egos of mythological Irish warriors. If...

In this episode Eleanor and Alice are talking stories! They take a well-known story The Piper and the Pooka, told by museum storyteller Deirdre, and discuss púcas in rural Ireland, ask if Mothman could be a Púca(!), and the importance of practice and perseverance for learning your craft. If you have any question you'd like us to answer, topics you'd like us to discuss, or stories you'd like us to...

In our October episode Eleanor and Tom (Director of the National Leprechaun Museum) finally tackle Samhain, the most important festival in the Celtic calendar and the roots of Halloween. We explore what Samhain meant in old Ireland, Irish Halloween and Samhain customs and games, and ask how can we celebrate and enjoy Halloween safely in 2020? Plus, a haunting Samhain story of a bold Connaught warr...

The National Leprechaun Museum Podcast returns after a few months break, and it's great to talk to you again! In this episode Mark and Paudie take a deep dive into some of their favourite characters in Irish stories, and ask why we love baddies, why all-powerful heroes can be a bit boring, and should we judge characters from thousands of years ago by modern standards? How do we use storytelling to...

In this episode Stephen leads us on a journey exploring the themes of Fools and Foolishness in Irish Folklore. Is the Fool in Ireland different to the Fool in other cultures and who is the biggest Fool? If you have any question you'd like us to answer, topics you'd like us to discuss, or stories you'd like us to tell, tweet us at @leprechaun_ie #AskAStoryteller With Stories by Stephen Jack Cullen,...

It's Tolkien Reading Day! (March 25th) So this week Eleanor and Paudie are talking about the work of the master World Builder and linguist J.R.R. Tolkien. Were the Sídhe an influence on Middle Earth? Is Gollum secretly from Co. Clare? Who knows? But it's a lot of fun to speculate about. If you have any question you'd like us to answer, topics you'd like us to discuss, or stories you'd like us to t...

In this episode Mark and Paudie talk about the importance of storytelling and storytellers, tell some stories themselves, and even have a nice chat about Saint Patrick's Day. If you have any question you'd like us to answer, topics you'd like us to discuss, or stories you'd like us to tell, tweet us at @leprechaun_ie #AskAStoryteller Featuring Paudie Holly and Mark Guerin. Recorded in the National...

Naoise and Stephen spend a lovely (only slightly stormy) winter evening discussing that cheeriest of topics, Death. But maybe that's not as sarcastic as it sounds. Irish myth has an oddly sunny attitude towards death, which is just as well seeing as how much it permeates our culture. If you have any question you'd like us to answer, topics you'd like us to discuss, or stories you'd like us to tell...

In this episode our storytellers discuss the importance of dreams and visions in Irish myth and legend. Do our dreams influence our folklore or does our folklore influence our dreams? Or is it both? Or all three? In this episode you'll hear stories of Oisín, Cormac Mac Art, Tír na nÓg with guest appearances by Saint Brigid and Baby Yoda. If you have any question you'd like us to answer, topics you...

In this dark and dreary winter, we're dreaming of pastures new. This month our storytellers gather to discuss Exploring - is exploring in the nature of Irish people? Who's our favourite explorers? How do the museum storytellers get to go on adventures? We also get to hear stories of exploration, from Tír na nÓg, to the north of Spain, to the Land of Nod. If you have any question you'd like us to a...

A church yard under the see where the ghosts and the merrows play, a tower of glass where a lonely princess dreams, and a caravan where a priest does maths for NASA. All places have a story to tell, and the storytellers in the museum are about to reveal a few! If you have any question you'd like to answer or topics you'd like us to discuss, feel free to tweet us at @leprechaun_ie #askastoryteller...

At the time when the worlds are closer together, when the veil is drawn back, when things go walking abroad, the National Leprechaun Museum have something special planned. Veiled in a new immersive theatrical tour from the National Leprechaun Museum from the 24th of Oct to the 2nd of Nov. Strictly +18. Tickets at https://leprechaunmuseum.ticketsolve.com/shows/873613362/events/129189780 If you have...

The storytellers are talking about Home and Hospitality. They're snuggled up out of the rain with a cup of tea telling stories, and it soon turns into stories of biscuit based filth. If you have any question you'd like to answer or topics you'd like us to discuss, feel free to tweet us at @leprechaun_ie #askastoryteller Featuring Stephen, Sionnán, and Naoise (with some eye rolling from Emily) Reco...

It's back to school time and the storytellers are talking about lessons. If you have any question you'd like to answer or topics you'd like us to discuss, feel free to tweet us at @leprechaun_ie #askastoryteller Featuring Sarah, Stephen, and Emily. Recorded in the National Leprechaun Museum of Ireland.

Sea monsters, lake monsters, river monsters and strange things that live in puddles. Ireland seems to be full of water ways and they nearly all have a monster, and where there's a monster, there's a good story! If you have any question you'd like to answer or topics you'd like us to discuss, feel free to tweet us at @leprechaun_ie #askastoryteller Featuring storytellers Deirdre, Paudie, and Emily....

Big beast, small beast, hairy beast, scaly beast, we love them all! From the Chicken Eater to the Werewolves of Ossory to the Urban Seagulls, we have plenty of beastly stories. But what even is a beast? And is a beast necessarily a monster? If you have any question you'd like to answer or topics you'd like us to discuss, feel free to tweet us at @leprechaun_ie #askastoryteller Featuring storytelle...

To celebrate the beauty of nature the storytellers have gathered around the microphone to tell stories of flora and fauna. Listen to tales of monster otters, magical holly trees, and alternative uses for dead cats. If you have any question you'd like to answer or topics you'd like us to discuss, feel free to tweet us at @leprechaun_ie #askastoryteller Featuring storytellers Paudie, Stephen, and Le...

The 1st of May is the feast of Beltane and to help you prepare to celebrate, the storytellers at the National Leprechaun Museum bring you tales of bonfires, food, and doctors with questionable ethics. If you have any question you'd like to answer or topics you'd like us to discuss, feel free to tweet us at @leprechaun_ie #askastoryteller Featuring Naoise O'Duinn and Emily Collins. Recorded in the...

The forth episode of the new series and already we have a curse! So many sure, which ones to choose. Join our storytellers for tales of mad kings, vengeful goddesses, and badgers... If you have any question you'd like to answer or topics you'd like us to discuss, feel free to tweet us at @leprechaun_ie #askastoryteller Featuring Paudie Holly, Andy Gallagher, and Lauren McGarry. Recorded in the Nat...

The 20th of March is #WorldStorytellingDay and we at the museum are going to celebrate by doing what we do best and talking about stories and storytelling. We are thrilled to be joined this episode by Darragh Doyle who leads us through the conversation and the founder of the museum Tom O'Rahilly. And as if that wasn't enough we will be doing special tours to celebrate World Storytelling Day, in su...

Three is a magic number and we're on episode three! Let's raise a toast and talk about drink and drinkables! If you have an questions you'd like the storytellers to answer or topics you'd like discussed, feel free to tweet us at @leprechaun_ie #askastoryteller. Featuring Emily Collins, Mark Guerin, and Naoise O'Duinn. Recorded in the National Leprechaun Museum of Ireland.

Second Episode and the storytellers are talking about love and water! Listen to tales of zombie brides, herbal love spells, and why Paudie thinks the seals are noisy. If you have an questions you'd like the storytellers to answer or topics you'd like discussed, feel free to tweet us at @leprechaun_ie #askastoryteller. Featuring storytellers Paudie Holly, Nathan MacDonnell, and Deirdre Quinn. Recor...

The first episode of the new series of podcasts from the National Leprechaun Museum of Ireland! Three storytellers get together and talk about storytelling, catapulting brains at kings, how a bedtime story might save your life, and what do leprechauns spend their gold on? If you have an questions you'd like the storytellers to answer or topics you'd like discussed, feel free to tweet us at @leprec...

Join us as our Storytellers Paudie and Emily explore the Winter Solstice, share some stories and embark on some weird and wonderful tangents!