Pisrógs

AN DIABHAL, The Devil, Old Nick, The Old...Boy? WE all know of the devil, he's the red fella with the horns who is likely to be the ruler of our infinite misery if indeed it is true that you should fast on Friday, he also is the mascot for hot sauces and red wine. He's a busy lad. BUT the devil in Irish Folklore is far from the fallen angel of Danté's Inferno, at his best he's like Al Pacino in De...

THE STONE HOUSE OF THE SUN THIS Donegal antiquity has been the quiet sentinel of Ireland, WITNESS to our shared history -  FROM the Tuatha Dé Danann to midnight mass, its a long-time fan of our stuff. A temple for the sun god Baal, THE original home of the O'Neill Clan, the site of Niall of the Nine Hostages conversion to Christianity by Old Man Patrick and the eventual hideaway for Catholics...

KILLESHIN, Church of the Glen of Uise,  PLACE of Oisin. TALES from Killeshin, Carlow and its surrounding areas chosen by YEE. SONS of legends, MEN catching rabbits, HIBERNO-ROMAN arches, IRISH acres v ENGLISH acres,  NED of the HILL? IT'S all in our spin around Killeshin! (AS well as a man who kills his goat in drunken anxiety). STRAP into the passenger seat and put Mr. Gareth Quinn Redm...

TALES from local areas submitted by YEE (@pisrogspodcast on Instagram). THIS episode unwinds forgotten yarns from Dromore West SLIGO, Birr Co. OFFALY and Inchicore DUBLIN.  VENGEFUL knights, evil spirits, cursed churches, stolen BUTTER.  A lean mean and captivating spin through the land of IRE.

AWOO, ehem.  IN this episode a priest and our old friend 'Gerald of Wales' come across a pair of werewolves, they have a chat with them and give them a bit of communion for their trouble. LYNCANTHROPY, the transformation of humans into wolves.  IT'S a phenom that transcends borders, there are werewolves in Germany, Greece, The Balkins . . . and the counties Kilkenny and Laois. OSSORY was...

THE BOY(S) discuss the weird, wonderful world of FOLLIES and their impractical existence, as well as their unlikely connection to the FAMINE. EVER wanted an old man living in your back garden?  EVER want a slice of Egypt in your ends? EVER build something to break? ARISTOCRATS did.

NEW GROUND for the podcast, WITH Aran preparing to venture into the bowels of the Amazon, Luke holds down the fort, but not alone, as the Pisrogs Podcast takes on its its first roguish interview with the rambunctious Ronan O'Raghallaigh! RONAN is an artist from county Kildare who took the matter of disassembling his colonization into his own hands, by taking part in a Bealtaine Baptism over quaran...

JOIN the boys as they discuss everything under the big sonic sun - From the mythological invention of music, to the instruments of the past, to the magic behind the instruments and their players . . . A meal for the ears! “NO enemy speaks slightingly of Irish Music, and no friend need fear to boast of it. It is without a rival, Its antique war-tunes, such as those of O'Byrne, O'Donnell, MacAlistru...

“Bataireacht is a category of stick-fighting martial arts of Ireland. The concept of people swinging sticks at each other, in anger, dates far into pre-history.” The 18th and 19th century Irish phenomenon known as the Faction Fight was essentially a mass brawl that involved hundreds and sometimes thousands of antagonists organised into groups and meeting at designated venues and dates such as fair...

AN Irish mercenary in the Spanish army trained in the art of war by Franciscan monks. EOGHAN Ruadh Ó Néill is one of the most famous members of the O'Neill Dynasty of Ulster, an Irish family which claim the lineage of Niall of the Nine Hostages, a legendary High King. HAVING only left Ireland as boy in the Flight of the Earls, O'Neill became known as an incredible defensive tactician, oftentimes f...

You heard it, an episode of beans, beads and begora, tis mighty. We've kept it colloquial with the help of listener suggested stories. From stories of a man who danced himself dead to a ship of beans. Scary fairies to golden stalks to beat the ass, we've got it all. Music by Gareth Quinn Redmond Logo by Aisling Larkin Design (@aislinglarkindesign)

CUID A DÓ. In part one the lads discussed the mythological origins of Glas Gabhnenn, an early Irish tale that involved giant cyclopes, glass towers, trapped princesses, sword-wielding champions and a magical cow! IN PART TWO, The fairy cow takes centre stage! ARAN and Luke read from an everlasting bucket of archival folk stories, learn about: The first white and black cow in Ireland, EVER. Tales o...

CUID A HAON of our double bill dedicated to An Glas Gaibhnenn, The Gloss, or simply put The Fairy Cow. THE Fairy Cow is a mythical beast who was said to have an abundant supply of milk. COUNTLESS stories on The Fairy Cow exist all over Ireland, think of the oldest story you know and then think of that story's older brother. That's give or take how ancient this beauty is. IN PART ONE, Luke and Aran...

Kick back and relax with this grab bag episode of Irish stories, riddles and love charms. From Fionn Mac Cumhaill's mother's shin bone to the fairy wind. Guaranteed laughs and Irish love. Music by Gareth Quinn Redmond Logo by Aisling Larkin Design (@aislinglarkindesign)

OLDER than the Olympics, a yearly 'sporting' event that was about so much more than feats of strength. THE TAILTEANN GAMES drew crowds from all over Ancient Ireland to take part in competitions of swordplay, long jumps, crafting, storytelling . . . . There were even hills where mass marriages and the occasional divorce took place. THE boys delve into the real history of the Tailteann Games, an eve...

The light half of the year has finally arrived. The days are getting longer, the sun is shining brighter, nature is getting greener. It is time to send the animals off to higher pastures, cut turf and prepare for the summer of working the land ahead. Bonfires must be lit to cleanse and protect homes, people and animals. The morning dew must be collected to ensure luck and prosperity. The boys disc...

CHILD sacrifice, intense worship and a battle between an ancient idol and St. Patrick. THIS all took place in the small clearing 'Magh Slecht' in the hills of Cavan where a golden idol to the god CROM CRUACH stood. The boys journey to Magh Slecht, to explore Crom Cruach as a dark yet likely misinterpreted figure. Discover if there really was child sacrifice at Magh Slecht and why exactly it happen...

Join Aran and Luke this week as they explore their parish and townlands past with stories of treachery, ghosts, hauntings, strongman Seán Byrnes and Miles 'The Slasher'. Also a sprinkling of Piseóga, superstitious beliefs and practices, and riddles throughout. Thank you Gareth Quinn Redmond for the music. Thank you Aisling Larkin (@aislinglarkindesign) for the logo.

Ever wondered whose the first person to settle in Ireland? Well there's a few first people, six groups in fact, and one group are gods, and one aren't gods... but both are related? Lets start from the beginning. Journey back in time with Aran and Luke to meet the many groups that settled, ruled and fought for Ireland (according to the Book of Invasions). Music by Gareth Quinn Redmond Logo by Aisli...

The Bean Sí, literally the Fairy Woman, has no abode. She comes near a house to wail for one who is about to die. Those who know how piercing is the caoine, the people's lament for the dead, will realise what a dread visitant the Bean Sí would be. Join Aran and Luke as they explore the Bean Sí's origins, purpose and alternative interpretations throughout the country. Filled with tales both persona...

The Irish had and have a funny approach to death, that bit after life. It's a very funny and uplifting one for an episode about death, that's all we'll say. Come along with Aran and Luke to learn about the mad craic and practical jokes which would be carried out at Wakes, a celebration of the dead individuals life (It gets very Weekend at Bernie's). ALSO discover Irish Folktales of journeys to hea...

At Glenade lake in County Leitrim a mythical creature known as the Dobhar-chú was said to have murdered a woman whilst she washed clothes, a tombstone exists supposedly depicting this act. Aran and Luke dive in to the murky depths of the stories and songs about the legendary Dobhar-chú! There's also a water horse too.

Veiled One, Crone, Witch. The embodiment of Winter, a creator deity and daughter of the Little Sun. The Cailleach is one of Ireland's oldest characters who very well may still be on this island. Also explored in this episode are the colloquial Caillí, Witches, the like to fill your boots with butter or squeeze you to death. Music by Gareth Quinn Redmond Logo by AislingLarkinDesign

The boys cant meet in person but they can meet in spirit, a SEASONAL MIRACLE for the final episode of this season! In this episode the lads chat about a long celebrated and peculiar Irish tradition, The Wren (or Wran, depending where you're from). The tradition involves gaggles of lads all over Ireland chasing down the little bird dressed in false faces, tinsel, straw and- you know what, its best...

The boys explore An Bheán Feasa, wise women who possessed remedies for physical and spiritual ailments as well as being a diplomat between the the people of the physical world and the Good People of the netherworld. If there was a prize for the wisest of the wise women, it'd go to none other than Biddy Early. To the Church and the local priest, Biddy Early was a witch. To those of the locality who...