DrKelly Fitzgerald

The myth of the wailing wraiths is woven into the culture and landscape of the Emerald Isle. Today, storytellers (and tour guides) are keeping the legend alive.

Ireland is reclaiming its right as the Celtic land from which Halloween originated thousands of years ago. The festival has its roots in a world of screaming banshees, wicked changelings, finger snapping turnips and a host of other ghoulish characters you wouldn’t want to bump into - day or night.

Why are some cultures superstitious around black cats, and what is the history behind it?

If you live under a rock, you may have missed that Mayo broke their GAA curse when they finally beat Kerry to win their first All-Ireland since 1951. What other curses is Ireland known for?

Fulbright Mentor

How many times have you looked at your weather app when it’s raining, only for your phone to insist that you’re actually mistaken and the sun is splitting the rocks! This didn’t happen in the past. Back in the good old days, you could be sure of the weather by just taking a look around you. If the hills seemed far away, then the weather would be good. If the cat sat with its back to the fire, then the weather would be bad. Simple! Kelly Fitzgerald is the Head of the School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore in UCD. She joins Seán to discuss the origin behind some of these weather phrases.

Kelly Fitzgerald, assistant professor and head of folklore and ethnology at UCD, on the enduring importance of fairy tales.

President

Opinion: our connection to saints is often stronger in the natural world and landscape than in the buildings that carry their names

A little book of folklore that became infamous. It was debated in parliament where nationalists denounced the elderly couple who were the subject of the book. But was the bull/cow story really that rude?

Christmas Traditions

Chair