You're Dead to Me Medieval Irish Folklore (Radio Edit)
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Apr 17, 2026 
Seán Burke, comedian and sketch performer, brings playful riffs. Dr Gillian Kenny, historian of medieval Ireland and folklore expert, explains ancient beliefs. They explore Gaelic society, magic as word-acts, myth cycles and the Tuatha Dé Danann. Fairies, banshees, fairy darts, changelings, evil eye cures, butter witches and protective rituals feature in a lively, humor-tinged tour of old Irish lore.
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Landscape Filled With Living Magic
- Medieval Ireland blended pre-Christian nature worship with Christian-written oral tales, giving stories a Christian veneer while preserving older beliefs.
- The land was sacred: caves, wells and ringforts were seen as entrances to the Otherworld and homes of supernatural beings like the Morrigan.
Tuatha Dé Danann As The Ancient Otherworld Elite
- Irish mythological cycles grouped supernatural peoples like the Tuatha Dé Danann who inhabit an Otherworld and explain origins of magic.
- These beings were complex: talented, fearsome and later anglicised as 'fairies' but originally called the sí.
Fairies Were Fearsome Neighbours
- Fairies in medieval Ireland were unpredictable invisible neighbours who could harm or help, not the cute Tinkerbell image.
- They explained misfortunes like livestock death, and you avoided naming them to prevent attention.