Category Archives: Irish Stories

Dublin Walking-storytelling Tour

Posted on 25/07/2014 by Richard Marsh

Some of the stories are based on works of public art and who or what they represent — Oscar Wilde, Molly Malone, Éire with the harp, for example. We visit the Setanta Wall, shown at the top of this page, … Continue reading →

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The Killycluggin Stone – County Cavan

Posted on 19/01/2011 by Richard Marsh

The original Iron Age La Tene-style Killycluggin Stone, now in the County Cavan Museum in Ballyjamesduff, is believed to be the idol known as Cenn Crúaich or Crom Crúaich, which could mean “bloody head” but I think means “head of … Continue reading →

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The Big Snow of 1982

Posted on 18/01/2011 by Richard Marsh

This video is from a Milk & Cookies session in Dublin, 2010. In support of the veracity, or at least verisimilitude, of this yarn, here are exterior and interior photos of the cottage I lived in at the time near … Continue reading →

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Michael’s Morsel

Posted on 05/01/2011 by Richard Marsh

Saint Patrick went to Tara to cure Lugaid son of Laeghaire son of Niall of the Nine Hostages of a “trouble”. Lugaid took a large piece of bread and swallowed it and it stuck in his throat. Patrick gave him … Continue reading →

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The Children of Lir

Posted on 03/01/2011 by Richard Marsh

Lir and his wife, Aobh (pronounced (“eve”), had four children: a girl Fionnuala and her twin brother, Aed (“ay”), and twin boys Fiachra and Conn. Aobh died, and Lir married Aoife. Everyone loved the Children of Lir for their good … Continue reading →

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16th-century Irish Storyteller

Posted on 31/12/2010 by Richard Marsh

This satirical anti-Irish, anti-Catholic woodcut is frequently reproduced as a serious depiction of an Irish feast. The standing man labeled “B” is usually described as the poet, who is directing the reachaire/reciter/bard (D) in the performance of one of his … Continue reading →

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Fionn mac Cumhaill and the Wax Museum

Posted on 30/12/2010 by Richard Marsh

I live just up the street and around the corner from the Black Church and came across Fionn on my way home on 19 June 2005. I asked him what brought him to Dublin, and he said he wanted to … Continue reading →

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The Black Church, Dublin

Posted on 29/12/2010 by Richard Marsh

The poet Austin Clarke (1896-1974) grew up on Mountjoy Street near Parnell Square on the north side of Dublin a few houses away from the Black Church, which forms an island in the middle of the broad St Mary’s Place. … Continue reading →

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