A spooky evening talk explores the surprisingly strange history of witch hunts in Ireland
Gather ’round, fans of spooky local lore.
When you think of witch trials, places like Salem or medieval Europe probably spring to mind.
Ireland? Not so much.
But that’s exactly what makes an upcoming talk in Cork’s Cyprus Avenue so intriguing.
On Monday, August 17th, the venue will host The History of Witch Hunts in Ireland, an evening exploring one of the strangest and least-known chapters of Irish history.
Hosted by Seed Talks Ireland, the event will delve into why Ireland experienced remarkably few witch trials compared to the rest of Europe… with fewer than ten recorded cases over four centuries.
Instead of blaming misfortune on witches making pacts with the Devil, many Irish communities believed something altogether different was at work.
Fairies.
The talk explores how Ireland’s rich folklore shaped people’s beliefs, with the supernatural world of the “good folk” playing a much bigger role in everyday life than the witchcraft hysteria that swept across England, Scotland and mainland Europe.
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Attendees will also hear the extraordinary story of Alice Kyteler, Ireland’s most famous accused witch, whose 14th-century trial in Kilkenny remains one of the country’s most infamous historical cases.
Leading the evening is Dr Gillian Kenny, a historian specialising in medieval and early modern Ireland, whose research focuses on women, folklore, magic and the supernatural. She has appeared on popular history podcasts, including The Rest Is History and You’re Dead to Me.
The evening begins at 7pm, with the talk starting at 7.30pm, followed by a Q&A session where guests can put their own questions to Dr Kenny.
Whether you’re fascinated by Irish folklore, medieval history or simply love a good ghost story, this one promises to reveal a side of Ireland’s past that most of us never learned about in school. Tickets are €16 here.
