Think Halloween began in America? Think again! Long before pumpkins and party shops, Samhain was Ireland’s new year; a liminal night of fire, ancestry, and the thin veil.
In this unmissable episode, Dublin tour guide and storyteller Helena Murphy brings the Irish roots of Halloween vividly to life; from the Wheel of the Year and sacred fires on the Hill of Ward to divination, extra places set at the table, and the genuinely creepy turnip 'Jack o’ Lanterns'. We hear how dressing up began as a way to fool wandering spirits; why Irish hospitality extends to the dead; and how these traditions still pulse through modern festivals.
It's a lovely episode, full of surprises; you will never look at Halloween the same way again.
If you would like to know more about Helena’s tours, visit Original Dublin here (https://originaldublin.com/tours/) and you can check out Helena on Instagram here (https://www.instagram.com/helenamtours/); and if you would like details on the Púca Festival, head to pucafestival.com (https://pucafestival.com/)
A huge thank you to Helena for joining me for this episode.
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26 Aug 2025
Lesser Known Legacies: So Once Was I With Warren Farrell
A Dublin man once stole the show at the opening of one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, by cutting the ribbon himself!! That’s just one of the extraordinary tales I explore with historian and author Warren Farrell.
In our conversation, Warren also shares the story of the woman who “died twice”, a forgotten Wimbledon champion, and a soldier who carried a musket ball from Waterloo in his chest for 34 years.
These are the lesser-known legacies brought to life in his acclaimed book So Once Was I: Forgotten Tales from Glasnevin Cemetery.
So Once Was I is a wonderful record of some of the many interesting stories and its a must for anyone who has an interest in Dublin, in Ireland, or simply in the stories that connect us all. The book is available through Merrion Press here (https://www.irishacademicpress.ie/product/so-once-was-i-forgotten-tales-from-glasnevin-cemetery/) or indeed if you'd like to support an independent bookshop who have been a huge encouragement to Warren, you can check out the book at thebookshop.ie here (https://thebookshop.ie/warren-farrell-so-once-was-i-tales-from-glasnevin-cemetery-pb-brand-new-with-author-signed-adhesive-bookplate/?searchid=4953742&search_query=so+once+was+I)
So Once was I is also available at Chapters Bookstore here (https://chaptersbookstore.com/products/warren-farrell-so-once-was-i-forgotten-tales-from-glasnevin-cemetery-2024-paperback?_pos=1&_sid=ec32f0b86&_ss=r) and also at Books Upstairs here too (https://booksupstairs.ie/product/so-once-was-i-forgotten-tales-from-glasnevin-cemetery/).
A huge thank you to Warren for joining me on this episode for a chat full of history, intrigue, and humanity, one that might just change how you see cemeteries, and the remarkable lives remembered within them.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
19 Aug 2025
What Happens at a Celebrant Led Funeral?
In this solo reflection, I share thoughts on what a celebrant-led funeral really looks like. For many, the only funerals they’ve known have been in a church setting, so the idea of a personalised, civil, or independent ceremony can feel unfamiliar.
But in truth, these ceremonies are built around stories, memories, and meaning. They’re about creating space for love, comfort, and connection, in a way that feels right for the person at the centre of it all.
This episode is a look at the choices families have, the rituals that matter, and why the ‘good funeral’ is about more than tradition.
Make sure to let me know your thoughts. Feel free to get in touch with me on Instagram @conorclearcelebrant
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
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