The Banshee in Irish Folklore: Folklore, history, gender and belief

Uncover Ireland’s legendary death messenger, the Banshee and her link to grief, folklore and the lives of women in Irish history. With Q&A. The Banshee, or Bean Sídhe, has haunted Irish folklore for centuries, warning of death through her eerie cry. But who is she actually? A fairy, a ghost or a surviving echo of Ireland’s pre-Christian past? Many believe the Banshee comes from older Irish beliefs about the spirit world, especially stories of powerful supernatural women that existed in Ireland before Christianity. She also reflects something deeper: what Irish society expected of women, and how those expectations changed over time. In this talk, historian Dr Gillian Kenny traces the Banshee from medieval sources through to twentieth-century family memory. We’ll dive into details such as why she was believed to follow certain Irish families or why she so often appears combing her hair. We’ll also look at how her cry connects to ‘keening’, an old Irish mourning tradition where women sang laments for the dead at funerals. Blending folklore, history, gender, and belief, you will walk away with a richer understanding of how Ireland imagined the supernatural, mourned its dead, and remembered the women who stood at the edge of both. Doors open at 7:30pm, talk starts at 8pm - come down early to grab a good seat! Follow us on IG @seedtalks Speaker Bio: Dr Gillian Kenny is a historian of medieval and early modern Ireland whose work focuses on women, magic, and folklore. She is Adjunct Associate Professor in the UCD School of History and Visiting Research Fellow at Trinity College Dublin. She has taught widely on Irish folklore and the supernatural, including the Banshee, witches and witch-hunting in Ireland, the Irish art of cursing, and the long history of magic and the women who practised it across Irish history. She has appeared on The Rest Is History and You're Dead to Me, along with numerous other podcasts and television programmes discussing Irish history. Testimonials from our guests ⭐ Super Interesting talks! Fun and Informative - Ally S. ⭐ Expertly run, talks are always super informative and a lot of fun! Couldn’t recommend these enough! 5 star. - Owen S ⭐ Been to a few talks and all have been super interesting. An enjoyable evening to go to either alone or with friends. The talks make for stimulating conversation. Highly recommend! - Daisy J