The Clare Oral History Podcast
This podcast delves into the thousands of Irish life stories in the archive of the Irish Oral History and Folklore Group known as Cuimhneamh an Chláir or Clare Memories. We’re based in Co. Clare in the West of Ireland. The oral histories we’ve gathered reveal ordinary lives and extraordinary stories. The podcast will introduce you to the people and experiences that make the West of Ireland what it is.
- Update frequency
- every 20 days
- Average duration
- 38 minutes
- Episodes
- 12
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
Traditional Farming, Nature & Environment – National Biodiversity Week 2025
For National Biodiversity Week we bring you stories of traditional farming and rural life and how they relate to biodiversity. There are very few direct references to biodiversity in the Cuimhneamh …
Biddy Early
Biddy Early (1798-1874) was born in Killanena and lived most of her life in Feakle in Co. Clare. She was a ‘bean feasa’ or wise woman (literally a ‘woman of knowledge’). She was famous as a woman of…
Supernatural
Supernatural experiences abound in Irish Folklore. The veil is thin between the concrete world and the other dimensions especially in the dark part of the year. The stories are told by Teresa Flynn…
The Kitty Leyden Tapes Part 2
In Part 2 of a public interview with 88 year old Kitty Leyden, she talks of being an emigrant in New York, returning home, emigrating to England, meeting her husband, her work in Bunratty Folk Park, …
The Kitty Leyden Tapes Part 1
88 year old Kitty Leyden was the youngest of 11, born on a small farm in Clonina, Cree, West Clare. She spent her young adulthood in New York. She then settled in Tulla, and raised 8 children. Hers i…
Robin O' Connell
Episode 7 focuses on Robin O' Connell from Meelick, in South East Co. Clare - poitin maker, Gaelic football supremo, tradition bearer, free spirit.
This episode is dedicated to the memory of Margaret…
Stories of the Land
Episode 6 features stories of life on the land in Co. Clare. There are stories of farming and of the crafts associated with it, of entertainment and of the rhythms of rural life in Co. Clare in times…
Stories of the Towns
Episode 5 features stories of life in the towns of Co. Clare.
Madeleine Killeen and Pat Foudy tell unusual stories of the lives of children and women in the town of Ennis. Frank Sheedy and Mary Ange…
Stories of Christmas
Episode 4 features stories of Christmases past in Co. Clare in the West of Ireland.
Stories of the magic of Christmas candles in the days before electricity, the hustle and bustle of decorating the h…
A Woman's Work
Episode 3 features stories of the working lives of women in Co. Clare.
Susan Williams in Kilfenora and Maura McInerney in Killaloe talk of hard physical labour. Peggy Hogan in Feakle tells us of the …
Stories of the Coast
Episode 2 features stories of the Clare coastline.
John Daly and Michael Falsey tell us about the herring fishing industry around Quilty. Randal Counihan talks of ravenous seals and slaveships. Pa J…
You Can't Beat a Good Story!
Episode One features great stories and great storytellers - not long folk tales or professional story tellers, just people who love language and know how to turn a phrase.
-Paddy Malley from Feakle te…