Danny Houlihan‘s Irish Experience

Standing stones erected by our Irish ancestors dot the landscape of Ireland. Built way back in antiquity to mark a place of burial of a chieftain or special member of a clan.

In this episode Danny Houlihan takes a look at the standing stone and its importance to ancient Ireland. In researching standing stones other items have been found, such as Cist graves, and items of settlement such as the old mill stones or Quern Stones, Danny rolls back the history on the quern with a brief look at how it was made and operated. In modern times these priceless relics have been lost due to land reclamation and drainage.

If you would like to support my research which is ongoing and podcast episodes, why not Buy Me a Coffee this will be used to update my research and equipment, I will give everyone who contribute a shout out in my series. Just click on the link below to support in any way big or small thank you.buymeacoffee.com/yxqdanny

In this episode I will cross the Shannon Estuary to the Holy Island of Scattery or in its Irish name Inis Cathaigh, from the golden beaches of Ballybunion, Beale and Littor the sight of a round tower breaks the Irish skyline with the backdrop of County Clare, this is the holy Island of the Shannon Estuary called Scattery Island.

During the periods 1846 and 1847 onwards our ancestors who left our green shores to America,Canada, Australia and England took one last look across the Shannon at this special place before they left, indeed many may not have ever visited the holy island but in their dreams kept their Irish connection with the area.

I will take a short look at its early history and relate the story of St Senan and the serpent and the visit of a West Cork Saint called Conaire.

This is again is a snap shot, I will be back again in the future with a special unique program on Scattery.

In this short episode Danny Houlihan relates the history of our out door cooking places of Bronze Age Ireland called Fulachta Fiadh, Fulachta refers to a cooking place and Fiadh a deer. All that remains of these priceless relics today are the heaps of burnt stone that lie buried on the landscape of Ireland.

This is the first in the weekend episodes which deals with items of settlement that have been found here in North Kerry Ireland.

One forgotten castle on the North Kerry coastline is Leac or known locally as Lick Castle north of Ballybunion. Built on a rocky promontory fort of the Clan Connor during the 1300s. Sited in a scenic place called Faha on the Wild Atlantic Way.

Danny Journeys back to Lick through the landscape that shapes Ireland, its culture and its people. In this episode Danny returns to Leac Castle which he visited many years ago with the late Matty Leahy of Bromore and relates the history of the castle and the visit experience.

This episode is dedicated to the memory of the late Matty Leahy Bromore.

North of Ballybunion North Kerry is a very special place called Kilconly, steeped in history myth and legend. In this episode Danny Houlihan Journeys back to the Early Christian Period and relates the story of a monk called Chonnla and a battle with a huge serpent coupled with the history surrounding the church. This podcast is another snapshot of the vast history of this special place. 

Ballybunion Castle County Kerry Ireland is famous as the International logo for Ballybunion. Danny Houlihan Historian relates its history a part of our past and a part of our heritage.

The landscape of Ireland is marked by the old homesteads of our ancestors the Ring Fort or Rath. Danny Houlihan in this podcast takes a short journey into some of the forts in his area near Ballybunion in North Kerry. This podcast is not a complete history but again a snapshot of our golden heritage. Through its people, its heritage and its rugged coastline this is Danny Houlihan's Irish Experience

If you would like to support my research which is ongoing and podcast episodes, why not Buy Me a Coffee this will be used to update my research and equipment, I will give everyone who contribute a shout out in my series. Just click on the link below to support in any way big or small thank you.buymeacoffee.com/yxqdanny

In this short episode Danny Houlihan concludes the series for the present with myths and legends from the Ballybunion area. These myths were gathered by Danny Houlihan 30 years ago in the old oral way, local tales were recorded by Danny Houlihan from people who's ancestors lived in the area during the Great Famine while some deal with the famous Fianna others are locally founded in myth. Please note all music on Danny Houlihan's Podcasts are by Danny from his albums and can be purchased from the Amazon Music site, all proceeds will be used to keep the podcasting up to date and continuous.

Danny Houlihan will be back with other legends and myths of Ireland in a future show.

The tradition of holy wells can be traced back to the Early Christian Period in the area, with many myths and legends associated with the site. Ancient customs which are now forgotten were once practiced there, and customs preserved. Later on Pattern days emerged with mass celebrated at the local church of St John's followed by a procession to the local well for prayers, however what started out as religious occasion ended in public disorder. Ballybunion and it Pattern Day history is indeed colourful. In this short podcast Danny Houlihan travels back to the famous well in Ballybunion, once located at the bottom of the Glin Road Ballybunion called The King of Sundays Well or Tobar Ri An Domhnaigh. Sadly all that remains of the well is a stream of water on the right hand side of the road on the approach to the lady's strand. In the future this well should be reopened and our traditions continued Our Home Our Place. This again is the first of many places Danny Houlihan will visit

If you would like to support my research which is ongoing and podcast episodes, why not Buy Me a Coffee this will be used to update my research and equipment, I will give everyone who contribute a shout out in my series. Just click on the link below to support in any way big or small thank you.buymeacoffee.com/yxqdanny

The Great O Connor Chieftain and his nine daughters features in this short podcast, Danny Houlihan weaves his tapestry once again on the history of the Ballybunion area. Viking raids coupled with the O Connor Clan are all deal with at the swing of legendary O Connor sword, all interwoven into Danny Houlihan's Irish Experience

If you would like to support my research which is ongoing and podcast episodes, why not Buy Me a Coffee this will be used to update my research and equipment, I will give everyone who contribute a shout out in my series. Just click on the link below to support in any way big or small thank you.buymeacoffee.com/yxqdanny