Irish Gothic Podcast

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A cry in the night. News of a death by morning. But does the banshee bring death, or mourn it?

Chris Patterson and Spence explore the Irish banshee tradition, from the bean sí and her ties to particular families to keening women, the forbidden comb and the washer at the ford. They discuss how stories travelled with Irish emigrants, why films so often turn the banshee into a monster, and whether a terrifying cry might have a very ordinary explanation.

This episode considers the grief, family bonds and warnings behind one of Ireland’s best-known supernatural figures.

Do you have a banshee story in your family? Send it to [email protected]. We may feature listener stories in a future episode.

Explore more from Causeway Pictures: https://causewaypictures.com

Contains strong language.

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Irish Gothic explores Ireland’s folklore, mythology and ghost stories with Chris Patterson and Spence Wright. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CausewayPicturesNetwork Follow on Instagram: @irishgothicpod Support Irish Gothic: https://buymeacoffee.com/irishgothicpod More episodes: https://irishgothicpod.buzzsprout.com Produced by Causeway Pictures. © Causeway Podcast Network. Support the shows and browse official Causeway merchandise, including Irish Gothic, Unknown Skies and Hostage to the Devil designs, at the Causeway Producer Store: https://shop.causewaypictures.com/

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Irish Gothic Bitesize: The Púca

Presented by Spence Wright.

A shapeshifter. A trickster. A creature you do not want to meet on a dark Irish road.

The Púca is one of the most unpredictable figures in Irish folklore. Appearing in many forms, from a black horse to a strange human figure, it has frightened, confused and fascinated generations.

In this Irish Gothic Bitesize, Spence Wright explores the folklore, stories and traditions surrounding one of Ireland’s most enduring supernatural creatures.

Listen now, and follow Irish Gothic for more stories from the darker side of Irish folklore, mythology, hauntings and strange history.

If you enjoy the episode, follow or subscribe so you do not miss the next Irish Gothic Bitesize.

#IrishGothic #ThePuca #Puca #IrishFolklore #IrishMythology #CelticFolklore #Folklore #IrishLegends #MythsAndLegends #Supernatural #Paranormal #DarkFolklore #GhostStories #Ireland

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Irish Gothic explores Ireland’s folklore, mythology and ghost stories with Chris Patterson and Spence Wright. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CausewayPicturesNetwork Follow on Instagram: @irishgothicpod Support Irish Gothic: https://buymeacoffee.com/irishgothicpod More episodes: https://irishgothicpod.buzzsprout.com Produced by Causeway Pictures. © Causeway Podcast Network. Support the shows and browse official Causeway merchandise, including Irish Gothic, Unknown Skies and Hostage to the Devil designs, at the Causeway Producer Store: https://shop.causewaypictures.com/

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Irish Gothic Bitesize: The Crooked Back

Presented by Spence Wright.

A strange tale from the darker corners of Irish folklore.

Spence explores The Crooked Back, a story of superstition, fear and the supernatural, passed down through generations of Irish storytelling.

Listen to Irish Gothic Bitesize: The Crooked Back now.

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Follow or subscribe to Irish Gothic for ghosts, folklore, mythology, strange history and supernatural stories from across Ireland.

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#IrishGothic #TheCrookedBack #IrishGothicBitesize #IrishFolklore #IrishMythology #IrishLegends #CelticFolklore #DarkFolklore #GhostStories #Supernatural #Paranormal #Ireland

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Irish Gothic explores Ireland’s folklore, mythology and ghost stories with Chris Patterson and Spence Wright. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CausewayPicturesNetwork Follow on Instagram: @irishgothicpod Support Irish Gothic: https://buymeacoffee.com/irishgothicpod More episodes: https://irishgothicpod.buzzsprout.com Produced by Causeway Pictures. © Causeway Podcast Network. Support the shows and browse official Causeway merchandise, including Irish Gothic, Unknown Skies and Hostage to the Devil designs, at the Causeway Producer Store: https://shop.causewaypictures.com/

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Irish Gothic Bitesized: Fire & Brimstone at Dunseverick

On the rugged North Antrim coast, the ruins of Dunseverick Castle stand above the Atlantic. But its history carries darker stories.

Fire, faith, fear and folklore collide in this short journey into Dunseverick’s past. From ancient associations and religious tradition to tales shaped by centuries of conflict and belief, we explore the stories surrounding one of Northern Ireland’s most atmospheric coastal sites.

A short dose of Irish Gothic for listeners drawn to the stranger corners of Ireland’s history and folklore.

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Want more stories from Ireland’s darker past?

Listen to the full Irish Gothic podcast for hauntings, mythology, supernatural encounters, strange history and centuries-old folklore from across Ireland.

Follow or subscribe to Irish Gothic on your podcast platform and listen to the latest episodes now.

If you enjoyed this Bitesized story, share it with someone who loves Irish folklore and help more listeners find Irish Gothic.

#IrishGothic #Dunseverick #DunseverickCastle #NorthAntrim #CausewayCoast #IrishFolklore #IrishHistory #DarkHistory #IrishLegends #CelticFolklore #Folklore #HauntedIreland #NorthernIreland

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Irish Gothic explores Ireland’s folklore, mythology and ghost stories with Chris Patterson and Spence Wright. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CausewayPicturesNetwork Follow on Instagram: @irishgothicpod Support Irish Gothic: https://buymeacoffee.com/irishgothicpod More episodes: https://irishgothicpod.buzzsprout.com Produced by Causeway Pictures. © Causeway Podcast Network. Support the shows and browse official Causeway merchandise, including Irish Gothic, Unknown Skies and Hostage to the Devil designs, at the Causeway Producer Store: https://shop.causewaypictures.com/

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Cú Chulainn, Part Two | The Irish Gothic Podcast

The story of Cú Chulainn continues.

In Part Two, we follow the legendary warrior deeper into the violence, prophecy and tragedy that made him one of the most enduring figures in Irish mythology.

Drawing on the Ulster Cycle, this episode explores the darker side of the hero’s legend: supernatural forces, terrible choices and the fate awaiting Ireland’s greatest warrior.

Listen to The Irish Gothic Podcast for atmospheric journeys through Ireland’s mythology, folklore, hauntings and forgotten histories.

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Start with Part 1: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2254604/episodes/19547073-episode-twelve-cu-chulainn-part-one

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Irish Gothic explores Ireland’s folklore, mythology and ghost stories with Chris Patterson and Spence Wright. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CausewayPicturesNetwork Follow on Instagram: @irishgothicpod Support Irish Gothic: https://buymeacoffee.com/irishgothicpod More episodes: https://irishgothicpod.buzzsprout.com Produced by Causeway Pictures. © Causeway Podcast Network. Support the shows and browse official Causeway merchandise, including Irish Gothic, Unknown Skies and Hostage to the Devil designs, at the Causeway Producer Store: https://shop.causewaypictures.com/

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Irish Gothic: Cú Chulainn, Part One

In this episode of Irish Gothic, Spence Wright and Chris Patterson begin the story of Cú Chulainn, one of the great warrior figures of Irish mythology.

Born as Setanta, he is a child marked by strength, violence, destiny, and terrible promise. From his early life to the moment he takes on the name Cú Chulainn, Part One looks at the making of a hero whose legend is as brutal as it is enduring.

This is not a clean heroic tale. It is a story of blood, honour, prophecy, rage, and the old world of Ulster myth.

Join us as we step into a world of warriors, kings, omens, and the boy who would become the Hound of Ulster.

Subscribe for more Irish Gothic stories, folklore, myth, and strange histories from Ireland.

Continue with Part 2: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2254604/episodes/19617617-episode-thirteen-cu-chulainn-part-two

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Irish Gothic explores Ireland’s folklore, mythology and ghost stories with Chris Patterson and Spence Wright. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CausewayPicturesNetwork Follow on Instagram: @irishgothicpod Support Irish Gothic: https://buymeacoffee.com/irishgothicpod More episodes: https://irishgothicpod.buzzsprout.com Produced by Causeway Pictures. © Causeway Podcast Network. Support the shows and browse official Causeway merchandise, including Irish Gothic, Unknown Skies and Hostage to the Devil designs, at the Causeway Producer Store: https://shop.causewaypictures.com/

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Welcome to Season 4 of the Irish Gothic Podcast.

In this episode, we explore The Morrígan, one of the most powerful and unsettling figures in Irish mythology.

Associated with war, fate, prophecy and death, The Morrígan appears across early Irish texts as a goddess, shapeshifter and omen of conflict. Often linked to crows and ravens, she moves between the battlefield and the supernatural, warning of bloodshed and influencing the fate of warriors and kings.

We look at the stories behind her legend, her connection to Cú Chulainn, and why The Morrígan still holds such a strong place in Irish folklore and modern culture.

Subscribe to Irish Gothic for more stories drawn from Irish myth, folklore, history and the supernatural.

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Irish Gothic explores Ireland’s folklore, mythology and ghost stories with Chris Patterson and Spence Wright. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CausewayPicturesNetwork Follow on Instagram: @irishgothicpod Support Irish Gothic: https://buymeacoffee.com/irishgothicpod More episodes: https://irishgothicpod.buzzsprout.com Produced by Causeway Pictures. © Causeway Podcast Network. Support the shows and browse official Causeway merchandise, including Irish Gothic, Unknown Skies and Hostage to the Devil designs, at the Causeway Producer Store: https://shop.causewaypictures.com/

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An announcement from June 2026 introducing the new Irish Gothic series.

The Morrígan episode is now available.

Listen to The Morrígan: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2254604/episodes/19479009-episode-eleven-the-morrigan

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Irish Gothic explores Ireland’s folklore, mythology and ghost stories with Chris Patterson and Spence Wright. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CausewayPicturesNetwork Follow on Instagram: @irishgothicpod Support Irish Gothic: https://buymeacoffee.com/irishgothicpod More episodes: https://irishgothicpod.buzzsprout.com Produced by Causeway Pictures. © Causeway Podcast Network. Support the shows and browse official Causeway merchandise, including Irish Gothic, Unknown Skies and Hostage to the Devil designs, at the Causeway Producer Store: https://shop.causewaypictures.com/

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Welcome to Irish Gothic Bitesize, a short-form companion to the Irish Gothic podcast.

In this episode, Spence Wright explores the work of Sam Henry, the Coleraine-born folklorist, song collector, and storyteller best known for his Songs of the People series. Henry travelled through rural Ulster gathering songs, folklore, and local tales, preserving oral traditions before they were lost.

This episode also celebrates the work of Colin Irwin, a modern storyteller, folk singer, and songwriter who has revisited Henry’s folklore through The Arn Hagg, a collection published by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.

Spence reads Fire and Brimstone at Duncrue, a dark coastal legend filled with castles, crusaders, betrayal, vengeance, fire, and ghosts on the Antrim coast.

This is a bite-sized taste of the myths, stories, places, and people that shape Irish Gothic.

Presented by Spence Wright

Produced by Irish Gothic

From Causeway Pictures

Listen, subscribe, and join us as we explore the darker edge of Irish myth, folklore, and legend.

Support the show

Irish Gothic explores Ireland’s folklore, mythology and ghost stories with Chris Patterson and Spence Wright. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CausewayPicturesNetwork Follow on Instagram: @irishgothicpod Support Irish Gothic: https://buymeacoffee.com/irishgothicpod More episodes: https://irishgothicpod.buzzsprout.com Produced by Causeway Pictures. © Causeway Podcast Network. Support the shows and browse official Causeway merchandise, including Irish Gothic, Unknown Skies and Hostage to the Devil designs, at the Causeway Producer Store: https://shop.causewaypictures.com/

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Guest storyteller Eliza, Spence’s daughter, shares a short tale of the leprechaun.

Listen to this Irish Gothic Bites episode for a playful story about Ireland’s legendary trickster.

Producer: Rebecca Alcorn

Support the show

Irish Gothic explores Ireland’s folklore, mythology and ghost stories with Chris Patterson and Spence Wright. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CausewayPicturesNetwork Follow on Instagram: @irishgothicpod Support Irish Gothic: https://buymeacoffee.com/irishgothicpod More episodes: https://irishgothicpod.buzzsprout.com Produced by Causeway Pictures. © Causeway Podcast Network. Support the shows and browse official Causeway merchandise, including Irish Gothic, Unknown Skies and Hostage to the Devil designs, at the Causeway Producer Store: https://shop.causewaypictures.com/