Archive Page

This archive is the culmination of six exhausting yet inspiring months of researching, rehearsing and performing our stories in Galway City Museum as part of the Winter Programme 2007 / 2008.  It is by no means the sum total of our repertoires but rather an ample representation.  We do hope you enjoy it!

                                    Clare and Rab 

To watch a story, simply click on its title.

Lord Kirwan’s Bride:  Set at the faery ring at Cnoc ma in Tuam, Galway, this tale unwinds one of the few legends that is known about Finvarra, Lord of the faeries of the West. A tale of romance, skullduggery and enchantments.

Toby’s Wish: *Toby's Wish*: Set in pre Celtic Tiger Galway this tale has bodhrans, goats, lusty love on the banks of the river, and a new take on the Galway Arts Festival. The story originated in a 'true' story that Rab heard from Ellie the musician who heard it from Paddy the fisherman who knew the cousin of the man who was actually there when it happened…

Bearskin: Adapted from the Brothers Grimm, this journey story touches the dark and light of the human condition.

O’Quinn and the Swan Maiden (The Ruin of the O’Quinn Clan):
This beautiful old folktale tells the story of the demise of the O Quinn family in the 1500’s. This version is an amalgamation and expansion of the different versions of the story listed in T. J. Westropp’s Folklore of Clare: a folklore survey of County Clare and County Clare folk-tales and myths.

The Coming of the Milesians: The Tuatha de Danaan ruled Ireland with their music and magic for hundreds of years. This mesmerizing tale tells of how the Milesians and Gaels won the heart of Ireland and defeated the Tuatha de Danaan, adapted from Marie Heaney’s Over Nine Waves. 

Moonbog:The haunting tale of an Irish American who buys an Irish castle on the edge of an ancient bog, and decides to clear the bog, with terrifying results. Very loosely adapted form H. P. Lovecraft’s story of the same name.

Leila and the Gingerbread Baby: Adapted from Geraldine McGaughern’s 100 World Myths and Legends, this beautiful folktale from Palestine is a typical wise woman story that will warm any heart.

Lusmore: A classic old Irish folktale from T. C. Croker’s Fairy legends and traditions of the South of Ireland that tells the story of Lusmore the hunchback and his meeting with the faery folk on the edge of Knockgrafton.  A warning tale that has been told all over Ireland.

Peggy: A dark tale about May’s Eve, the twin night to Halloween and the strange things that can happen if you find yourself walking the lanes after the safety of sunlight has gone. From T. C. Croker’s Fairy legends and traditions of the South of Ireland

Cupid and Psyche - Part One: The tale of the world’s most famous lovers, a beautiful tale of love and longing, betrayal and jealousy that will enchant and delight. From The Golden Ass by Lucius Apuleius

The Chalice: An ancient wise woman tale of a man and his daughter and the fortune and misfortune that befall them on their journey, adapted from a tale told to Clare by Pat Speight.

Morag and the Sky Princess: An old Scottish folktale of lust, frustration, dogs and embroidery! This story can be found in J. F. Campbell’s Popular Tales of the West Highlands Vol. 1 which is one of many text about religion, mythology, folklore and the esoteric freely available on that wonderful website: http://www.sacred-texts.com

How Cuchulann got his name: One of the older mythological Irish tales that tells of Cuchulann’s early days, his adventures with King Conor and how he was renamed Cuchulann from his original name Setanta.  A tale of high adventure adapted from Marie Heaney’s Over Nine Waves

Bomb Blasts and Bubbly:  A mesmerizing tale of friends that go off to war and the fates that befell them.  A brilliantly told tale of breathtaking quality that originated amongst the stories past down through Rab’s family.

Diarmuid and Grainne: The old Irish myth of the ill fated lovers running from Fionn Mac Cumhaill, running the length and breath of Ireland to be together.  A haunting love story adapted from various sources, including Marie Heaney’s Over Nine Waves, Penguin’s Ancient Irish myths and sagas and John Moriarty’s Dolmen Love.

The Wicked Woman:  A haunting folktale about a young couple and their struggle to have a child, and the fortunes that befall them when they succeed. This story was created by Rab after reading Gort Broc: The Evil Ones and other Tales from Beara; edited by Martin Verling; translated from Irish by U Ó Dálaigh. For details look at: http://www.martinverling.com

The Claddagh Story - City Beneath the waves: Adapted from a tale in David Thomson’s The People of the Sea: A Journey in Search of the Seal Legend this is a story of sorrow, lust, magic and survival from the Claddagh in Galway.

Cupid and Psyche - Part Two:The conclusion of the tale of the world’s most famous lovers; this story travels to hell and back to bring you its fantastic conclusion.

A Voice in the Dark: A weird tale that spins back to Ohio in the 1930’s, and the fate of a young woman on her way home from work…

The Legend of St. Enda:  The story of St Enda and St Brecan and the long rivalry that led to a famous race on the Aran Islands. The story is loosely based on the folklore of St. Enda collected by T.J. Westropp in his A Study in the Legends of the Connacht Coast, Ireland for the Folklore journal, now available at: http://links.jstor.org

Lady Mary and Mr. Fox: A thrilling old English folktale that unfolds the fortunes of the beautiful Lady Mary and her mysterious husband to be Mr Fox. 

Blue Bottle: A hilarious Irish folktale known throughout the land that tells of a struggling married couple and the strange man they encounter who changes their world forever. From T. C. Croker’s Fairy legends and traditions of the South of Ireland

The Wedding Feast:  A mesmerizing and erotic coming of age tale set at the time of the arranged wedding of a young girl.

Tarbuck Campbell’s Revelation: A dark tale of the Scottish literati, that reveals the story behind the social circles that make up the great and good of Scottish literary society. 

The Birth of Oisín:  The legendary love story of Fionn and Sadbh of the Tuatha de Danaan, and the birth of their son Oisin.  A tale of great beauty adapted from Marie Heaney’s Over Nine Waves.

The Death of Oisín:  The tale of how Oisin came to live in Tir na nOg, his return to Ireland and how he was betrayed by St. Patrick. Adapted from Oisin in Tir Na N-Og in Jeremiah Curtin’s Myths and Folk-lore of Ireland in: http://www.sacred-texts.com

Beloved:  An enchanting tale that tells of the world’s beginnings and how the sun and moon came to be, and the reason for the eclipse. An unforgettable tale of beauty and love.

Click to read a radio interview with Clare from Newstalk 106 - 108