Storytelling evening with Eddie Lenihan
On 15th May join us at the Sanctuary for a memorable evening of storytelling with renowned Irish storyteller Eddie Lenihan, as he explores the ancient festival of Bealtaine through the rich traditions of Irish folklore.
Bealtaine, celebrated at the beginning of May, marks the turning of the year toward summer in the old Irish calendar. It is a time long associated with fire, renewal, and the mysterious thinning of the veil between the human world and the realm of the sídhe. For generations, stories told around hearths and gathering places kept the spirit of this seasonal festival alive. On this special evening, Eddie Lenihan will bring those traditions vividly to life.
One of Ireland’s most respected traditional storytellers and folklorists, Eddie Lenihan has spent decades collecting, preserving, and sharing the stories, beliefs, and oral traditions of rural Ireland. With warmth, humour, and deep knowledge, he invites listeners into a world where fairy paths must be respected, ancient customs still hold meaning, and the old calendar continues to shape the rhythm of the land.
Through a selection of tales rooted in the Bealtaine season, Eddie will guide the audience through stories of enchantment, wisdom, and mischief drawn from Ireland’s folklore tradition. Expect encounters with the Good People, reflections on old seasonal customs, and stories that reveal how our ancestors understood this powerful moment in the turning year. These are stories that carry echoes of bonfires on hilltops, cattle driven between protective flames, and communities gathering to mark the arrival of light and growth.
Whether you are already familiar with Irish folklore or simply curious to experience the magic of a master storyteller, this evening offers a rare opportunity to hear these traditions shared in the way they were meant to be experienced: spoken aloud, person to person.
Eddie Lenihan’s storytelling is both captivating and deeply rooted in place, drawing audiences into a living tradition that continues to inspire wonder. As Bealtaine invites us to celebrate the coming of summer and the vitality of the natural world, these stories remind us of the imagination, beliefs, and cultural heritage that have shaped Ireland for centuries.
Come along and settle in for an evening of laughter, mystery, and timeless storytelling as Eddie Lenihan opens a doorway into the folklore of Bealtaine.
