As well as celebrating the beginning of winter, the pagan festival of Samhain was said to mark the time when the veil separating the living from the dead was at its thinnest.
In fact, many of the traditions we follow on the night of October 31st - such as bonfires, carved up veg and scary costumes - were originally used to ward off unwelcome spirits.
To help you creep into spooky season and learn more about the origins of Halloween, we've found some spine-tingling Irish podcasts that will have you listening out for Banshees in no time.
Hosted by actor Kevin C. Olohan, Fireside is an entertaining and educational podcast that delves into the history, craft, and culture of Irish mythology and folklore. From Brian Boru and Cú Chulainn to Deirdre of the Sorrows and The Lady O'Connor, this storytelling podcast will give you a much-needed break from reality.
Dim the lights and listen to your fireside bard explore the gothic tales of Irish poetry, music, and literature. In Fireside of Horror II, Olahan reads the eerie ballad of The Lake of the Dismal Swamp, and discusses the pagan feast of Samhain.
For even more spine-chilling content, you can listen back to his episodes on The Piper and The Púca, The Banshee Welcoming Party, Fireside of Horror as well as his recent recording of The Headless Horseman and The Haunted Cellar.
Historian, author and podcaster Fin Dwyer is the knowledgeable host of this historical podcast. Having worked in archaeology for several years, and with a master's degree in archaeology from UCD behind him, Dwyer had his sights set on becoming a modern-day Indiana Jones. However, between the recession and some health issues, he decided to turn to writing and podcasting instead.
While the show mostly focuses on medieval history and the Great Famine, some episodes are perfect for Halloween. We recommend Jack the Ripper and Irish Connections, The Hellfire Club - Debauchery in the Dublin Mountains, and Kilkenny Witchcraft Trial of 1324.
A chilling radio station from RTÉjr has mysteriously appeared in time for Halloween for all the family to enjoy. Spooky FM's most terrifying show, Scare Me If You Can, is hosted by Uncle Vlad, a vampire from the heart of Transylvania, and Zombetty, surprisingly chipper considering she’s been dead for 100 years.
It’s time for the children of Ireland to turn the tables and scare the devilish duo with their own tales of terror! You can listen here.
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Every Tuesday, Sophie White, Jen O'Dwyer, and Cassie Delaney investigate and report on the lesser-known details of the bizarre stories that you've seen while scrolling through your social media.
Their topics of interest range from true crime and conspiracy theories to con artists and the paranormal, as well as general chats and laughs among the gals.
In the run-up to October 31st, we'll be listening to A Guest Ghost Story and The Haunted Spots of Dublin and their Halloween Spooktacular.
On Sexy Beasts, comedian and podcaster extraordinaire Tony Cantwell and his co-host Marc Jago, explore a menagerie of monsters from folklore, mythology, and movies. Using their specially formulated system, and armed with extensive Wikipedia research, the duo rate the flaws and merits of each beast so as to find the best of the bunch.
The two took a break from appraising apparitions in 2019, but resurrected the podcast in 2020 just in time for spooky season. In the run-up to Halloween, Tony and Jago were on a mission to find the best movie monster of all time. You can listen back here.
With their pet cat Tiny Bim by their side, Irish woman Emma and Englishman Dan have created a podcast dedicated to paranormal tales and ghostly experiences. Discussing everything from hauntings, ghosts, death, and aliens, the couple review their favourite spooky shows and movies, share listeners' ghost stories, and speak with cynical skeptics.
If you want to send a chill up your spine, we recommend you check out their 2023 31 Days of Terror series.
Popcorn Boyz with Killian and Mark
Hosted by comedian Killian Sundermann and Mark Byrne, Popcorn Boyz (formerly MK UltraFilm) is a movie review podcast for recorded over voice messages. From cinematic classics to trending Netflix hits, the duo bring their own unique rating system their variety of picks.
The two previously posted a Samhain Seance Pod where they reviewed classic horror films including The Omen, Hellraiser, and The Thing. They also delivered a spooky special covering four "hot new horror flicks": Candyman, Possessor, Titane, and Host.
They've also hosted a Horror Special, reviewing Bodies Bodies Bodies, Nightmare on Elm Street, The Evil Dead, and Flux Gourmet.
Written and directed by Peter Dunne and produced by Liam Geraghty, Petrified is a horror anthology podcast from a darker Ireland that just landed second place in the category of 'Best Fiction Podcast' at the inaugural Irish Podcast Awards. This fictionalised series tells the tales of ordinary people encountering the supernatural, and their terrifying fates.
Each episode is sure to send shivers up your spine but we recommend starting with Ghost Estate to get you in the Halloween mood.
Presented by Irish film critic Gordon Hayden, Scared Sh!tless is the perfect series for movie-lovers to listen to during the lead up to Halloween. Each week Gordon interviews horror icons about their careers in the genre along and speaks to film academics and critics about the enduring appeal of horror movies.
Happy Halloween!
