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Spend an enchanted afternoon at Ardgillan Castle with Eddie Lenihan, one of Ireland’s last practising seanchaithe. Expect live music, deep-rooted folklore, and an intimate storytelling experience that’s part performance and part cultural fieldwork.
Spend an enchanted afternoon at Ardgillan Castle with Eddie Lenihan, one of Ireland’s last practising seanchaithe. Expect live music, deep-rooted folklore, and an intimate storytelling experience that’s part performance and part cultural fieldwork.
Book with Ardgillan Castle Ltd
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Operated by Ardgillan Castle Ltd · Co, County Dublin
Ardgillan Castle in County Dublin, Ireland, hosts an intimate afternoon with Eddie Lenihan, one of Ireland’s most revered seanchaithe. On June 20 at 3pm the Castle Drawing Room becomes a live chamber for folklore, live music, and storytelling. Tickets are €20, booking is essential, and the performance is restricted to adults aged 18 and over.
Eddie Lenihan is an author, broadcaster and keeper of oral tradition; he has been called “one of the greatest of Irish story-tellers” and “a national treasure.” In a small, focused setting like the Drawing Room his voice does more than relate plots — it restores rhythm to old landscapes, revives local place-names, and reopens the quieter passages of Ireland’s rural memory. This is not a lecture; it is a practice of seanchas, where myth, local history and voice converge.
The afternoon begins with live music that warms the room and eases listeners into the tales. Expect stories that lean on mature themes and complex folklore; organisers note the content may be unsuitable for younger audiences. The close seating, period architecture and crackle of conversation between pieces make the event part performance, part communal hearth. For travelers who want a cultural window into County Dublin beyond the usual tourist circuit, an hour or two here is a concentrated, memorable experience.
Practical details matter. Bring a printed or digital ticket, arrive early to secure seating, and dress for comfort—the Drawing Room can be cool even on summer afternoons. The venue’s historic rooms reward quiet attention: listen for details, names of places and the cadences that reveal deeper layers of local landscape and lore. If you’re researching Irish folklore, literature, or place-name traditions, this session with a practicing seanchaithe is an invaluable primer.
Why book this? Eddie Lenihan is one of a shrinking number of professional seanchaithe working in Ireland today. The event sits within An Ghrian Arts Festival at Ardgillan Castle, giving visitors a chance to pair storytelling with a walk around the castle grounds or a coastal stretch nearby. For international visitors, it’s a rare opportunity to encounter oral tradition delivered by a recognized practitioner in an authentic setting. Book early, expect live music and mature content, and arrive ready to listen: this is storytelling that carries the weathered voice of the land and the particular textures of Irish memory.
Lenihan also hosts the Tell Me A Story Podcast, and his sessions often draw on recordings, local interviews and field notes that give each tale geographic anchors. The performance language is English, and the festival format encourages conversation after the set — a chance to ask about sources, local placenames, or the seanchaithe’s techniques. Seating is limited; expect an intimate post-show exchange with other listeners. Always.
easy.
2 hours.
Minimal fitness required; attendees should be able to sit quietly for the duration.
Yes. This event is restricted to adults aged 18 and over due to mature storytelling content.
The session runs approximately two hours, including live music and a storytelling set.
The performance language is English.
Recording is generally discouraged; please keep phones on silent and ask permission before photographing performers.
The performance is in the Castle Drawing Room. Arrive early to find seating and orient yourself to the space.
Tickets are available through the event booking link; check the organiser’s booking page for cancellation policies and availability.
This session is part of the inaugural An Ghrian Arts Festival at Ardgillan Castle, highlighting living traditions of Irish storytelling.
Respect the historic interior by avoiding litter and loud behavior; stick to marked paths on the grounds to protect fragile habitats.
Ardgillan Castle Ltd, based in County Dublin, manages Ardgillan Castle and its surrounding demesne as a public historic site and events venue. The company offers a range of visitor experiences that showcase the estate's 18th‑century architecture and local heritage. Visitors can take the Ardgillan Castle Self Guided Tour to explore rooms associated with the Taylor family from 1738 to 1962, with a focused 30‑minute route and free tours for seniors on the first Wednesday of each month. Family-friendly workshops include Create Your Own Castle for children aged eight and up and a Weaving Workshop for Kids that combines storytelling with hands‑on weaving projects. Live cultural programming includes Trad Music in the Drawing Room, featuring performers Eoin, Molly, and Roisin on Uilleann pipes, tin whistle, Trad flute, and concertina. Garden experiences are led by head gardener Dominica McKevitt, who presents seasonal Garden Tours and Guided Garden Tours across the demesne. Ardgillan Castle Ltd emphasizes accurate interpretation and visitor safety, using trained guides and documented historical research. Facilities support accessibility, family visits, and school groups, and programming spans history, horticulture, craft, and music. As a steward of a recognised historic estate in County Dublin, Ardgillan Castle Ltd works with local partners to preserve the mansion, gardens, and community access. Clear schedules, published tour descriptions, and named event leaders provide transparency that visitors can rely on when planning a visit. Tickets and event details are published on official channels and seasonal schedules are regularly updated to reflect garden blooms and program changes frequently.
Book with Ardgillan Castle Ltd