From the Banshee to Burial: The Strange History of Irish Funerals

Irish funerals and wakes are one of the more famous aspects of our culture. Often taking the form of a celebration, it has been said we do death well. However the modern Irish funeral is not the timeless tradition we often imagine. In this episode of the Irish History Podcast I explore the strange history of Irish funerals and the lost world of 19th-century death customs. Drawing on folklore and first-hand accounts, I explore the history behind the banshee (bean sí) and other less well known death omens. I also trace the strange and unsettling rituals, superstitions and wake traditions that once surrounded death in Ireland - customs that can be difficult to relate to today. From the banshee to the grave, this is a journey into a lost world of grief, ritual and belief. Written, researched, and presented by Fin Dwyer Sound: Kate Dunlea Voice Actors: Aidan Crowe and Therese Murray If you want to learn more about wakes, check out this episode recorded in the Irish Wake Museum Sources * Patricia Lysaght, The Banshee: The Irish Death-Messenger * St. John Seymour, True Irish Ghost Stories Duchas.ie, the National Folklore Archive Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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From the Banshee to Burial: The Strange History of Irish Funerals is an episode from Irish History Podcast by Fin Dwyer.

This episode is 31:07 long.

This episode was published on Apr 15, 2026.

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