Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
This collection of folklore was recorded and produced by Michael Fortune and Aileen Lambert, facilitated by The GAFF and supported by The Arts Council, Limerick Arts Office, St. Mary's National School and Thomond Primary School.
List of Contents:
00:00 – Mick asks about having long hair. Alanna May then talks about the Banshee’s comb.
00:45 – Mick asks if they ever picked up a comb off the road.
01:22 – Mick asks if they have any other good luck or bad luck things. Alanna shows him her holy medal. Chloe talks about holding her lucky charm tight when she passes a church.
02:08 – Mick asks about what they do when passing a church. They talk about blessing themselves and also about funerals — funny comment. Chloe is very reflective. They also talk about what to do when an ambulance passes.
02:55 – Alanna talks about blessing herself when she sees an ambulance. Chloe joins in.
03:32 – Talk about if your nose is itchy and what it means.
03:47 – “Step on a crack and break your mother’s back.”
04:18 – They talk about splitting a pole — comes with actions. Great clip.
04:45 – Chloe talks about bad luck, and Alanna joins in. Very funny. They talk about hexing your bad luck by crossing your fingers when walking under a ladder.
05:27 – Mick asks about a magpie, and they share their superstitions — from waving to reciting the rhyme.
06:12 – They talk about plucking the petals off a flower to figure out if the boy they fancy loves them or not. It’s an old game, but they still play it.
06:53 – Mick asks about a money spider landing on their top.
07:07 – They talk about a haunted field in Moyross. Alanna describes seeing a four-legged creature. Chloe has a funny take, then talks about her school being haunted. Alanna tells a great story about how a photo of her friend’s brother keeps falling off the wall in October.
08:56 – Bad luck to meet someone on the stairs — very funny.
09:39 – Chloe explains to Alanna that Mick is saying “baby.”
09:43 – Alanna talks about wearing a St. Philomena’s cord — great description.
10:50 – Alanna talks about a holy well in Southill.
11:14 – Headless Horseman story from Moyross — same story told by lads 20 years ago. They listened to the video and now tell it as fact. Great to see.
12:15 – Great story about the Bishop’s Lady and her fight with Drunken Thady. Chloe repeats the story but has the Banshee in it and says she found it on Google!
13:54 – Mick asks about the Green Lady. The girls think she is the Banshee.
14:18 – Chloe remembers a good luck ritual — touching the scrape marks of the Bishop’s Lady.
14:53 – Alanna talks about how her mother leaves flowers, biscuits, and candles for her parents on Christmas night. Chloe remembers the same. Great accounts.
16:03 – Alanna talks about cleaning her grandparents’ grave. She also talks about leaving food at the grave on Christmas. They also discuss other items left at graves.
17:26 – Mick asks about getting money in their handbags. “Handseling” a handbag is the term Mick uses.
18:07 – Mick asks what they do for good luck and bad luck. Alanna says you’re not meant to ask God for money.
18:39 – They talk about preparing for their wedding. Great moment.
19:23 – Getting their hair clipped on a Friday, especially on Good Friday — a strong tradition within the Traveller community.
20:11 – Never throw out the hair that gathers in the brush outside, or your hair will fall out.
20:48 – When they see a yellow reg car — brilliant. They explain the tradition: it also counts for an orange car, and once you get a dig in the arm, you’re “blessed for the day.”
21:45 – Crossing your fingers when telling a lie to counteract the lie — great accounts here.
This collection of folklore was recorded and produced by Michael Fortune and Aileen Lambert, facilitated by The GAFF and supported by The Arts Council, Limerick Arts Office, St. Mary's National School and Thomond Primary School.
List of Contents:
00:00 – Mick asks about having long hair. Alanna May then talks about the Banshee’s comb.
00:45 – Mick asks if they ever picked up a comb off the road.
01:22 – Mick asks if they have any other good luck or bad luck things. Alanna shows him her holy medal. Chloe talks about holding her lucky charm tight when she passes a church.
02:08 – Mick asks about what they do when passing a church. They talk about blessing themselves and also about funerals — funny comment. Chloe is very reflective. They also talk about what to do when an ambulance passes.
02:55 – Alanna talks about blessing herself when she sees an ambulance. Chloe joins in.
03:32 – Talk about if your nose is itchy and what it means.
03:47 – “Step on a crack and break your mother’s back.”
04:18 – They talk about splitting a pole — comes with actions. Great clip.
04:45 – Chloe talks about bad luck, and Alanna joins in. Very funny. They talk about hexing your bad luck by crossing your fingers when walking under a ladder.
05:27 – Mick asks about a magpie, and they share their superstitions — from waving to reciting the rhyme.
06:12 – They talk about plucking the petals off a flower to figure out if the boy they fancy loves them or not. It’s an old game, but they still play it.
06:53 – Mick asks about a money spider landing on their top.
07:07 – They talk about a haunted field in Moyross. Alanna describes seeing a four-legged creature. Chloe has a funny take, then talks about her school being haunted. Alanna tells a great story about how a photo of her friend’s brother keeps falling off the wall in October.
08:56 – Bad luck to meet someone on the stairs — very funny.
09:39 – Chloe explains to Alanna that Mick is saying “baby.”
09:43 – Alanna talks about wearing a St. Philomena’s cord — great description.
10:50 – Alanna talks about a holy well in Southill.
11:14 – Headless Horseman story from Moyross — same story told by lads 20 years ago. They listened to the video and now tell it as fact. Great to see.
12:15 – Great story about the Bishop’s Lady and her fight with Drunken Thady. Chloe repeats the story but has the Banshee in it and says she found it on Google!
13:54 – Mick asks about the Green Lady. The girls think she is the Banshee.
14:18 – Chloe remembers a good luck ritual — touching the scrape marks of the Bishop’s Lady.
14:53 – Alanna talks about how her mother leaves flowers, biscuits, and candles for her parents on Christmas night. Chloe remembers the same. Great accounts.
16:03 – Alanna talks about cleaning her grandparents’ grave. She also talks about leaving food at the grave on Christmas. They also discuss other items left at graves.
17:26 – Mick asks about getting money in their handbags. “Handseling” a handbag is the term Mick uses.
18:07 – Mick asks what they do for good luck and bad luck. Alanna says you’re not meant to ask God for money.
18:39 – They talk about preparing for their wedding. Great moment.
19:23 – Getting their hair clipped on a Friday, especially on Good Friday — a strong tradition within the Traveller community.
20:11 – Never throw out the hair that gathers in the brush outside, or your hair will fall out.
20:48 – When they see a yellow reg car — brilliant. They explain the tradition: it also counts for an orange car, and once you get a dig in the arm, you’re “blessed for the day.”
21:45 – Crossing your fingers when telling a lie to counteract the lie — great accounts here.
