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 them if they are superstitious.
00:22 – They talk about putting new shoes on a table.
00:54 – Discussion about the “knife to the floor” superstition.
01:08 – Calvin says that if you put your foot across the knife to make the shape of a cross, it will stop the bad luck.
01:18 – Mick asks if they’ve heard that an itch in your ear means someone is talking about you.
01:25 – They say an itchy ear means someone is talking about you.
01:32 – They say an itchy hand means you’re going to get money.
01:50 – Talking about how an itchy nose means you’re going to get into a fight, and debating whether it's real or not.
02:24 – Mick asks what they do if an ambulance passes.
02:55 – They retell what you’re supposed to do when an ambulance passes.
03:32 – Talking about people blessing themselves when passing a chapel, to give thanks to God.
04:05 – Retelling why you bless yourself passing a church.
04:36 – Talking about why you should never take anything from a graveyard.
05:15 – Lighting a candle in the window on All Souls’ Night, and in a church to remember the dead.
05:55 – Retelling about lighting candles — one of them talks about lighting candles for his grandparents.
06:42 – Getting the ring in the bairín breac.
06:53 – Divination games – picking petals off a flower.
07:22 – Retelling the “You love me – you love me not” game, but with money.
08:01 – Lee’s Grandad told him you shouldn’t wish or pray for money.
08:42 – Calvin says the same — his Nanna told him not to pray for money.
08:54 – Magpie verses, and saluting the magpie.
09:35 – Mick asks if they were ever told never to kill a spider.
09:47 – Talking about money spiders — believed they’d hatch into a big ball of money.
10:08 – Telling the Kelly’s Field story – Headless Horseman and Banshees.
10:45 – Mick asks about a place called "Dallies"?
11:11 – Lee talks about the rich man and servants who lived there – stories from his Grandad.
11:46 – Calvin retells the 2005 story of dog bones coming back up — adds that the owner went in and the bones came up again.
12:15 – A girl fell in off a swing but got out fast enough.
12:43 – They say the Banshee is the same as the Green Lady.
12:46 – Retelling of the dog in the swamp — the owner follows in.
13:18 – Calvin retells the story of the girl falling off the swing.
13:36 – Lee tells about a girl on a swing tied to a tree in Headless Horseman territory — he tried to make her headless.
14:18 – Calvin tells the 2005 story of the haunted toilet.
14:49 – Mick asks them about sleep paralysis.
15:20 – Calvin tells how you’re not supposed to cross the Shannon Bridge between 12 and 1 o’clock — Bishop’s Lady and Drunken Thady story, with scrape marks on the bridge.
16:25 – Lee gives his version of the Bishop’s Lady story.
17:03 – Mick asks if they were ever told there are ghosts at Halloween — Calvin says that’s why you wear costumes, so the ghosts think you’re monsters.
17:26 – Calvin talks about the Witching Hour and the Devil’s Hour.
17:46 – Splitting a pole is bad luck.
18:29 – Calvin says if you step on a crack it’ll break your mother’s back — the Banshee lives in the crack.
18:43 – Lee says he was told a crocodile would come out of the crack.
18:58 – Good luck to keep your jumper inside out if you put it on that way.
19:15 – Calvin tells the 2005 Milkman story.
19:53 – Lee’s Great-Grandfather told him never to take anything from a Fairy Fort.
20:37 – Lee repeats the story about never taking a branch from a Fairy Fort.
21:09 – Calvin says you shouldn’t whistle indoors because the fairies will come and take little boys — that’s why they were dressed as girls until the age of four.
21:38 – Mick asks if they believe in fairies. Both say they do. They talk about a Fairy Bush that kept growing back.
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 them if they are superstitious.
00:22 – They talk about putting new shoes on a table.
00:54 – Discussion about the “knife to the floor” superstition.
01:08 – Calvin says that if you put your foot across the knife to make the shape of a cross, it will stop the bad luck.
01:18 – Mick asks if they’ve heard that an itch in your ear means someone is talking about you.
01:25 – They say an itchy ear means someone is talking about you.
01:32 – They say an itchy hand means you’re going to get money.
01:50 – Talking about how an itchy nose means you’re going to get into a fight, and debating whether it's real or not.
02:24 – Mick asks what they do if an ambulance passes.
02:55 – They retell what you’re supposed to do when an ambulance passes.
03:32 – Talking about people blessing themselves when passing a chapel, to give thanks to God.
04:05 – Retelling why you bless yourself passing a church.
04:36 – Talking about why you should never take anything from a graveyard.
05:15 – Lighting a candle in the window on All Souls’ Night, and in a church to remember the dead.
05:55 – Retelling about lighting candles — one of them talks about lighting candles for his grandparents.
06:42 – Getting the ring in the bairín breac.
06:53 – Divination games – picking petals off a flower.
07:22 – Retelling the “You love me – you love me not” game, but with money.
08:01 – Lee’s Grandad told him you shouldn’t wish or pray for money.
08:42 – Calvin says the same — his Nanna told him not to pray for money.
08:54 – Magpie verses, and saluting the magpie.
09:35 – Mick asks if they were ever told never to kill a spider.
09:47 – Talking about money spiders — believed they’d hatch into a big ball of money.
10:08 – Telling the Kelly’s Field story – Headless Horseman and Banshees.
10:45 – Mick asks about a place called "Dallies"?
11:11 – Lee talks about the rich man and servants who lived there – stories from his Grandad.
11:46 – Calvin retells the 2005 story of dog bones coming back up — adds that the owner went in and the bones came up again.
12:15 – A girl fell in off a swing but got out fast enough.
12:43 – They say the Banshee is the same as the Green Lady.
12:46 – Retelling of the dog in the swamp — the owner follows in.
13:18 – Calvin retells the story of the girl falling off the swing.
13:36 – Lee tells about a girl on a swing tied to a tree in Headless Horseman territory — he tried to make her headless.
14:18 – Calvin tells the 2005 story of the haunted toilet.
14:49 – Mick asks them about sleep paralysis.
15:20 – Calvin tells how you’re not supposed to cross the Shannon Bridge between 12 and 1 o’clock — Bishop’s Lady and Drunken Thady story, with scrape marks on the bridge.
16:25 – Lee gives his version of the Bishop’s Lady story.
17:03 – Mick asks if they were ever told there are ghosts at Halloween — Calvin says that’s why you wear costumes, so the ghosts think you’re monsters.
17:26 – Calvin talks about the Witching Hour and the Devil’s Hour.
17:46 – Splitting a pole is bad luck.
18:29 – Calvin says if you step on a crack it’ll break your mother’s back — the Banshee lives in the crack.
18:43 – Lee says he was told a crocodile would come out of the crack.
18:58 – Good luck to keep your jumper inside out if you put it on that way.
19:15 – Calvin tells the 2005 Milkman story.
19:53 – Lee’s Great-Grandfather told him never to take anything from a Fairy Fort.
20:37 – Lee repeats the story about never taking a branch from a Fairy Fort.
21:09 – Calvin says you shouldn’t whistle indoors because the fairies will come and take little boys — that’s why they were dressed as girls until the age of four.
21:38 – Mick asks if they believe in fairies. Both say they do. They talk about a Fairy Bush that kept growing back.
