Show Notes
Before she became known as Ireland's "last witch", Bridget Cleary was a daughter, a wife, a dressmaker and a young woman with ambitions of her own. In this episode, we explore her life, her background and the events of that tragic night in March 1895. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from The Last Witch Bridget Cleary Podcast
After the six episodes- I have a conversation with Ann Williamson, Barry John Kinsella and Professor Stiofáin Ó Cadhla about the infamous case, folklore and their experience making the podcast. I really enjoyed this recap as it gave me a chance to re-connect with the three of them and gave them a chance to meet and share their experiences, knowledge and opinions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The shocking evidence begins to emerge. In this dramatic re-enactment, we return to the pre-trial proceedings following the murder of Bridget Cleary in Ballyvadlea in 1895. Drawing on newspaper reports that recorded the evidence day by day, we hear the testimony of Michael Cleary, her cousins, her father and her aunt. What did they say happened to Bridget? What had been happening inside the Cleary household? And how did a case that began with a woman being declared a witch become one of the most notorious murder cases in Irish history?
This week I'm joined by poet Milena Williamson, author of Into the Night That Flies So Fast. We discuss the Bridget Cleary case, the inspiration behind her poetry, and she reads a selection from the collection. I also visit the stone shed where Bridget's autopsy took place. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week I'm taking a whistle-stop history tour of Fethard, the town that Michael Cleary went to fetch the doctor for his sick wife. I also take to Fin Dwyer, presenter of The Irish History Podcast, and we discuss the impact that the famine had on the population of Ballyvadlea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, I'm talking to award-winning director Anne Williamson. Anne is from Cloneen and grew up hearing stories about Bridget Cleary. She wrote and directed the award-winning independent short film Bridget. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.