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

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/irish-history-podcast-778168/from-the-banshee-to-burial-the-strange-history-of-irish-funerals
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/irish-history-podcast-778168/from-the-banshee-to-burial-the-strange-history-of-irish-funerals.md
Podcast: [Irish History Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/irish-history-podcast-778168)
Published: 2026-04-15T03:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/irishhistory/episodes/from-the-banshee-to-burial-the-strange-history-of-irish-fune
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/irishhistory/e/69de51bc964c5cf3162abad7/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/irish-history-podcast-778168/episodes/from-the-banshee-to-burial-the-strange-history-of-irish-funerals
Duration seconds: 1867

## Resource

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 https://shows.acast.com/irishhistory/episodes/the-irish-wake-a-history Sources * Patricia Lysaght, The Banshee: The Irish Death-Messenger https://archive.org/details/bansheeirishdeat0000lysa * St. John Seymour, True Irish Ghost Stories https://archive.org/details/trueirishghostst00seymiala Duchas.ie, the National Folklore Archive https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4602737/4599804/4634242 https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4427971/4362341/4466724 https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4649683/4646384/4650807 https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4427866/4351921/4435336 https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4649683/4646384/4650807 https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4758475/4747226/4779806 https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/5008831/4959379/5072669 https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4623003/4622767/4630843 https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4742070/4732588/48…

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