Looking for charms to steal your neighbours butter? We got 'em. Looking for ways to keep your pesky neighbours from stealing your butter? We got 'em. Songs to better churn the butter? Got those too. Join Aran and Luke as they dive head first into the world of Irish Butter folklore and superstition. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll call the parish p…

His name is celebrated as an important figure of parliamentary democracy in the United Kingdom. Cromwell dispatched a tyrannical king, was the first Republican and an advocate for democracy. In Ireland his lasting effect is one of a genocidal tyrant. His consideration of the Irish people as inhuman and was self-professed , and the inhumanity for wh…

After the Plantation of Ulster in 1606, three McDonnell brothers, dispossessed, made their way south. One of them settled on swampy uncontested land in Dublin, claiming themselves as its monarch. Welcome to MUD ISLAND. A refuge at the fringes of Dublin Society, Aran and Luke seek to learn of its colourful history of Smugglers, Highwaymen and MORE. …

Unbeknownst to Luke when we started recording this episode, it was going to be dominated by Rat stories. There are Bananas too. Some may say we had too much fun recording this one, I say there's never such a thing. Join us in the fun backed by the beautiful ambient music of Gareth Quinn Redmond

ARAN and Luke turn to the Irish National Folklore Collection's Duchás Database and Irish mythology to read you the most effective bedtime story known to man.FROM spooky bedtime stories about witch's sleep charms, TO the Goddess of Sleep Caer and her lad, Aengus, NOT to mention some folk cures on how to get a good night's rest, IT'S all a dreamy doo…

THE black stuff, stout, porter.IT'S synonymous with Ireland, but why?WHAT'S the difference between stout and porter? PISRÓGS barrels into an episode of songs, stories and accounts all about the substance we love to make us silly.MOST importantly we look at GUINNESS.YOU probably know all of the tremendous work that Guinness has done for Ireland, Dub…

GAELS - Forest People. THIS episode will follow Irish trees through time from: The temperate rainforest which existed before humanity's arrival on the island, to the 1% of tree cover that remains in our wake. FROM the celts who venerated trees, to the Normans who cut them down liberally and the continued negligence by the Free State all the way to …

MERFOLK - Irish Mermaids - The Merrow (Murúch), Selkies & Siren. IN this week's episode the lads travel from our seas, rivers and lakes through GALWAY and LEITRIM to KERRY and ROSCOMMON in search of MERFOLK - half-human half-aquatic beings which litter the mythology of almost every country. THE BOYS are tracing the myth of Merfolk in Ireland from t…

In this episode, Luke and Aran fill your mug with all the seasonal delights you can gulp down. Join the boys by the toasty fire as they warm you up for a delightfully festive season. If you have any stories you'd like to share please message us @pisrogspodcast on Instagram or email us on pisrogspodcast@gmail.com We would only love to hear any stori…

LOCALLY sourced IRISH FOLKLORE, stories, cures and laughs based on the words YOU, the listener, chose via our instagram: @pisrogspodcast (God help us) THE boys titter their way through tales of: GEESE screaming down children's necks, WEASELS jumping down horses ears, GIANTS stealing cows, EELS eating loved ones! ALL served with piping hot tea and t…

THE first Irish witch burning, and the first known record of a Coven in the world. PETRONILLA de Meath was tortured, interrogated and eventually burnt at the stake on the 3rd of November 1324, in Kilkenny. HER charge? Witchcraft. "AND though she was indeed herself an adept in this accursed art of theirs, she said she was nothing in comparison with …

Guess what? Aran is back....... And he's broke; shoes, wallet, the whole lot. So no better man to find than that Leprechaun with his fat crock of gold. In this episode Aran and Luke pull together stories from the ages to find the origins of the Leprechaun. How did all the tropes come to be? Hop in and found out with some gorgeous ambient music acco…

OH THE BRAIN, the thing piloting your swiping fingers and fidgeting thumbs right now.HE'S a pretty complex boy,BUT would you believe that all the way back in the 7th century a monk by the name of Bricin was poking holes in injured warrior's skulls AND doing a damn good job on it too?LEARN about the:THOUSAND-year-old medical art of trepanation.GOD o…

LABIAS and Gonads, the foreplay has ended. It's time for our episode of bollocks on the GENITALS NA HÉIREANN. LEARN ABOUT: Queen Medbh's insatiable sexual appetite, her STALLION lover and the time she carved a new path in the river with the power BETWEEN HER LEGS. IRISH APHRODISIACS such as badger mickey and rabbit skin. EX-PRIESTS who would marry …

AN DIABHAL, The Devil, Old Nick, The Old...Boy? WE all know of the devil, he's the red fella with the horns who is likely to be the ruler of our infinite misery if indeed it is true that you should fast on Friday, he also is the mascot for hot sauces and red wine. He's a busy lad. BUT the devil in Irish Folklore is far from the fallen angel of Dant…

THE STONE HOUSE OF THE SUN THIS Donegal antiquity has been the quiet sentinel of Ireland, WITNESS to our shared history - FROM the Tuatha Dé Danann to midnight mass, its a long-time fan of our stuff. A temple for the sun god Baal, THE original home of the O'Neill Clan, the site of Niall of the Nine Hostages conversion to Christianity by Old Man Pat…

KILLESHIN, Church of the Glen of Uise, PLACE of Oisin. TALES from Killeshin, Carlow and its surrounding areas chosen by YEE. SONS of legends, MEN catching rabbits, HIBERNO-ROMAN arches, IRISH acres v ENGLISH acres, NED of the HILL? IT'S all in our spin around Killeshin! (AS well as a man who kills his goat in drunken anxiety). STRAP into the passen…

TALES from local areas submitted by YEE (@pisrogspodcast on Instagram).THIS episode unwinds forgotten yarns from Dromore West SLIGO, Birr Co. OFFALY and Inchicore DUBLIN. VENGEFUL knights, evil spirits, cursed churches, stolen BUTTER. A lean mean and captivating spin through the land of IRE.

AWOO, ehem. IN this episode a priest and our old friend 'Gerald of Wales' come across a pair of werewolves, they have a chat with them and give them a bit of communion for their trouble. LYNCANTHROPY, the transformation of humans into wolves. IT'S a phenom that transcends borders, there are werewolves in Germany, Greece, The Balkins . . . and the c…

THE BOY(S) discuss the weird, wonderful world of FOLLIES and their impractical existence, as well as their unlikely connection to the FAMINE. EVER wanted an old man living in your back garden? EVER want a slice of Egypt in your ends? EVER build something to break? ARISTOCRATS did.

NEW GROUND for the podcast, WITH Aran preparing to venture into the bowels of the Amazon, Luke holds down the fort, but not alone, as the Pisrogs Podcast takes on its its first roguish interview with the rambunctious Ronan O'Raghallaigh! RONAN is an artist from county Kildare who took the matter of disassembling his colonization into his own hands,…

JOIN the boys as they discuss everything under the big sonic sun - From the mythological invention of music, to the instruments of the past, to the magic behind the instruments and their players . . . A meal for the ears! “NO enemy speaks slightingly of Irish Music, and no friend need fear to boast of it. It is without a rival, Its antique war-tune…

“Bataireacht is a category of stick-fighting martial arts of Ireland. The concept of people swinging sticks at each other, in anger, dates far into pre-history.” The 18th and 19th century Irish phenomenon known as the Faction Fight was essentially a mass brawl that involved hundreds and sometimes thousands of antagonists organised into groups and m…

AN Irish mercenary in the Spanish army trained in the art of war by Franciscan monks. EOGHAN Ruadh Ó Néill is one of the most famous members of the O'Neill Dynasty of Ulster, an Irish family which claim the lineage of Niall of the Nine Hostages, a legendary High King. HAVING only left Ireland as boy in the Flight of the Earls, O'Neill became known …

You heard it, an episode of beans, beads and begora, tis mighty. We've kept it colloquial with the help of listener suggested stories. From stories of a man who danced himself dead to a ship of beans. Scary fairies to golden stalks to beat the ass, we've got it all. Music by Gareth Quinn Redmond Logo by Aisling Larkin Design (@aislinglarkindesign)…

CUID A DÓ. In part one the lads discussed the mythological origins of Glas Gabhnenn, an early Irish tale that involved giant cyclopes, glass towers, trapped princesses, sword-wielding champions and a magical cow! IN PART TWO, The fairy cow takes centre stage! ARAN and Luke read from an everlasting bucket of archival folk stories, learn about: The f…

CUID A HAON of our double bill dedicated to An Glas Gaibhnenn, The Gloss, or simply put The Fairy Cow. THE Fairy Cow is a mythical beast who was said to have an abundant supply of milk. COUNTLESS stories on The Fairy Cow exist all over Ireland, think of the oldest story you know and then think of that story's older brother. That's give or take how …

Kick back and relax with this grab bag episode of Irish stories, riddles and love charms. From Fionn Mac Cumhaill's mother's shin bone to the fairy wind. Guaranteed laughs and Irish love. Music by Gareth Quinn Redmond Logo by Aisling Larkin Design (@aislinglarkindesign)By Aran Reidy

OLDER than the Olympics, a yearly 'sporting' event that was about so much more than feats of strength. THE TAILTEANN GAMES drew crowds from all over Ancient Ireland to take part in competitions of swordplay, long jumps, crafting, storytelling . . . . There were even hills where mass marriages and the occasional divorce took place. THE boys delve in…

The light half of the year has finally arrived. The days are getting longer, the sun is shining brighter, nature is getting greener. It is time to send the animals off to higher pastures, cut turf and prepare for the summer of working the land ahead. Bonfires must be lit to cleanse and protect homes, people and animals. The morning dew must be coll…

CHILD sacrifice, intense worship and a battle between an ancient idol and St. Patrick. THIS all took place in the small clearing 'Magh Slecht' in the hills of Cavan where a golden idol to the god CROM CRUACH stood. The boys journey to Magh Slecht, to explore Crom Cruach as a dark yet likely misinterpreted figure. Discover if there really was child …

Join Aran and Luke this week as they explore their parish and townlands past with stories of treachery, ghosts, hauntings, strongman Seán Byrnes and Miles 'The Slasher'. Also a sprinkling of Piseóga, superstitious beliefs and practices, and riddles throughout. Thank you Gareth Quinn Redmond for the music. Thank you Aisling Larkin (@aislinglarkindes…

Ever wondered whose the first person to settle in Ireland? Well there's a few first people, six groups in fact, and one group are gods, and one aren't gods... but both are related? Lets start from the beginning. Journey back in time with Aran and Luke to meet the many groups that settled, ruled and fought for Ireland (according to the Book of Invas…

The Bean Sí, literally the Fairy Woman, has no abode. She comes near a house to wail for one who is about to die. Those who know how piercing is the caoine, the people's lament for the dead, will realise what a dread visitant the Bean Sí would be. Join Aran and Luke as they explore the Bean Sí's origins, purpose and alternative interpretations thro…

The Irish had and have a funny approach to death, that bit after life. It's a very funny and uplifting one for an episode about death, that's all we'll say. Come along with Aran and Luke to learn about the mad craic and practical jokes which would be carried out at Wakes, a celebration of the dead individuals life (It gets very Weekend at Bernie's)…

At Glenade lake in County Leitrim a mythical creature known as the Dobhar-chú was said to have murdered a woman whilst she washed clothes, a tombstone exists supposedly depicting this act.Aran and Luke dive in to the murky depths of the stories and songs about the legendary Dobhar-chú!There's also a water horse too.…

Veiled One, Crone, Witch. The embodiment of Winter, a creator deity and daughter of the Little Sun. The Cailleach is one of Ireland's oldest characters who very well may still be on this island. Also explored in this episode are the colloquial Caillí, Witches, the like to fill your boots with butter or squeeze you to death. Music by Gareth Quinn Re…

The boys cant meet in person but they can meet in spirit, a SEASONAL MIRACLE for the final episode of this season! In this episode the lads chat about a long celebrated and peculiar Irish tradition, The Wren (or Wran, depending where you're from). The tradition involves gaggles of lads all over Ireland chasing down the little bird dressed in false …

The boys explore An Bheán Feasa, wise women who possessed remedies for physical and spiritual ailments as well as being a diplomat between the the people of the physical world and the Good People of the netherworld. If there was a prize for the wisest of the wise women, it'd go to none other than Biddy Early. To the Church and the local priest, Bid…

We are all used to epidemics at this stage. . . But have you ever seen bodies rising from the ground? Beacons burned night-after-night to ward away infectious air? Farmers coughing blood at the roadside dropping one-by-one as a town is turned from a quiet borough to a 'city of the dead.' Aran and Luke explore the experience of Charlotte Thornley in…

Pains? Cured. Burns? Cured. Warts? Cured. Childishness? Cured. Epilepsy? Cured. You may find the cure to your ailments in this episode. Or if not, you may have a lead to tracking down your desired cure. Or discover your own ability to cure..... Music by Gareth Quinn Redmond Logo by AislingLarkinDesign…

An omen of war, a massacre to come. The Black Pig brings nothing but hatred between men. Oh, he also wants your money when you're walking home late at night. We explore the many representations of the Black Pig throughout Irish history and folklore. Music by Gareth Quinn Redmond Logo by AislingLarkinDesign…

What is it a rich man wants, a poor man has, a blind man sees, and a deaf man hears? Find out in this weeks fun episode filled with riddles, stories and superstitions from Skerries. Music by Gareth Quinn Redmond Logo by AislingLarkinDesignBy Aran Reidy

The first secret oath bound society rose up to stand against the oppression and inequalities Irish tenants were experiencing from landlords and big land owners. Maybe we need to take a leaf from their book in these current times....... Music by Gareth Quinn Redmond Logo by AislingLarkinDesignBy Aran Reidy

You step out into the darkness, time to head home. You begin to wander in the direction of home, only the faint moonlight offering any illumination. As you begin to doubt yourself, a blue glow emanates from a path to the left. You begin to follow... Music by Gareth Quinn Redmond Logo by AislingLarkinDesign…

Aahhh the Halloween Special. Join us this week as we discuss the origins of Halloween in Samhain, from games to old customs. We also explore the Púca, with a story recounting the deeds of one of Ireland's greatest heroes..... Music by Gareth Quinn Redmond Logo by AislingLarkinDesignBy Aran Reidy

Have you ever thought that a loved one is acting strange all of a sudden? They seem to have a full beard one day where previously there was none? They seem to know things they couldn't? They jump about and play the flute when no one is watching? Then perhaps, you're living with a Changeling....... Music by Gareth Quinn Redmond Logo by AislingLarkin…