Blúiríní Béaloidis 14 - The Changeling In Folk Tradition

Blúiríní Béaloidis 14 - The Changeling In Folk Tradition

Author: Blúiríní Béaloidis / Folklore Fragments May 14, 2018 Duration: 1:00:23
The birth of a child is among the most important moments in the life of the individual, and of the community of which they are a broader part. Small wonder then, that there should exist so large a body of folk belief and custom regarding the protection of infants and the unborn. A darker body of tradition concerns those children who fail to thrive, who are sickly, and who appear wizened or otherwise deformed. In such instances, it was often believed by our forebears that the fairies - the supernatural race who exist unseen alongside us - had taken the healthy child and replaced it with a wizened and decrepit creature which was in fact one of their own. This creature was known as the changeling, and many drastic (and often violent) steps were taken in order to cast out and banish such creatures. Join hosts Claire Doohan and Jonny Dillon for this month's edition of Blúiríní Béaloidis as they explore a body of lore and custom borne out of deformations and disorders, in which the supernatural permeates and punctures the ordered safety and shelter of the family unit, and in which drastic steps are taken to restore order in the home.

Delve into the living tapestry of stories, customs, and beliefs carried through generations with Blúiríní Béaloidis Folklore Podcast. Emerging from the archives of The National Folklore Collection at University College Dublin, each episode is a carefully crafted fragment, a blúirín, of cultural memory. Host Jonny Dillon guides listeners along a fascinating furrow, unearthing everything from local Irish legends and seasonal rituals to broader European traditions that echo through time. This isn't merely a history lesson; it's an engagement with the voices, practices, and worldviews that shaped communities. You'll hear specific tales collected from the countryside, examine the logic behind old superstitions, and discover how everyday life was interwoven with the supernatural and the symbolic. The podcast serves as a bridge, connecting a deep, often overlooked past with contemporary curiosity, suggesting that these fragments of folklore hold a mirror to our shared human experience. Listening feels like having a thoughtful conversation with a knowledgeable guide, one who understands that these traditions are not static relics but vibrant threads in a larger cultural fabric. For anyone drawn to the roots of identity, storytelling, and the subtle wisdom embedded in custom, this series offers a rich and rewarding exploration, proving that the old ways still have much to say.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 45

Blúiríní Béaloidis Folklore Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Blúiríní Béaloidis 04 - The Luck Of The House [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:16
In the traditional dwelling is found a well of spiritual, cultural and material information. Through it many things are revealed, from the ways in which our forebears used materials from the natural environment to meet t…
Blúiríní Béaloidis 03 - The Moon In Folk Tradition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:51
Since the earliest times, Man has sought to come to terms with the unknown powers and forces that act upon life and wellbeing. It is natural therefore, that our forebears looked to the natural world, and to the heavens,…
Blúiríní Béaloidis 02 - May Day Folklore [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:23
The first of May is marked in Ireland (and across Europe more broadly), as a day on which the summer is welcomed in; where garlands of flowers decorate the houses, in which young women of the locality bring cattle up to…
Blúiríní Béaloidis 01 - What is Folklore? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:52
Welcome to Blúiríní Béaloidis, the new podcast from the National Folklore Collection, University College Dublin. In this introductory episode, hosts Jonny Dillon and Claire Doohan delve into definitions of folklore to di…