<p><br></p><p>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.</p><br><p>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.</p><br><p>From the banshee to the grave, this is a journey into a lost world of grief, ritual and belief.</p><br><p>Written, researched, and presented by Fin Dwyer</p><p>Sound: Kate Dunlea</p><p>Voice Actors: Aidan Crowe and Therese Murray</p><br><p>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</p><br><p>Sources</p><p>* Patricia Lysaght, The Banshee: The Irish Death-Messenger https://archive.org/details/bansheeirishdeat0000lysa</p><p>* St. John Seymour, True Irish Ghost Stories https://archive.org/details/trueirishghostst00seymiala</p><br><p><strong>Duchas.ie, the National Folklore Archive</strong></p><p>https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4602737/4599804/4634242</p><p>https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4427971/4362341/4466724</p><p>https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4649683/4646384/4650807</p><p>https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4427866/4351921/4435336</p><p>https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4649683/4646384/4650807</p><p>https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4758475/4747226/4779806</p><p>https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/5008831/4959379/5072669</p><p>https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4623003/4622767/4630843</p><p>https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4742070/4732588/4819790</p><p>https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922035/4920905/4955848</p><p>https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922258/4864961/5021036</p><p>https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4706331/4703491/4726094</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>