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Storytelling has always been an integral part of Irish heritage and culture. Originally, Irish stories were passed down through the generations by ear, first by bardic poets, and later by storytellers called seanchaí (or seanchaíwere, which means "bearer of old lore" in Gaelic). The bards and seanchaí weren't just storytellers; they were well-respected members of the community, responsible for preserving local history, genealogy, poetry, and myths of Ancient Ireland.
The seanchaí were dedicated to their craft, living as vagabonds and practicing several arts at once. Essentially walking libraries, they were also dramatic entertainers, building scenes amidst fire smoke. The seanchaí told wondrous tales pulled from the four cycles of Early Irish literature, but quotidian stories as well. BBC explains: "While specialising in the swashbuckling myths of Cú Chulainn or Fionn mac Cumhaill, they also recorded and passed on local history, and – crucially ...
