Eddie Lenihan

"One of the few traditional storytellers (seanchais), still working in Ireland." -New York Times, Eddie Lenihan is a legendary storyeller and for Imagine 2008 he will do two shows one aimed at children and families at 4pm and one aimed at teenagers and adults at 8pm. When Eddie Lenihan appeared in Irish national television's 12-part series 'Storyteller' in 1986, most of those seeing and hearing him were doing so for the first time. However, two further series titled 'Ten Minute Tales' in 1987 and 1988 changed all that for good. But what viewers did not know was that he had already by then 6 books behind him, as well as 5 audio tapes, besides years of folklore-gathering, particularly in his native Co. Kerry, but also in many other parts of Ireland. It is this love of mixing with, listening to older generations (which he still keeps to this very day) that underpins everything he does, and after 27 years of collecting, he now possesses probably the largest tape-library in private hands in Ireland - a unique resource of irreplaceable material that would otherwise have been lost. In gratitude to the excellent storytellers who have shared their proud and ancient Irish tradition with him down the years - and who were so insistent that it should not die - Eddie has done his best, through personal appearances, as well as books, currently numbering 18, tapes, CDs and video, to spread the wonderful message of Irish lore - no difficult task, since its own very depth and scope make it a world unparalleled. An interest central to Eddie's research is the fairies, the Good People. This had very practical results in 1999 when, through his single-handed efforts, a sceach (fairy bush) was saved from road-builders at Latoon, Co. Clare. The case made world-wide news and received much public support. The authorities finally agreed to re-route the new highway, and the bush is still standing. He lives in Crusheen, Co. Clare, but travels worldwide and is always delighted to bring the fruits of his years' researches and collecting to whoever he may share it with. In Ireland, too, he is a frequent visitor to schools, libraries, prisons, literary festivals - in fact anywhere people are prepared to sit a while, listen and reflect - as their forbears did when these stories were first told.

Location: Granary Theatre
Time: 4pm and 8pm -
Date(s): 01/11/2008 - 01/11/2008

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• eddie lenihan
• imagine arts festival
• waterford
• storyteller
• seanchai
• the Good People
• the fairies
• Granary Theatre

[Dreoilin]

Eddie rocks!!!!

[johnnieb7100]

eddies the one to tell em like they should. well god blasht it again.

[oirish71]

A legend, I love Eddie Lenihan, blasht it anyways!

[AmyCoeur]

A noble mighty man, for sure, doing Ireland a very great service - sorely unappreciated by the powers that be there. Lenihan should be advising the government as the druids did the old kings of Eire.

[Seamus616]

mighty man. doing a service to this culture and country, and traditions of the world herself