Dr Gillian Kenny
@medievalgill.bsky.social
Historian | Medieval and early modern Ireland and its women | Writing a new biography of Gráinne O Malley/Granuaile aka the Pirate Queen | Adjunct assoc prof @ucd | Repped by Watson Little
Do you want to read about the last known trial by combat held in the middle of Dublin during the sixteenth century? Great. Here you go open.substack.com/pub/medieval...
Blood in the Castle Yard
The last recorded trial by combat in Ireland took place in Dublin Castle between two O’ Connors of Offaly. What does it tell us about the Tudor conquest of Ireland?
open.substack.com
Jenet Sarsfield married six husbands in sixteenth century Ireland but chose to be buried alone. I wrote about her marital adventures/strategies and accumulation of a fortune. And yes, the two are linked >
I know I love a potato but does this one love back?
Gentle reminder for those interested in curses after yesterday's #Mayo brilliance that articles on Irish curses (and more) can be found on my Substack medievalgill.substack.com/p/five-ways-...
Five Ways to Curse Your Enemies
A field guide to malediction in Ireland, from the hand-bell to the bended knee
medievalgill.substack.com
In the Sugar Club in Dublin getting ready to chat about all things Irish witchy at 4.30pm
Has anyone crossed you or yours recently? I’ll just leave this here then… open.substack.com/pub/medieval...
Amused to read about the 1729 trial of Vincent FitzGerald and John Jackman in Dublin on a charge of “having been in the habit of drinking healths to the Devil and his angels”.
A great night was had in Cork last night with a lovely audience as I chatted about banshees. I’m back there on 17 August talking about witches. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1992351995...
A bit of a weird one today. The story of a man accusing his stepmother of hiring witches against him in 16th century Ireland. One of my favourite odd stories but, like witchcraft accusations in general, it's not about the divil but about power and ambition and, in this case, a family breakdown. >
A bit of a weird one today. The story of a man accusing his stepmother of hiring witches against him in 16th century Ireland. One of my favourite odd stories but, like witchcraft accusations in general, it's not about the divil but about power and ambition and, in this case, a family breakdown. >
Have you seen this @drfrancisyoung.bsky.social
Judith Weisenfeld@jlweisenfeld.bsky.social · 4w agoA great opportunity for contingent and independent scholars of religion: $3000 stipend, one-week residency at The Ohio State University (travel and lodging covered), deliver a public lecture and interact OSU community. Deadline: August 15, 2026.
I wrote. About heatwaves in the past in Ireland and their effects. Sure why not? open.substack.com/pub/medieval...
Yes, yes the sun is nice and all but for us mushroom people who like a dark, dank space this heatwave is…hellish. So I did what I normally do to escape uncomfortable situations, I read. And then >
Talks coming up peeps if anyone has an interest in witches and banshees? Cork on 13 July - the banshee - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-banshe... Dublin on 26 July - witches - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-histor... Cork on 17 August - witches - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-histor...
This looks fantastic! Definitely going to try and get in to have a look
National Museum of Ireland@nmireland.bsky.social · 4w agoThis weekend at Collins Barracks, marking the National Day of Commemoration. Guided tours and interactive history events honouring those who lost their lives in past wars & UN service. Friday 10th - Sunday 12th July| Free events | All welcome More: www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museum...
Delighted to see this OA output from @thegreatleap22116.bsky.social with @rachelmurphy.bsky.social Prof Tiziana Margaria and our talented PhDs Marco, Sami (Daniel) and Sebastian. Thanks to all hlcs.nl/article/view... @uccresearch.bsky.social @unioflimerick.bsky.social @researchireland.ie
Irish Cause-of-Death Data, 1864–1921 | Historical Life Course Studies
Historical Life Course Studies is the electronic journal of the European Historical Population Samples Network (EHPS-Net) and is published by the International Institute of Social History (IISH).
hlcs.nl
I wrote about the thrill of going inside Granuaile’s castle on Clare Island which is closed to the public and what I saw in there. open.substack.com/pub/medieval...
Talks coming up peeps if anyone has an interest in witches and banshees? Cork on 13 July - the banshee - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-banshe... Dublin on 26 July - witches - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-histor... Cork on 17 August - witches - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-histor...
As if demonic sheep in Ireland weren’t bad enough,now reading about a turkey that was possessed. “A big turkey was supposed to have been an evil spirit. Seemingly the person that was in the house wasn’t a very good person and died without repenting and came back and took possession of the turkey…”
enough.now
Dr Gillian Kenny@medievalgill.bsky.social · last mo.I wrote about the weird creature called the Elemental that supposedly haunts Leap Castle. And the young, literary Englishwoman who made it famous… open.substack.com/pub/medieval...
I wrote about the weird creature called the Elemental that supposedly haunts Leap Castle. And the young, literary Englishwoman who made it famous… open.substack.com/pub/medieval...
I love the fact that soon after he was appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland in 1536, Leonard Grey started signing himself as “Poor Leonard Grey”. Tbf he was a rubbish Lord Deputy but seems like the stress was getting to him…
Aaaah summer in Dublin. If you’re around I’ll be in the Sugar Club talking about witches and fairies and lots of other stuff Be great to see you there on 26 July www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1991391685...
Me looking at this earlier thinking “nah, maybe I don’t need to know what’s going on there actually…”
Listen, I’m not particularly superstitious but since I wrote this we’ve had a few visitors…
Dr Gillian Kenny@medievalgill.bsky.social · last mo.It’s too hot to sleep and so I wrote about the banshee. Partly because I’m going to be talking about them soon but also because I feel they are women who, like me, would generally appreciate, even be invigorated by, an overcast sky and a bit of damp weather. substack.com/@medievalgil...
I wrote about one of my all time favourite personalities today. The redoubtable abbess, Elicia Butler. Accused of “fornication, dilapidation and incest”. As ever it’s a bit more complicated than that but what a story hers is! open.substack.com/pub/medieval...
Fornication, Dilapidation and Incest
The life and times of Abbess Elicia Butler.
open.substack.com
It’s too hot to sleep and so I wrote about the banshee. Partly because I’m going to be talking about them soon but also because I feel they are women who, like me, would generally appreciate, even be invigorated by, an overcast sky and a bit of damp weather. substack.com/@medievalgil...
The Banshee
Ireland’s Death-Messenger
substack.com
I’ll be in Cork in August, chatting about history of Irish witchcraft for Seed Talks. If you’re about it’d be lovely to see you there. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-histor...
