Stories from a seanachaí at Cork World Book Fest

Thomas McCarthy grew up in the culture of bothántaíocht, when people would go from house to house, singing and storytelling. He can remember being a child, listening rapt as his grandfather, aunts and uncles cast a spell over visitors, as they recounted tales of banshees, fairies, the Fianna and Cú Chulainn.

These memories are extremely precious to him now, as the ancient art of storytelling has all but died out.