A storytelling tradition that endures: 'Irish people have always been in love with words'

Legendary seanchaí Eddie Lenihan, and Cork Yarnspinners’ Paddy O’Brien speak about their artform, its survival and its future

Renowned storyteller Eddie Lenihan. Picture: Valerie O'Sullivan

Over the past century, the artform of storytelling has served many functions in Ireland - entertainment, communication, and the maintenance of memory and historical record that escaped the privilege of more formal preservation.

Paddy O’Brien of the Cork YarnSpinners group is one of those keeping the tradition alive.