Tell Me A Story

Award winning* short documentary about Eddie Lenihan, a Seanchaí (storyteller) from Co. Clare.
dir: James Slattery (2008)
duration: 10 minutes
aspect ratio: 16:9 (widescreen)
For more on Eddie and his stories, visit: www.eddielenihan.com/
* Recipient of Skillset Academy's 'Best Postgraduate Project' award, 2008.
Synopsis:
Storytelling is the oldest form of entertainment in the world. These days, stories are communicated through a variety of channels; television, film, books, computer games, blogs on the internet, etc. In looking back to the origins of storytelling, Ireland has its own fascinating tale to tell. During Celtic times, Seanchaís would memorise local history rather than write it down. They would then recite this history in the form of a lyric as requested. Travelling through towns and villages, the Seanchaís earned their keep by entertaining the locals with their tales of magic and myth.
Eddie Lenihan is a modern day Seanchaí who travels around Ireland trying to keep this old tradition of storytelling alive. Eddie is passionate about his life's work, and is somewhat of a documentarian himself. For over forty years he has travelled around the country with his microphone recording tales from other storytellers and building up his own archive. Not only is Eddie ardent about preserving the oral storytelling tradition, he also believes in many of the stories he has heard; stories of fairies, and not the ones from Walt Disney as he is quick to point out, but dark evil creatures that history has forgotten.
Eddie is a fascinating character and his story, like the tales he tells, is compelling.

[@jarsonist]

I remember Eddie used to have his own TV show for children on RTÉ. About 1988/89 I'd say. I used to run home to watch it.

[@muttonlock]

we need more people like this.

[@savedfaves]

Even if it turned out that none of his stories were actually true I still love this guy. There's a richness to his character that adds to this world and the day he's no longer with us will be a sad day indeed. We need a bit of magic and mystery in our lives.

[@shronemor]

The Book is called "Meeting the other crowd, the fairy stories of hidden Ireland", well worth reading

[@BManStan1991]

shronemor, just ordered it. Thanks!

[@humblepieproductions]

Do a weasel wrong and then you're in trouble! Eddie, you are brilliant. Thanks for all the stories. Slainte!

[@MrCOUNTYCORK]

ya i can tell u that u never mess with a fairy fort, leave it alone this is one thing i believe ,,i was told this as a child ,iam now well in my 40s

[@happygoluckyscamp]

I had the pleasure of not only hearing this man today but got to shake his hand.

[@lacymcduffie6855]

happygoluckyscamp Does he have an internet channel? His own, that he communicates on. I would not innundate him with things or bother him, but maybe one message. I'm just curious. He has an open mind, thats a relief. I'm not saying I'm convinced of these things, but I too have a curious mind.

[@happygoluckyscamp]

He has a website were he sells his books and other such eddielenihan.weebly.com/

[@redroots3103]

I could listen to this man talking all day and night. Great storyteller, great writer too. It's so nurturing to hear stories about your country from the past. Just beautiful, I didn't know it was exactly what I needed 😊 Thank you, Eddie.

[@lacymcduffie6855]

Something very true happened to me once, I will never forget it because it didn't make any sense. I was outside in the middle of the night on my patio, and I was standing next to a patio chair, and suddenly the chair lifted up off the ground and then was dropped. The second after it dropped, I heard this huge thunderous laugh, but it wasn't where I was by the chair, it came from way over this brick wall on the street. The laugh was deep and sounded like it was coming from all directions at the same time. It was very loud. I thought someone was playing a prank on me, but there was no one there to move that chair I was standing right. There were no strings. Nobody on the roof. Just nothing. I looked. It was like 2 or 3 am at night and I live in rural place. I had been sick that day, and for some reason I just wanted fresh air. It was actually the first time, I went out in 24 hours. I was in shock after all that, it felt like a paranormal experience. If someone was somehow making a prank, how could they get from the patio out past the wall in a second or how could they know when I would leave, etc. etc. etc. I was very scarred and I blocked it out of mind because I couldn't figure it out. I did not touch that chair, or accidently hit it or anything, I was standing perfectly still beside it. Its true. It really did happen. It changed my perceptions forever.

[@josephoconnor2536]

Logan stroganoff your a fair prick god bless you , nothing better to do with your time you sad misfortune

[@zephyrquartz]

The wonderful Eddie Lenihan. Love his storytelling skill.

[@estephens4483]

Love this guy he came to my primary school years ago and I remember him telling us the weasel story in my opinion he's the greatest storyteller ever

[@estephens4483]

Logan Stroganoff umm yes he did, I'm sorry who are you

[@johnnydoobs]

A true legend.

[@CuChullainnRedBranch]

An inspiration to young tellers like myself. Brilliant!

[@-MRN-]

This guy is great.

[@shannonb929]

eddie also came to my skool aswell not too long ago, i loved everyone of the stories that he told us and i could have sat there all day listenin to him tellin us about fairies and scary stories

[@dnr2089]

Skool? 🤣

[@shannonb929]

@@dnr2089 it was text talk that my friends and I used when we were younger it means school if you don't know

[@loolylooly81]

A brilliant storyteller, I saw him last year performing at the Festival At The Edge, he was superb! I recommend his audio works, they are brilliant.

[@Anomalousness]

Your right, Im going to see Eddie tomorrow on Haloween night in an old church in Waterford, cant wait

[@dukeigthorn27]

This man is a national treasure.

[@pup1008]

The guy is a genius! There is a real magic to him!

[@jimmy27paul]

Only a fool would defy them, they exist 100%. There live in another dimension parallel to our world, you cant always see them but they are there.

[@deasmhumhanrecords]

@carlkirwan46 It's called "Meeting the Other Crowd - The Fairy stories of Hidden Ireland" which he wrote (or compiled I suppose) in collaboratin with Carolyn Eve Green. It was brought out in 2003. The man is amazing.

[@dmacisaac9382]

He reminds me of my uncle Gary , that man had the gift of storytelling and had more than half of his great nieces and nephews convinced of the hippos in a huge puddle out back of the house lol

[@Thegreeneyedgypsy]

Beautiful. Thank you

[@RabidChocobo]

Holy crap i heard this guy's voice in an episode of "Destination Truth" and i thought his voice was awesome, and lucky for me, i found videos of him telling stories :D

[@cabins_canoes]

Get his books as well he’s only recording the old stories and they are real. We have the Bean Si heard for our family long time back in Tyrone

[@lacymcduffie6855]

No I was not disoriented, I was not on medication, I do not drink alcohol and it was the only truly odd experience I have ever had. Nothing since. It was in 2015.

[@MseeBMe]

He is such a legend.

[@jimmy27paul]

True even today, im from Ireland and only a fool would even think of it.

[@lacymcduffie6855]

jimbob jim lol. what the hell are they then? Don't they mostly come in human form? Aren't they usually unusually good looking, or unusually ugly. And its the aura, they are suppose to have on them. makes sense. The bible, said that the spirits came and walked with mankind in human form. That metaphor could have been astrological, though.

[@jimmy27paul]

They come in many forms, they are from parallel worlds or dimensions.

[@theshamanarchist5441]

"What is your name?" "What is your favourite colour?" "What is the airspeed velocity of a fully laden swallow?"

[@dnr2089]

I get it! 🤣

[@EilisLornaWalsh]

For those who might not get the reference, op is referencing the Bridge of Death scene from Monty Python and The Holy Grail.

[@ranked46]

Fascinated by this guy, would love to be in an audience listening to his stories. Does anyone know what book he recommended to read? I don't think he mentioned the name... he just said that if you wanted to sleep well at night, start at the beginning of the book, if you don't want to sleep, start from the back of the book... I'd love to find that book and read it through.

[@emmabailie6523]

Sorry it's so latee the book was called meeting the other crowd. You maybe have read it years ago by now lol

[@franicestokes2928]

Please can we have more of these amazing videos please ☘💯🙏♥️

[@aaronishappy]

Eddie is from Co. Kerry not Clare though he does live there!

[@wmritchey1101]

I have, by mistake crossed water where my brother in law had placed a culvert. When i was in the midst of the culvert a violent wind swirled all about me. I was aware and acknowledged the spirits, be they good or evil. I Later camped with my son some distance away from the crossing one evening, as the fire died down the violent wind returned and with no large trees about us dropped (thrown) at us was an ash staff, perfectly my height. It is an odd place. I can't explain it. The staff is very heavy. If I carry the staff with me while i walk amongst the waters I'm left in peace, if not a strange wind blows.

[@Seamus616]

Seanchaí den scoth! Nílim in ann focail olc amháin a rá fén fhear seo. Nós agus creideamh an an thábhachtach atá ag baint leis. Go gcuire Dia leasa ort, id aineoinn!

[@EilisLornaWalsh]

(Translated for via Google Translate for English speakers) Excellent storyteller! I can't say one bad word about this man. Habit and faith are the key to it. God bless you, [?] notwithstanding!

[@lacymcduffie6855]

It was one voice laugh. It sounded like one individual; but it sounded like it was coming from a long distance from the south, north, east, west. It sounds like a cheesy disney evil fairy from a cartoon, but I be dammed if it didn't really happen, it happened. I still think maybe someway, somehow someone could have played a trick, but I can't figure how or who I'm a stranger. I try to be realistic, maybe it was trick, but I just don't feel like that was it, it was too errie.

[@lurchers123]

Wouldnt it be great if there really was somthing more to life then the every day boring shit we see & hear day after day month after month & year after year, i can only speak for myself but i think this world we live in is one hell of a boring shithole place to be...theres got 2 be somthing more cause if theres not then wow what a waste of fecking time it all is!

[@maxpower1337]

No weasel song I'll be singing any time soon.👀

[@DestinyG.G]

@lurchers123 there is more to it, I use to think exacty like you did

[@David-lu4gq]

Does anyone know the book he is holding?

[@David-lu4gq]

Well done Logan, quality trolling there. I've got the book anyway, and it is very interesting to read.

[@Moshifyable]

What's the name of the book?

[@EilisLornaWalsh]

_Meeting the Other Crowd_ by Carolyn Eve Green and Edmund ‘Eddie’ Lenihan.

[@JimForeman]

I grew up as a cowboy and one of the ways they entertained one another was through story telling. Here's one of my favorites. It's called How Chester Lost His Ear. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5Knm6t4pbKpr6c

[@Abc-cu9db]

Is he still alive ?

[@daramccabe327]

fairy stories.....irish heritage,history...etc all in the english language

[@andaimhineach4131]

Eddie abú!

[@eeMJaii]

Imagination.

[@thebird000]

Enlighting

[@gargarcomedy]

Enlightening!

[@richardsoos8902]

Ron Weasley's funeral

[@lacymcduffie6855]

I'm American.

[@DIFFIEH]

....ok

[@michaeldevaney5728]

For the love of jesus will someone please buy that man a Gillette razor

[@illuminashiti2541]

the imitation weasel noises froze my blood not...killer weasels down the chimney, can it get any lamer