This post is too late to tell you about the Sketchbook workshop that happened in Blarney on Tues 6 Oct, sorry! But glad to be able to tell you we have a very exciting lineup for Callanan’s on Tues 20.
October Mixtape: Tuesday 20, 8.30pm Callanan’s George’s Quay, Cork City
Doors open at 8pm, storytelling starts at 8.30pm. Be early if you want a seat! It’s a free event but donations welcome.
See https://www.facebook.com/TheGabStorytelling for updates in the lead up to it.
Pat Speight has been telling stories for more years than many of us can remember, and that skill and experience shines when he revels in the role of Fear an Tí (FAT). At the September Mixtape in Callanan’s, he started reeling us in with a story of a boy’s first day at school, the blacksmith’s cure, and a mighty breakfast the following day.
Pat then introduced the first teller, the inimitable Terri Ryan, who gave us a new twist on her bachelors’ story and the arrival of dancehalls in rural Ireland. As Terri said, “the farmers took to these ballrooms like the tide took to the moon,” and continued with a romp of a story interacting with these bachelors, we were in stiches thanks to Terri.
Fresh off the boat from the Cape Clear Storytelling Festival, Liam O’Shaughnessy gave us his own spin on a story he heard from Amy Douglas, about a man who was absolutely mad for the road and had the worn-out boots to prove it. His luck changed when a little man traded his resting spot for a new pair of yellow boots. A gorgeous story, told well by Liam.
Our resident uilleann piper, Stevie O’Brien, started with a beautiful tribute to the recently deceased Paddy Keenan. Stevie told us Paddy was a huge influence on all pipers, and that he made the instrument popular, vibrant and valued, before playing us Sliabh na mBan, a tune he heard Finbarr Furey playing at Paddy Keenan’s funeral. Stevie finished the first half of the Mixtape with a trio of jigs, including Mrs. Geary’s and Paddy Keenan’s.
Rob and Eileen were rushed off their feet behind the bar during the interval, but it was no bother to them. They got everyone watered before Deirdre O’Mahony started the second half of storytelling with her magical story about the midwife who was whisked off into the night by a tall, dark stranger. “We’re going far and we’re going fast, hold on tight,” and we all did, as we were transported to another world through Deirdre’s evocative telling.
Colm Ryan was up next, to tell us an epic territorial battle story of one man versus the mighty Miny Minx. There was howling, blood, scratches, tears and the sobbing cry of a man in his 50s. There were dreamies, teasers, a catio and a garden hose. We can assure you, no cats were harmed in the telling of this story but we can’t say the same for the man!
Pat was back to tell us a short tale to settle the crowd, about a Cork man sailing to an oil-rich city in the far east and getting the surprise of his life when he walked down the gangplank.
To finish the music, Stevie introduced the low whistle and charmed us with “The Butterfly,” before reverting to the pipes for Henry Mac Dermot Roe, followed by two slip jigs and a lesson on how to distinguish between reels, jigs and slip jigs. You learn something new every day!
Pat Speight closed the night of storytelling with a heartfelt one, set in Cromane near Glenbeigh, about a blind man and the efforts he went to for his wife. A beautiful ending to a great evening of stories.
Thanks a million to Rob and Eileen in Callanan’s for providing the perfect setting for us. Thanks to Deirdre O’Mahony for putting the night together. Thanks to the tellers and musicians for the entertainment. And most of all, thank you to the generous listeners , we really appreciate your ears.
Thanks to Colm Ryan for these photos
Because of the glorious heat of summer 2026, we were sure we’d be telling stories at the ball wall, with an outdoor storytelling event to celebrate 40 years of the Whitechurch and Waterloo Community Association. But the weather had other ideas, and moved us inside to the small hall as the first evening of rain fell outside.
Thankfully, the crowd welcomed the change of venue, and we even gained a few new listeners from John A. Mulcahy’s talk on the history of the community centre earlier in the evening. Despite the short-notice change in location, we managed to start on time, thanks to the steady hand of Caroline Foley, our Bean an Tí (BAT) for the evening.
The first storyteller, Mary Walsh, began by reminiscing about the school next door, before continuing into a story of two very different boys in another school writing an essay about the swallow.
Fresh from winning Scéalaíocht (storytelling in Irish) at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, Brendan O’Sullivan told us his award-winning story. Most in the room caught the gist, but Brendan was kind enough to give a summary in English too. Congratulations again, Brendan!
Pauline O’Grady-Noonan told us a gorgeous story about growing up on the family farm in Co. Clare, and the beautiful, spirited relationship between her brother Francis and her mother. And all the local news they shared when their mother was trying to make the evening phone calls.
We had been praying for rain all summer, and while it came that night, Trish Burke told a very appropriate story about a trip to town with her mother’s friend Gretta. Because of the rain they encountered a mysterious man and his umbrella and had to get to the bottom of the mystery.
“Once upon a time there was a midwife,” according to our next teller, Deirdre O’Mahony who transported us to another world of tall dark men, pudgy babies and bags of gold seen through the eyes of the midwife, magical stuff.
It was something special to hear Paul O’Sullivan honouring his mother Peggy, on home ground, with a story about her desert island discs. Paul had us singing along, laughing and crying in equal measure.
To end the stories, Sharon O’Neill enthralled us with Mis and Dubh Rois, a story of grief, madness, lust and love about a legendary woman who lives on to give Slieve Mish mountain range its name. Sharon delighted the Whitechurch audience with the term ‘tricking stick’, imaginations were running wild!
Mo O’Connor, from Conna, brought us his poem “The Tinkers at Tallow Fair,” along with a run through some beloved songs — The Galway Shawl, Bob Dylan’s Don’t Think Twice, Save the Last Dance, and The Candy Store on the Corner. After the thanks, Mo finished the night with another song, I’ll Fly Away, and a humorous poem he wrote after a five-word challenge. Excellent stuff as always from Mo.
Many congratulations to Whitechurch and Waterloo Community Association on an amazing 40 years. We can’t wait to see where you go next!
Special thank you to Blue Hat Drama for all the help in preparation and thank you to the organisers, the tellers, the singers and especially the audience. We were thrilled to be able to celebrate with some stories at FestiGeal.
Despite it being summer holidays it’s been a very few weeks but we’re thrilled to be resuming normal service in September with the Sketchbook in Blarney and the Mixtape in Callanan’s. Who doesn’t love a bit of routine!?!
September Sketchbook: Tuesday 8, 8.30pm Blarney Castle Hotel
At the Sketchbook, we take a deep dive into stories and telling. Please email thegabstorytelling@gmail.com if you want to attend, tell a story or take a role. Cover charge is €5
September Mixtape: Tuesday 15, 8.30pm Callanan’s George’s Quay
Doors open at 8pm, storytelling starts at 8.30pm. Be early if you want a seat! Check out https://www.facebook.com/TheGabStorytelling for updates in the lead up to it.
The May Gab Mixtape in Callanan’s kicked off bang on time with Diarmuid O Drisceoil at the helm as FAT. The first teller, Deirdre O’Mahony, took us back to her teenage job as the relief milker for the summer on her family’s dairy farm. A fraught introduction to the milking parlour with her Dad as her boss. She was saving up to go to Dingle at the end of the summer but as well as money she was rewarded with a memorable bovine shower.
Next Liam O’Shaughnessy with a traditional tale about a princess who wonders about the 12 empty bedrooms in the castle, the 12 rusting swords and the 12 idle horses in the stable. Turns out her 12 brothers were living the goose life by day and having the craic as her brothers at nighttime. A great folk tale told in Liam’s inimitable style.
Daniel Galvin had to fight a man recently for a story, we’d love to have seen the other fella. He went on to tell us his mad take on the arrival of mobile saunas to Ireland, a phenomenon in the community that ended in a 3 day siege highlighting the contrast between an old and new Ireland.
Sorcha de Róiste brought us to the break with two beautiful sean nos songs “Raghadsa is mo Cheaití” from West Kerry followed by “Casam araon na Géanna Romhainn” from Cúil Aodha.
Despite it being 4 deep at the bar, Rob and Eileen had everyone watered in no time and we were back to the show in no time. Sorcha treated us to a Muskerry song rediscovered by Sean O Riada, “Aisling Gheal” followed by the beautiful “An Chúilfhionn”.
Colm Ryan was up next with an action packed chase of Carlos by his father the King. Carlos had an unusual talent but It wasn’t until he met Maria that his talent failed him. And thanks to Maria’s brother Pablo they all nearly lived happily ever after.
In her Cork colours, Anna O’Sullivan, enthralled us with her remembering her first trip to Croke Park as a youngster with her little brother Denis, her dad and her uncle Noel. A pilgrimage that has been repeated many times since but the first time is always very special.
The FAT, Diarmuid finished the stories for the night with his unusual discovery from the 1926 census and putative great grandfather Dan Sheehan, an “iar-snámhaí”, who may have swam all the way to America and came home with a small fortune.
As Diarmuid reminded us, we had a night of stories and songs, no special effects, no props, no lighting, no sound system, just the human voice and a wonderfully attentive audience. We all went home the better for the night.
Thanks as always to Rob and Eileen in Callanans, Max for these photos that get better and better each time, Deirdre for putting it all together, Paul on the door, all of the tellers and singers but most of all the listeners for their wonderful attention and encouragement.
More photos available on our Facebook page
We’re just coming back to earth after a wonderful weekend of stories with Daniel Morden in Blarney. But fear not, we’re raring to go again for the Mixtape next Tuesday. Hope to see you there …
April Mixtape: Tuesday 21 March 8.30pm Callanan’s George’s Quay
Doors open at 8pm, storytelling starts at 8.30pm. Be early if you want a seat!
Performance – Friday 10 April 8pm
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-gab-presents-daniel-morden-tickets-1984116863951
SOLD OUT Workshop – Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 April 10am – 4pm (includes performance)
Please contact thegabstorytelling@gmail.com for waiting list
Storytelling Performance – Friday 10 April 8pm
For over three decades, Daniel Morden has been transporting audiences around the globe through the ancient art of storytelling. Whether navigating a timeless Greek myth or thrilling adventure, Daniel commands the stage with rare, magnetic intensity. Witness a true master of the craft at work and join us for an evening of laughter, wonder and storytelling at its best.
Music on the night will be from Gab regulars mezzosoprano Gráinne Stafford, piper Stevie O’Brien and fiddler Fanny Leenhardt. Hailing from Kells, Co. Meath, Stevie O’Brien, has been playing the uilleann pipes and various whistles since he was a youngster. Gráinne Stafford from Enniscorthy in Wexford has performed with Opera Ireland, the National Chamber Choir, East Cork Choral Society and Cork Operatic Society. Fanny Leenhardt was born in the South East of France. She is passionate about traditional Irish music (and bread!) and is an exceptional fiddle player. All three now live in Cork, this special Gab event brings them together for the first time.
STORYTELLING WORKSHOP – Day 1 – Saturday 11 April
Step into the timeless world of traditional storytelling in this storytelling workshop. Designed for those with little or no prior experience with folk tales, the session introduces the art of telling traditional stories drawn from folklore, myth and oral traditions. Participants will explore how stories are shaped, remembered, and shared aloud.
You’ll learn techniques for choosing a story, defining its structure, and telling it in your own natural voice—without scripts or pressure to perform. The emphasis is on confidence, enjoyment, and connection rather than perfection. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have developed your own storytelling style and gained practical tools to continue telling stories in everyday and community settings. Participants should bring along a traditional story to work with. (The Gab will help you find one if needs be)
STORYTELLING WORKSHOP – Day 2 – Sunday 12 April
Building on day one, Daniel continues with the traditional tale. Myths, legends and folktales are sometimes enthralling, but all too often they can be confusing or even offensive. Daniel will explain strategies that he has developed to adapt old stories so that they are relevant to contemporary audiences.
Performance
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-gab-presents-daniel-morden-tickets-1984116863951
Workshop & performance
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/storytelling-workshop-with-daniel-morden-tickets-1984118540967
It’s been an incredibly busy few weeks for the Gab with two more sold-out shows in Coughlans and making lots more plans for our 10th year in existence. We can’t wait to get back into Callanan’s on Tuesday night, it feels like last year since we were there!
Looking ahead to March, we have our regular Sketchbook in Blarney, an extra Sketchbook in Maureen’s and then the launch of Féile Fearann Rí to top off the month. And Daniel Morden comes to Blarney in April, exciting times ahead!
SAVE THE DATE!
April Workshop with Daniel Morden: Friday 10 – Sunday 12 April in Church of the Resurrection Blarney
We are delighted to be bringing one of the best storytellers in the English speaking world to Blarney in April. Daniel Morden has been a professional teller of traditional tales since the 80s. On the evening of Friday 10 April, Daniel will lead a storytelling performance in the COI Blarney. Followed by a 2 day workshop on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 April in the same location. See https://danielmorden.org/
The Gab Storytelling Christmas Special: Sunday 28 December Church of the Resurrection, Blarney. Doors 7pm for a 7.30pm start
We are delighted to be receiving support from Cork City Council’s Night Time Economy fund for a special night of storytelling in the Church of the Resurrection in Blarney. This will be a free event. Hope to see you there
Photo taken by Rita O’Sullivan
Thanks a million to Conor Ó Buachalla https://www.gormu.com/ for inviting us to tell stories in the Leap Inn last night as part of Leap Scarecrow festival. It was an epic night of stories covering virtues, vices, crucifixions, a golden ball, a fish king, a headless priest, a funeral home in NYC, a very able apprentice, several appearances of the devil and a seriously hairy pony. With great tunes from the local group 4 Uke Sake and the Tim Healy band. We’re starting a fund for a mini bus so we can have more adventures like this to West Cork.
