The Celtic Tales Chronicles Podcast

In the final part of our series we discuss bloody murders down in the captain Steward's cabin. Please note this episode was recorded in January 2026, but it is finally here. Enjoy! If you've enjoyed the series go check out our main source, 'The ship of seven murders: the tragic voyage of the Mary Russell', written by Alannah Hopkin and Kathy Bunney. Correction: Rab mistakenly refers to Captain Smith when he meant Captain Steward. Follow Rab on instagram @celtictalesgalway Follow @TheKerryGraham on instagram and Substack.  Follow the show on tiktok @celtictaleschronicles Tickets to the Celtic Tales storytelling show from https://ie.powertik.com/events/celtic-tales-storytelling-show Buy Rab’s books at https://ko-fi.com/celtictalesgalway/shop Music: Achaidh Cheide by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Sources 'The ship of seven murders: the tragic voyage of the Mary Russell', written by Alannah Hopkin and Kathy Bunney. 'Forced from this world': massacre on the Mary Russell, by Helena Kelleher Kahn in History Ireland Magazine. Charles Gibb Pirate on wikipedia  

In part three of this series Rab and Kerry chat about the growing sense of horror on the good ship Mary Russell as the captain begins to capture and bind the crew... Follow Rab on instagram @celtictalesgalway Follow @TheKerryGraham on instagram and Substack.  Follow the show on tiktok @celtictaleschronicles Tickets to the Celtic Tales storytelling show from https://ie.powertik.com/events/celtic-tales-storytelling-show Buy Rab’s books at https://ko-fi.com/celtictalesgalway/shop Music: Achaidh Cheide by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/   Primary Source The ship of seven murders: the tragic voyage of the Mary Russell, written by Alannah Hopkin and Kathy Bunney.  

In this bonus episode, Kerry chats to friend of the show Jim Ward about all things Galway. Enjoy! Catch up with Jim's Galway Trails tours at  Galway Trails - Walking Tours of Galway Follow Rab on instagram @celtictalesgalway Follow @TheKerryGraham on instagram and Substack.  Follow the show on tiktok @celtictaleschronicles Tickets to the Celtic Tales storytelling show from https://ie.powertik.com/events/celtic-tales-storytelling-show Buy Rab’s books at https://ko-fi.com/celtictalesgalway/shop Music: Achaidh Cheide by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/  

In the second part of the story Rab and Kerry look at how the tension and madness ramped up on the good ship Mary Russell as she sailed across the Atlantic in 1828... Follow Rab on instagram @celtictalesgalway Follow @TheKerryGraham on instagram and Substack.  Follow the show on tiktok @celtictaleschronicles Tickets to the Celtic Tales storytelling show from https://ie.powertik.com/events/celtic-tales-storytelling-show Buy Rab’s books at https://ko-fi.com/celtictalesgalway/shop Music: Achaidh Cheide by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Primary Source The ship of seven murders: the tragic voyage of the Mary Russell, written by Alannah Hopkin and Kathy Bunney.  

Over the next two episodes Rab and Kerry will be taking a look at a horrific mass murder that took place on the Mary Russell, an Irish cargo ship, in 1828. Follow Rab on instagram @celtictalesgalway Follow @TheKerryGraham on instagram and Substack.  Follow the show on tiktok @celtictaleschronicles Tickets to the Celtic Tales storytelling show from https://ie.powertik.com/events/celtic-tales-storytelling-show Buy Rab’s books at https://ko-fi.com/celtictalesgalway/shop Music: Achaidh Cheide by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/   Primary Source The ship of seven murders: the tragic voyage of the Mary Russell, written by Alannah Hopkin and Kathy Bunney. Secondary Sources Clare People: Daniel O'Connell (1775-1847) (clarelibrary.ie) The 1798 Rebellion – a brief overview – The Irish Story Cobh - Wikipedia Cork Harbour - Wikipedia

Kerry and Rab take a deep dive into the lives of Irish and Scottish dragons, mermaids, sea serpents and other cryptids. Follow Rab on instagram @celtictalesgalway Follow @TheKerryGraham on instagram and Substack.  Follow the show on tiktok @celtictaleschronicles Tickets to the Celtic Tales storytelling show from https://ie.powertik.com/events/celtic-tales-storytelling-show Buy Rab’s books at https://ko-fi.com/celtictalesgalway/shop Music: Achaidh Cheide by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/   Sources The Celtic dragon myth by J.F. Campbell, originally published in 1911. Seventy Years of Irish Life, by W R Le Fanu, originally published 1893 ( Curious fact W R Le Fanu is the brother of Sheridan LE Fanu) Dido - Wikipedia Brigid of Kildare - Wikipedia

In this episode Rab and Kerry explore the life and world of Ann Bonny an Irish pirate in the Caribbean, and her swashbuckling buddy Mary Read. It is a tale of adventure, death and cursing women. Enjoy! Follow Rab on instagram @celtictalesgalway Follow @TheKerryGraham on instagram and Substack.  Follow the show on tiktok @celtictaleschronicles Tickets to the Celtic Tales storytelling show from https://ie.powertik.com/events/celtic-tales-storytelling-show Buy Rab’s books at https://ko-fi.com/celtictalesgalway/shop Music: Achaidh Cheide by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/   Sources Craton, Michael. “The Role of the Caribbean Vice Admiralty Courts in British Imperialism.” Caribbean Studies, vol. 11, no. 2, 1971, pp. 5–20. Accessed through JSTOR Cuncic, Arlin "What Is the Mandela Effect? 20 Examples and Explanations", in verywellmind.com, Jan 2024   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Bonny   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_piracy    Jeffries, Stuart. "Woke the plank! Were pirate ships actually beacons of diversity and democracy?", in The Guardian, April 2023.   Dawdy, Shannon Lee, and Joe Bonni. “Towards a General Theory of Piracy.” Anthropological Quarterly, vol. 85, no. 3, 2012, pp. 673–99. Accessed through JSTOR

In this episode Kerry and Rab have a look at belief systems of pirates, including the relationship between Saint Brigid and the Vodou faith. This episode was recorded live in Galway City Library on 1st February, St Brigid's Day, and features a caravan of (possibly) French Tractors rolling by the library... Thanks to Caroline Rowan and all the city library crew for supporting the event. Follow Rab on instagram @celtictalesgalway Follow @TheKerryGraham on instagram and Substack.  Follow the show on tiktok @celtictaleschronicles Tickets to the Celtic Tales storytelling show from https://ie.powertik.com/events/celtic-tales-storytelling-show Buy Rab’s books at https://ko-fi.com/celtictalesgalway/shop Music: Achaidh Cheide by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/   Sources "Maman Brigitte, the Haitian Loa of Death and Life" in New York Latin Culture Magazine Haitian Revolution - Wikipedia François Mackandal - Wikipedia Brigid - Wikipedia Brigid of Kildare - Wikipedia

In this first episode of Season Two, Rab and Kerry take a deep dive into The Pirate Queen herself, Granuaile, as she fights, loves, gives birth in the middle of a sea battle, and finally shows Queen Elizabeth Tudor who's the real boss. Clarification: Rab gets his dates mixed up at one point and says 1856 instead of 1586.  Follow Rab on instagram @celtictalesgalway Follow @TheKerryGraham on instagram and Substack.  Follow the show on tiktok @celtictaleschronicles Tickets to the Celtic Tales storytelling show from https://ie.powertik.com/events/celtic-tales-storytelling-show Buy Rab’s books at https://ko-fi.com/celtictalesgalway/shop Music: Achaidh Cheide by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/   Sources Chambers, Anne. Grace O’Malley: The Biography of Ireland’s Pirate Queen 1530–1603. Gill Books, 2019. Chambers, Anne, and Slattery Williams, Emma. "Grace O’Malley: the fearless pirate queen of Ireland." History Extra, 2021 Grace O'Malley: The Pirate Queen Of Ireland – Biography & Facts | HistoryExtra Edwards, R. Dudley, and David B. Quinn. “Sixteenth Century Ireland, 1485-1603.” Irish Historical Studies, vol. 16, no. 61, 1968, pp. 15–32. Accessed via JSTOR Murray, Theresa D. "Gráinne Mhaol, pirate queen of Connacht: behind the legend" History Ireland, vol. 13, Issue 2, 2005) Tudor conquest of Ireland - Wikipedia Parliament of Ireland - Wikipedia

In this Halloween episode Rab and Kerry discuss all things Spooky including the origins of Halloween, a deadly fairy encounter, and the 1997 Corrib Park Poltergeist. CONTENT WARNING This episode also includes discussion about slavery, infanticide and clerical sexual abuse. Follow Rab on instagram @celtictalesgalway Follow @TheKerryGraham on instagram and Substack.  Follow the show on tiktok @celtictaleschronicles Tickets to the Celtic Tales storytelling show from https://ie.powertik.com/events/celtic-tales-storytelling-show Buy Rab’s books at https://ko-fi.com/celtictalesgalway/shop Music: Achaidh Cheide by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ "Halloween Werewolf Intro" by miksmusic is licensed under CC BY 3.0.   Source material Halloween https://www.britannica.com/topic/Halloween Samhain https://www.britannica.com/topic/Samhain The Origins of Halloween Traditions https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2021/10/the-origins-of-halloween-traditions/#:~:text=Yet%2C%20the%20Halloween%20holiday%20has,costumes%20to%20ward%20off%20ghosts.   "The Kirwans of Castlehacket, Co. Galway: History, folklore and mythology in an Irish horseracing family", by Ronan Lynch. Published by. Four Courts Press, 2006 Galway Slave Traders & Sugar Planters in the Caribbean - Dr. Orla Power https://soundcloud.com/galwaycitymuseum/episode-6-galway-slave-traders Galway Poltergeist - RTÉ archives https://www.rte.ie/archives/2017/0513/873383-galway-poltergeist/ A haunted house ; The Galway Ghost with Sandra Ramdhanie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ7zSs-e5XY Sandra Ramghanie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandra_Ramdhanie ‘Every little bone’: How 796 babies at Tuam’s mother-and-baby home will be exhumed https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/social-affairs/2023/06/04/every-little-bone-the-difficult-exhumation-ahead-at-tuams-former-mother-and-baby-home/ Eamonn Casey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eamonn_Casey Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifteenth_Amendment_of_the_Constitution_of_Ireland#:~:text=15%20of%201995