Dr Gillian Kenny

Hello,

I’m on today’s bonus episode of The Rest is History
It’s called: Irish Kings, Medieval Magic, and the Norman Invasion of Ireland

So if you’re a subscriber then I hope you enjoy 👍

This looks like it’s going to be a really fascinating talk.

My view today

It’s great isn’t it? Love the smelly old Bonnacon

Read a nice little blog on the Bonnacon today so thought I’d share.
If you have never before heard of this mythical creature who attacked with its farts and poo then…enjoy

blogs.getty.edu/iris/the-bon...

Sheelah take a bow: St Patrick’s wife? Probably not – she was far more important than that A symbol of Irish womanhood, she deserves to be celebrated again every March 18th

Anyway forget Paddy’s Day and get ready for Sheelah’s Day on 18th March. The campaign for another day off BEGINS

Sheelah take a bow: St Patrick’s wife? Probably not – she was far more important than that

www.irishtimes.com/culture/heri...

Well, Waterford is just MARVELLOUS

an older woman with gray hair is wearing a black dress and earrings and looking at the camera . ALT: an older woman with gray hair is wearing a black dress and earrings and looking at the camera .

That was exactly where I was. To think they favoured a Gash Garden rather than a few high crosses…

The possibility for absolute shenanigans in this neck of the woods is high

To Waterford

Bypassing number 25 for now though…

Steffen.
Sorry, bloody autocorrect

Thanks Steffan!

Thanks John. I normally stop at about 1530s ish so currently inhaling all things later Tudor…

You’re most welcome. It was such great craic to make and I’m very happy you enjoyed it

It’s…actually sunny in Ireland today.
Bran the dog welcomes this unfamiliar, glowing yellow ball in the sky as his new overlord on the beach.

Ah you’re very kind. Glad you enjoyed it

Also, being a joyless historian of course I have to say
1. No evidence Gráinne met Liz I
2. She wasn’t a pagan
3. Neither she nor her culture were in any way ‘savage’

Anyway, back to book writing

That is an excellent name for a kitten.

An Oscar-nominated Irish filmmaker is making a movie about pirate queen Gráinne Mhaol Production is due to start in 2026.

Intrigued by this news! Films always change stuff for better storytelling, so if you want to know the REAL story of Grainne O’Malley, listen to our riotously funny episode of You’re Dead To Me with @medievalgill.bsky.social & Catherine Bohart

www.thejournal.ie/oscar-nomina...

This is interesting! My new book on Gráinne with @yalebooks.bsky.social will be out in 2027. Looks like the film is leaning into the folklore rather than the history.
Bet it won’t be anywhere NEAR as funny as the podcast episode we did on her on You’re Dead To Me.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...

Celebrate St Dwynwen's Day Discover the romantic legend of the Welsh patron saint of lovers, St Dwynwen.

Hope everyone is having a pleasant St Dwynwen’s Day - aka Welsh Valentine’s Day. A saint who had no luck in love* and became the saint for lovers.

*Her lover was turned into a block of ice for a bit

You can read more here

www.visitwales.com/info/history...

How lovely to feel that again! And thank you for your kind words.

In 1518 the Archduke Ferdinand of Habsburg found himself and his fleet unexpectedly in Ireland, thanks to stormy weather. While there, one of his aides, a young man named Laurent Vital (age 16) wrote an account of their time there. It is extraordinary for many reasons >

It’s got a name - called the glib. Dürer likely produced some drawings based on Laurent’s descriptions. More info on it all here irisharchaeology.ie/2013/08/16th...

Btw the women of Kinsale DID have clothes on but not corsets. They wouldn’t have been as tightly laced up as Laurent was used to. And on a hot day, a light shift could be opened and it might all look like stuff was escaping

No, but they didn’t wear corsets and the one gown we have from that era - the Shinrone gown- doesn’t fasten at the front so perhaps on a hot day with a light shift underneath…stuff was more on display than usual

a close up of a man 's face with a building in the background ALT: a close up of a man 's face with a building in the background

Laurent walking around Kinsale like…

It could possibly have only been written by a teenage boy but we are lucky to have it. Check it out here - celt.ucc.ie/published/T5...

which were not at all worth looking at, so ugly and wrinkled were they only deserve the name of flabby udders". Despite the boobage on display he reassured the reader that Irish women, especially the young good-looking ones, were virtuous >