Sheehans Storytelling Cottage

17/08/2026

In the past year Story From Seeds - Maria Gillen has represented us in Nova Scotia, Canada, Woodstock Story Festival New York, Marrakech, Morocco where she took part in the successful Guinness World Record, not to mention all the UK & Irish Festivals.

Having won the Sean McCarthy Memorial Weekend Storytelling Cup for the third time - she discusses how this 'story root' gave her a start in professional Storytelling.

Thank you to videographer Rose Corbett for an excellent job.

14/08/2026

Our Storyteller in Residence opens the week long Bandon walled Town Festival 2026 ❤️🙏

A great start to The Bandon Walled Town festival tonight, with story teller Maria Gillen.

09/08/2026

Story From Seeds - Maria Gillen - Storyteller hosts Omar Belaarej from the World Storytelling Cafe on his second visit as part of the project in Sheehans Storytelling Cottage Finuge & Kerry Writers Museum ❤️😊🙏

🌍 Stories from Across the Sea

As part of the Listowel International Storytelling Festival, hosted by Kerry Writers’ Museum, join Story From Seeds - Maria Gillen - Storyteller and Omar Belaarej for a vibrant celebration of stories that cross seas, cultures, languages and generations.

Maria has been part of the festival’s journey since its very beginning, and we are delighted to welcome Omar back for his second year. Together, they will share Irish, Moroccan and co-created stories that illuminate our shared humanity through the timeless tradition of oral storytelling.

Filled with warmth, humour and imagination, this family-friendly event invites audiences of all ages to gather, listen and experience the stories that connect us—wherever we come from and wherever we call home.

📅 Sunday 20 September
🕛 12 noon
📍 Kerry Writers' Museum
🎟️ €8
👧 Free entry for children aged 12 and under

Suitable for all ages.

09/08/2026

Our Winner!

Story From Seeds - Maria Gillen is the winner of the Sean McCarthy Memorial Weekend Festival Storytelling Cup! She won with her rendition of the 3000 year old tale Manannán Mac Lir, enthralling us with the wisdom & adventure of yesteryear!

She will be back in Sheehans Storytelling Cottage tomorrow with Candy Sheridan who runs the Strumpshaw Tree Fair. Maria was guest Storyteller with the Fair this year & by all accounts there was a great reception for her stories from the 5 deep wells of Irish Storytelling.

10/07/2026

Great craic Kerry Airport - who'll come up eith the best caption?

I came across this chain-smoking chick in Kerry Airport on my way to Strumpshaw Tree Fair - come on now! Who can provide the best caption?! ✨️🔥✨️

on the

05/05/2026

Have you plans made for the August Weekend? The craic will be MIGHTY in Finugue from 31st July to the 3rd August.

If you have a song or a story that needs an audience, if you want to explore why the Irish Session is so popular, if you want to meet & join our best singers & Storytellers. Then why are you waiting? Sign up now & we'll see you on the August weekend!

As we head into the May Bank Holiday weekend, there’s no better time to put pen to paper ✍️

🎶 Competitions for the Sean McCarthy Festival are now OPEN! 🎶

From ballads to storytelling, we invite you to be part of a festival that celebrates the very heart of Irish tradition, song, and spoken word.

So take a quiet moment this weekend, gather your thoughts, and let the words flow… you never know where they might lead. With online entries available for the first time, it has never been easier to enter 📖🎤🎶✍️

📩 Full competition details available on our website http://www.finugeweekend.com

28/04/2026

Shane Ibbs is one of our regular visitors from the UK - always welcome here with his great talent telling! This is the kind of quality storyteller that visits his neck of the woods!

May all the stories & all who tell them & all who listen live hale & hearty lives! ❤️🔥

Some fabulous stories and singing by guest teller Ulrika Igraine at Tales On The Teign, storytelling club this afternoon. Ulrika is mixed heritage, part Swedish, part Peruvian. We had stories and ballads from both cultures. One of the Swedish stories came from Ulrika's Grandmother. There was also other great stories from the floor. I got to tell my version of Cap O Rushes, a fairly new story for me, still finding its place on my tongue.

22/04/2026

Oh we REALLY wish we were there - but we look forward to tuning in on www.worldstorytellingcafe.com this evening!

We are proud to partner with Sheehans Storytelling Cottage & Kerry Writers Museum in this great project.

Omar Belaarej our Storyteller in Residence collaborated with Story From Seeds - Maria Gillen to build this Story Bridge across time & space. Last year Omar went to the Listowel Storytelling Festival in Kerry & this year Maria is back in World Storytelling Café.

They are now also joined by Jim Brule so that the Story Bridge extends now to the USA as well.

Join us at the World Storytelling Café Wednesday 22 April at 6pm to hear stories that connect us & a discussion about what that means.