Seed Talks: The History of Witchcraft & Women In Ireland

Explore witchcraft and women in Ireland through rare trials and folklore, uncovering gender, class and belief. Followed by Q&A.

In Irish history, the figure of the witch sits in stark contrast to how it is often imagined in Britain. While Scotland executed over a thousand accused witches and England around half that number, Ireland recorded only four official witch trials.

In this talk, Dr Robyn Atcheson explores those rare cases to ask why the witch-hunting craze largely bypassed Ireland, and what they reveal about Irish society at the time. We’ll look at folk medicine and healing traditions, the roles older women help within their communities, and the tension between everyday belief in the supernatural and the teachings of the Church. Through the four Irish cases, we follow stories of a servant girl accused of killing her mistress’s wealthy husbands, a case of demonic possession, and Ireland’s last witch trial in the 1800s where nine people were convicted of bewitching. Throughout, we’ll explore how gender, class and disability shaped who was accused – any why.

Doors open at 5pm, talk starts at 5:30pm– come down early to grab a good seat!