37. American Emigrants in Irish Folklore
From Transatlantic: An Irish American History Podcast by Fin Dwyer & Damian Shiels
February 2, 2026 · 48 min
About this episode
This episode explores the integration of Irish emigrants' experiences into folklore by the early twentieth century.
Irish folklore often recalls an ancient past. However, in this episode Fin and Damian explore how America and the experiences of Irish emigrants had already become part of folklore by the early twentieth century. Set down almost 100 years ago, among the stories you will hear tales of ghosts that reflect a sense of loss and remembrance of emigrants, examples of how returned emigrants were sometimes seen as "other", and even find out about how Irish children had already become fascinated by the American West and Native Americans. Folklore Archive www.duchas.ie Seymour, S. True Irish ghost stories https://archive.org/details/trueirishghostst0000seym_s6t9 Tait, C Spectres Across the Atlantic, c.1820-1940: Communicating with the Dead Over Space and Time https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14780038.2023.2258606 Interview with Clodagh Tait acast.com/irishhistory/episodes/a-history-of-the-supernatural-in-ireland&ved=2ahUKEwjOxZbyoLCSAxWRW0EAHeZIC9sQFnoECDcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3kmEFkBqKv1hnVAg6DtN7B Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
People in this episode
Hosts: Fin Dwyer, Damian Shiels
Guest: Clodagh Tait
Topics covered
- Irish folklore
- emigration
- ghost stories
- cultural identity
- American West
- Native Americans
Keywords
- Irish folklore
- emigrants
- ghost stories
- cultural memory
- American West
- Native Americans
- Irish history
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Dúchas
Books & works: True Irish ghost stories, Spectres Across the Atlantic, c.1820-1940: Communicating with the Dead Over Space and Time
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