Join us on this episode of the Letter from Ireland show as we tell some surprising stories from an Irish Halloween! Did you know that many of the rituals and traditions associated with Halloween came from the Celtic Festival of "Samhain" (pronounced "sow-en" - "sow" as pronounced in pig)?

Carina and Mike talk about the Celtic seasons and festivals, their own Irish Halloween memories - and tell two very special Irish stories linked to this time of year.

So, come on in - sit down and have a listen to these wonderful seasonal Irish tales of things that go bump in the night!

In this episode of the Letter from Ireland show, Carina goes on a voyage of discovery (in more ways than one) as she uncovers the hidden history of her paternal grandfather: Bartholomew Cronin.

Join Carina as she begins at the shop where her grandfather worked and lived - and then she heads back to his home-place before journeying even further back to one very special place associated with an Irish saint in the beautiful wilds of West Cork. 

So, do come along - we know you'll enjoy the trip!

Carina never knew the surname that her paternal grandmother was born with - she only knew to call her "Granny"! So, we decided to find out a little more. What did we discover? Well, join us in this episode of the Letter from Ireland show as we go on a voyage of discovery - starting in a small shop in the Irish countryside - then on to a cottage on the fringes of Cork City - before finishing up at a grand castle.

There are lots of surprises along the way - and lots of mysteries solved also! This is a story that is both personal and universal, one that reaches from the present into the ancient past - maybe you have a story (or mystery) just like this one in your Irish family tree? Want to find out? Well, join us now as we start by asking Carina just what she knows - and does not know - about her "Granny Cronin".

Then, we hit the road and the records to find out more. We know you'll enjoy this journey!