The Banshee makes a return to Limerick in premiere of new film

THIS autumn, The GAFF and Bualadh Bos Children’s Festival will present the world premiere of Revisiting the Banshee, a new collection of children’s folklore.

This event marks the 20th anniversary of the cult classic The Banshee Lives in the Handball Alley.

In 2004, artists Aileen Lambert and Michael Fortune spent seven months recording stories with children in three Limerick schools. 

With only a cheap video camera and mic, they created what is regarded as “one of the finest collections of children’s folklore in Ireland”, capturing the voices, accents, and imaginations of young storytellers in the estates and streets where they grew up.

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Two decades later, with support from The GAFF, Ms Lambert and Mr Fortune returned to Limerick to work with pupils from St Mary’s National School and Thomond Primary School. 

The result is a “fascinating” new film that blends old favourites with fresh voices, showing what has changed, and what has stayed the same.

Limerick audiences will recognise characters like Drunken Thady, The Bishop’s Lady, and The Green Lady, alongside new tales from children who have moved to the city from other countries. 

Over 40 hours of interviews were recorded and edited into a 40-minute film. 

The film will premiere  in the Belltable on Friday, October 3. 

The full archive will be launched on YouTube following the premiere and preserved on folklore.ie.