The Last Witch Bridget Cleary
A powerful solo storytelling piece based on the true story of a woman, whose murder by her husband in 1895 is often described as Ireland’s last witch burning.
The Last Witch Bridget Cleary is a powerful, solo storytelling piece based on the true story of Bridget Cleary, whose death in 1895 is often described as Ireland’s last witch burning. Blending theatre with Irish folklore, the work explores a world where belief and reality collide. At its heart, the piece examines how fear, superstition, and societal pressures shaped the lives of women, and asks what these stories continue to reveal about power, identity, and independence today.
The performance is 45 mins approx, and will be followed by a Q&A with the writer and performer of the show Eve O'Mahony.
Age rating: 12+
The Last Witch Bridget Cleary Podcast:
Combining historical research, expert interviews and dramatic reconstruction, the podcast examines the life, death and legacy of Bridget Cleary, whose murder in 1895 shocked Ireland and the wider world. Rather than focusing solely on folklore and superstition, the series asks deeper questions about gender, belief, folklore's place in society, social change and the Ireland of the late nineteenth century. This podcast is not meant to sensationalise, vilify, shock or appall. It seeks to examine our society, our history, our heritage and to give a voice to who people still call Ireland’s last witch, Bridget Cleary. Check out the podcast here.