The Burning of Bridget Cleary, 1983
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- Опубликовано: 10 фев 2025
- Bridget Cleary was killed by her husband who believed she was a witch or possessed by a fairy changeling.
The story of the torture and murder of Bridget Cleary in Tipperary in 1895 by her husband, who believed her to be a witch or possessed by a fairy changeling, is the subject of Joe Ambrose’s novel ‘Loves Dark Light’. It is also the inspiration behind the concept album ‘Tryal’ by The Host, a band featuring members of Horslips, Eamon Carr, Johnny Fean and Charles O’Connor.
Joe Ambrose describes 26 year old Bridget Cleary as a typical peasant housewife from the Victorian era. Following a brief absence from her home, Bridget fell ill with a cold. Her cousin Patrick Dunne decreed she had been snatched by a fairy and a changeling left in her place.
Bridget’s husband Michael Cleary decided to exorcise the changeling from his wife, and, assisted by Bridget’s father and cousins, he burned her to death. Following a high profile trial, Michael Cleary served 20 years for manslaughter rather than murder as
He didn’t think he had killed his wife, he thought he’d got rid of a fairy.
Eamon Carr is interested in psychic phenomena and has read widely on the subject. The folklore account of the Bridget Clearly story is widely known. In doing his research Eamon Carr discovered it was an incredibly gruesome story, rather than a fun fairy tale.
Bridget Cleary’s death is often referred to as the last witch burning in Europe but Eamon Carr disputes this. Joe Ambrose believes the story of Bridget Cleary remains relevant. Many people perceived as outsiders in Ireland are still persecuted and treated with suspicion. He also believes the case also highlights a level violence in Irish society.
People in Ireland continue to believe in piseogs or superstitions, and throughout the country there are stories of fairy changelings living happily within communities.
This episode of ‘The Late Late Show’ was broadcast on 17 December 1983. The presenter is Gay Byrne.
There's a play called "The Last Burning" by Patrick Galvin which was based upon this story. Chilling stuff.
Isn't is mad to think how recently things like this went on?
Great clip from the vault as usual, thanks for sharing it.
God, I wish I could go back in time and save her from the clutches those mad ignorant people.
The swarthy guy has powers. He looks very wizardy and mysterious. My ancestors experienced all this stuff in Roscommon. Catholics on the surface and witchy underneath. Ireland is a very mysterious and magickal country. The story is shocking and the treatment of people shocking back then. So what if she was a changeling. Get over it already! Poor lady😢😮
People were thick ignorant that time. Thank God for education. God rest to the that poor lady.
They still are
I read the book - great read. Can't recall where I picked this info up, but I read somewhere that he (the husband) used the fairy/changeling story as an excuse..and in fact killed her for money. I also remember reading he emigrated.
Lastlear went to inspect a cottage outside of London that was reported to be over 500 years old, I met the present owner who had lived in this property for over 40 years, she has a vast amount of history about the property and some of the people who lived there. The owner showed me some markings cut into the oak roof timbers and parts of the wall plaster and then explain that 2 of the young women who lived at this property emigrated to America and were later accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts and were later tried and hanged in The Salem witch trials, I believe a film was mad about happening. I belived that marking on the plaster had nothing to do witanywitchcraftt as the plastered was less than 100 years old, A few weeks ago I inspect a property of a similar age and build as the old cottage which also had cut marks on part of the wall and roof timber frames,the owner on this later property explained to me that marking were made by the carpentes in the forest, as they cut down andshaped
RIP Bridget.
Less than two lifetimes ago, back to back
It was mad times back then and even now
Rotten cruel to poor Bridget..I remember this story
Shocking
There is a song in her memory song for Bridget cleary by edel Meade.
Piseogs....such was the way at the time. Many people practiced them at the time...
pretty gruesome..
Murder most foul..
any changelings in the comments?
I edited my comment earlier if that counts?😄
@@ciaranmac646 That's not interesting)
i've had some older people earnestly imply my younger brother (being autistic) might be one, both before and after he was diagnosed, I believe
@@baintreachas Well, I made the comment more for fun. But that's not the case when it concerns health issues. They just lack tact, I guess.
😂😂😂
Changeling....slit eyes
Who are you