Danny Houlihan‘s Irish Experience

Whiskey Galore Ballybunion 1833 Ship Wreck Danny Houlihan’s Irish Experience New Year Show

Welcome to Danny Houlihan's Irish Experience Show New Years Episode, as a Wild Atlantic Way Champion I have kept the best episode to open the 2024 Season so sit back and enjoy the story the hidden history the Whiskey, the landlords, Old Dexter and his Coastguards, Holy Men, Sean Peadar O Chonochubhair and the events of the area and a bit of my Irish music combined that makes up  Whiskey Galore Ballybunion 1833/1834.

In 1833 A violent storm erupted from the West as the SS City of Limerick under the command Captain Cooper and his brave crew made their way beyond the safe Shannon Estuary and the famous loop head they say 20 miles on its outward bound voyage from County Limerick Ireland, so strong was the storm that Captain Cooper and his men fought the gales and high rolling seas but due to the severe tempest took action and turned the massive SS City of Limerick back towards the Shannon Estuary and away from danger as they thought.

In the hold of the ship was bacon, meat, butter, and hundreds of barrels of Whiskey yes Whiskey.

In the hours to follow the story of the il fated ship and its cargo the landed gentry and locals and indeed the military or lack of it would go down into history in the area of Ballybunion but was forgotten by many.

I have gone through and un earthed old faded newspapers of the period and the oral history to bring to you all this unique episode and story in a local seaside resorts history, a snap shot of the area its people and the stories and history fact and fiction interwoven that makes up Whiskey Galore Ballybunion 1833.

Special thanks to all my listeners who have tuned in over the last few years more is on the way.

This is Truly A Wild Atlantic Way Story.

Christmas Show 2023 Danny Houlihan’s Irish Experience Show

Welcome to you all and to our Christmas Show this year which travels back on a number of our episodes fused with my music on my bagpipes to enhance the Christmas Spirit.

The scenic banks of the Shannon Estuary in North Kerry Ireland on the Wild Atlantic Way is the starting place with a few tunes on the pipes, then I travel deep in land from the Wild Atlantic Way route to explore some rich areas of culture and hidden heritage. Abbeydorney, Gale,Killehenny and the Leathardan Walk are the places a part of our rich Irish Culture and heritage. So may I take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Christmas Danny Houlihan. 

Kiltomy Lixnaw County Kerry Danny Houlihan’s Irish Experience Show

In this short episode I visit another special place inland on the Wild Atlantic Way Route once more to a place steeped in history and lore, a place worth visiting along the route of the Wild Atlantic Way.

A Place in the Ancient Kingdom of Kerry Kiltomy Graveyard Lixnaw County Kerry Ireland in the old barony of Clan Maurice. In this episode I relate my visit to Kiltomy,and its rich history of this special place in County Kerry Ireland.

Halloween The Ghosts of The Thetis Beale Danny Houlihan’s Irish Experience Show

Wild Atlantic Way Champion Danny Houlihan takes us back to a night in 1834 along the Shannon Estuary when the ship the Thetis was wrecked off Beale Bar North Kerry Ireland and its history. This is a second in the series of the Thetis and covers the Ghostly story what was seen days and years after the wrecking of the ship. Ballybunion Podcaster and historian Danny Houlihan weaves his magic once more telling his areas own unique story a part of the Wild Atlantic Way coastline in Ireland.

Today in Beale North Kerry Ireland a Wild Atlantic Way Discovery Point is marked with a history of this famous ship and the people of the area. On Halloween this short story is an added part to the celebrations World Wide from Danny Houlihan's Wild Atlantic Way Research Centre.

The Willow Tree Danny Houlihan’s Irish Experience Show

The Willow Tree Danny Houlihan’s Irish Experience Show

Welcome to the Wild Atlantic Way and Danny Houlihan's Irish Experience show I hope you all are well and safe my friends and if you are driving walking or jogging please take care.

In this months episode I will be adding another old Irish tree the Willow Tree to my series on native trees and their deeply rooted connections with the landscape of Ancient Ireland and its people and its applications to the lives of our people, its history and its links with our Irish Mythology and Ogham Calendar. Sit back and enjoy the rich culture which is Ireland. 

Kilmoyle Church Ruins North Kerry Danny Houlihan’s Irish Experience Show

Wild Atlantic Way Champion Danny Houlihan travels out once more from his North Kerry Base and explores more of the rich history on the Wild Atlantic Way Route that makes up the Kingdom of Kerry.

In this episode Danny travels inland from the coast to Kilmoyle in North Kerry Ireland and its old ruins and graveyard, a place not visited by many tourists on the tourist trail  but its history is unique as the old church site dates back to the time of the Early Christian period and its foundation by a female Irish Saint now long forgotten also a gold hoard of artefacts found during the 1900s buried deep within a bog or peatland locally.

Through its people its heritage and its rugged coastline and inland culture this is truly Danny Houlihan's Irish Experience.

Wethers Well and Saint Brendan Danny Houlihan’s Irish Experience Show

Wild Atlantic Way Champion Danny Houlihan uncovers more history of North Kerry Ireland in Holy Wells Part 2 Hidden History.

Welcome everyone in this months episode I traveled out once more from my North Kerry base on a July day an overcast day this time to a very special place in County Kerry Ireland, A place called Tobar Na Molt Wethers Well which has been associated with the Baptism of our Patron Saint of Kerry Saint Brendan the Navigator and two other local missionary's Bishop Erc who had a settlement there near Arfdert in Lerig and St Ita who was the foster Mother of Saint Brendan who according to locals is reputed to be buried there within the confines of the Holy well enclosure.

The holy well is located several miles from Ardfert another historical place in County Kerry.

Wethers well is visited yearly by many people in Ireland mass is said there on occasion and rounds of the well done. I have again found out some interesting aspects to the site so sit back and enjoy my Irish Experience. Thanks to all of you who are listening to my series I will be back again with another episode thanks for all the support and comments on the episodes to date.

Samuel Lewis Visit to Ballybunion 1837 Danny Houlihan’s Irish Experience Show

In this episode Danny Houlihan explores once again the old faded articles and periodicals of bygone days to find out more history in relation to seaside resorts in Ireland, when they started and the people that made up these special places after all seaside places were their homes and lives and life ways.

Using his home place again as a starting point on his journey Ballybunion as a village became internationally known for its beach, cliff walks and caves in the early 1800s, during this period we can find the sea side village of Ballybunion welcoming visitors in the early year of 1837 when Samuel Lewis arrived in the place and described what was there, at the time and its surrounding countryside which was approaching a serious point in its history. 

Samuel Lewis Visits Ballybunion in 1837

One document that gives us an insight to the area was Samuel Lewis Visit To Ballybunnian in 1837 unique in its description.

Samuel lewis visited Ballybunnian in the year of 1837 during the process of the writing of his famous work Topographical Dictionary of Ireland by Samuel Lewis which is used as a reference by historians and a very important historical document.

Danny Houlihna retraces the foot steps of Samuel Lewis adding in more history to enhance the description given at the time. A unique view of the start of a famous bathing place in 1837.

Gale Graveyard & Abbey Listowel Danny Houlihan’s Irish Experience Show

In this episode Danny Houlihan Wild Atlantic Way Champion travels out onto one of the arteries of the Wild Atlantic Way to a graveyard called Gale Cemetery about 5 kilometres from Listowel County Kerry Ireland. Today only a grave yard marks the area where once in bygone times there was a settlement possibly Culdees/Hermits, church and abbey within its confines flourishing among the high trees that once covered the landscape near it.

In this quiet countryside grave yard with the singing birds in the nearby trees lies hundreds of our ancestors that died in the Great Irish Famine or Holocaust of 1846 and Black 1847 many of these forgotten people descendants are living now in America, Australia England Canada and other destinations. Danny Houlihan in his research goes micro into this site to link up the past life ways and evidence of a place today only locals who's people are buried there visit.

Monuments inside the entrance commemorate the famine but when Danny Houlihan peels back the pages of its history a light is thrown on this special place and its past life ways this again is another Experience on The Wild Atlantic Way.

Kilnaughtin Church Tarbert Danny Houlihan’s Irish Experience Show

Wild Atlantic Way Champion & Podcaster Danny Houlihan explores more of the rich heritage and culture which is North Kerry Ireland.

April 16th Danny Houlihan traveled from his base in North Kerry out on a very sunny blue sky day along the Wild Atlantic Way North Kerry just beyond Ballylongford on the outskirts Tarbert County Kerry Ireland. A special place and another place Danny recommends all to see and soak up and experience Killnaughtin Church and its ancient history on the Wild Atlantic Way.

Kilnaughtin A Feast To The Senses Part 1 in the series.