Cures & Curses

For two years, Sarah documented traditional cures and curses from the border counties and she has a story to tell about where this ancient practice fits with modern Ireland. ‘The cure’, as it is known, is the ability of a unique person, place, or object to heal particular illnesses, while curses are deeply tied with dark folklore, invoking the land to betray it’s inhabitants.

An unusual tradition for a Western European country to have, surviving centuries of colonialisation, religious change, and famine, it connects us directly with our ancestors. Now it faces a future where they could be lost.

A 45 minute storytelling performance intertwining Irish mythology with her journey collecting stories from ordinary people who practice an extraordinary tradition.