In this conversation, Elizabeth discusses her deep connection to Irish music, particularly revenant songs, which explore themes of death, grief, and resilience. She shares personal experiences with death and how they shaped her understanding of life and loss. The discussion highlights the importance of community in the grieving process and the therapeutic role of traditional songs in coping with grief. Elizabeth also reflects on her journey as a singer and the significance of music in her life, emphasizing the interconnectedness of life and death.
Elizabeth joined us all the way from Westport on the west coast of Ireland, for this episode!
Recently, Elizabeth developed a fascination with an important, though largely unexplored aspect of Irish musical and cultural heritage: the genre of traditional songs known as Revenant Songs. These songs, deeply rooted in Irish and international folklore, narrate tales of the dead returning, mostly in their full human form, to resolve unfinished earthly matters.
Here are links to two of the songs, as examples
1) The Unquiet Grave, sung by Luke Kelly
2) The Wife of Usher's Well, sung by Karine Polwart
The Wife Of Usher's Well by Karine Polwart
Book - My Father’s Wake: How the Irish Teach us to Live, Love, and Die by Kevin Toolis
The Keening Festival in Mulranny, about an hour's drive north of Westport, Ireland.
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And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.
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