1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: There's nothing better than feeling comfortable in your own shoes, 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:05,200 Speaker 1: and that doesn't mean flopping down on the count with 3 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:08,559 Speaker 1: bunny slippers. Maybe you're a parent raising a little rock star, 4 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:11,399 Speaker 1: or a techno man working from anywhere and jumping from 5 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: one thing to the next. Whoever you are, All Bird 6 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: wants you to be comfortable in your actual shoes too. 7 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:19,640 Speaker 1: Their wool runners, pipers, and loungers are designed for a 8 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 1: level of coziness that makes you feel like you can 9 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:24,759 Speaker 1: do anything. You might even forget you're wearing them. And 10 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: their shoes are so stylish they go perfectly with a 11 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: wear whatever I want attitude. All Birds is all about 12 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:33,839 Speaker 1: loving mother Nature too, because no one wants to leave 13 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 1: a bad footprint. Each shoe is carefully crafted from natural 14 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 1: materials that tread lightly on our planet, from ZQ certified 15 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 1: marino wool to a bouncing midsill made from sweet foam, 16 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 1: the world's first carbon negative EVA material made from sugarcane. 17 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 1: In the Celtic tradition, two days of the year considered 18 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 1: more important than any other. Like the solstices and equinoxes 19 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 1: recognized by other ancient cultures, these two days were vital 20 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 1: waypoints of the calendar. But unlike those other cultures, the 21 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:20,559 Speaker 1: Celts drew their markers not from movements in the celestial plane, 22 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: but rather from a more earth bound and elemental understanding 23 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 1: of seasonal change. Labieltony, most commonly held on May the first, 24 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:36,039 Speaker 1: marks the arrival of summer and its nourishing warmth, the 25 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: livestock driven out to feast on the rich green pastures, 26 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: and the countryside resplendent in bloom. Six months later, it 27 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: is the turn of Sourn to usher in an altogether 28 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: different part of the year, the season of winter and death, 29 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: where green becomes brown and spindley trees stands skeletal and bare, 30 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: the fields long since harvested, turned barren and dark. Traditionally 31 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:13,399 Speaker 1: held on November first, Like Labieltine, Souren is a fire festival, 32 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 1: and one that is thought also to mark the beginning 33 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: of the Celtic year. And so it is that on 34 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 1: every October thirty first, on Sourn Eve, a great fire 35 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 1: is kindled to celebrate the final cycle of life before rebirth, 36 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:34,239 Speaker 1: and from this sacred flame all fires will be relt 37 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: to burn anew in the hearth of every home. Today, 38 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: this ancient new Year's Eve, through the mangle of cultural 39 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: appropriation and linguistical nuance, is perhaps better known as Halloween, 40 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: and although its meaning may have changed over the years, 41 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 1: it has always remained a boundary of sorts, be that 42 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:00,920 Speaker 1: as a point of transition from one season to another, 43 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: or else in other ways, perhaps a little less tangible, 44 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 1: For there are some who believe Halloween to also mark 45 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:12,680 Speaker 1: the time of year when other worlds draw nearest to ours, 46 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 1: where fairies and hobgoblins mingle with the witches, and the 47 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 1: spirits of the dead wandered the land. It is thought 48 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: to be an ideal time for divination, too, a window 49 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 1: of access to the powers of the spirit world, to 50 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: aid spells and the telling of fortunes. If on Halloween 51 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: you come across a looped branch of briarthorne sticking up 52 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 1: from the ground, you might decide to creep through it 53 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: three times in the devil's name, then afterwards cut a 54 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 1: piece of it so that you might take it home 55 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 1: and place it under your pillow. In so doing, it 56 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 1: is said that you will dream of the one you 57 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: will marry. Perhaps it was just such a game that 58 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 1: a young girl by the name of Bridget Boland played 59 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 1: on Halloween afternoon in Ireland's County Tipperary, And perhaps that night, 60 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 1: as she lay her head to rest, a man did 61 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: come to her in a dream, his handsome face, his 62 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: dark hair, and his striking blue eyes appearing to her 63 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 1: from out of the flames of a fire, and a 64 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: name whispered like a warning, but long forgotten by the 65 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 1: first light of day. You're listening to unexplained, and I'm 66 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 1: Richard McClean. Smith. Bridget had always been different, brighter than most, 67 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 1: with little concern for how young women were supposed to behave. 68 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 1: She would often be seen walking the country roads without 69 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: a scarf or a shawl to cover her head, choosing 70 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 1: sometimes instead to wear a black straw hat trimmed with 71 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 1: a navy ribbon and a large brown feather. Many in 72 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:10,119 Speaker 1: the local rural community talked about her behind her back. 73 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:14,840 Speaker 1: They thought her queer, and say that she considered herself 74 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:19,719 Speaker 1: a little more special than others. Certainly, it was true 75 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:23,600 Speaker 1: that she had the disconcerting habit of looking men directly 76 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 1: in the eye, a pagan trait, if ever there was one. 77 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:31,039 Speaker 1: But worst of all, she and Michael had been married 78 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 1: almost eight years, and yet there was no child to 79 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:38,600 Speaker 1: show for it. It isn't known who it was who 80 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,920 Speaker 1: saw her, or how indeed word got back to Michael, 81 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:45,360 Speaker 1: but there was little doubting the description of the woman 82 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 1: from balivad Lee. That afternoon, as the snow covered hills 83 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:54,280 Speaker 1: glistened under a cold March sun, she had apparently been 84 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: seen disappearing into the trees at the back of Scanlon's 85 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:02,480 Speaker 1: Field on the bank of Kilna Grannar Hill. The site 86 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:06,480 Speaker 1: overlooked by the mystical Sleeve Namon Mountain was well known 87 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: to be the location of a fairy fort, a portal 88 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 1: to the other world, and home to the gentle people, 89 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: though to many they were anything but. It is said 90 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:21,840 Speaker 1: that they first arrived on flying ships surrounded by dark 91 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: clouds that blotted out the sun for three days. Named 92 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,720 Speaker 1: the tour d Danon, they were torn with red blonde 93 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:35,480 Speaker 1: hair and pale skin, and blessed with eternal youth. For years, 94 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:39,359 Speaker 1: they reigned across ancient Ireland before suffering defeat at the 95 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: hands of the Milesians and altogether more earthly people. As punishment, 96 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:47,839 Speaker 1: they were sent through the many gates and portals that 97 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 1: littered the landscape into the other world, a place below 98 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:56,719 Speaker 1: and beyond our own plane of existence. Over time, the 99 00:06:56,760 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: tour d Danon became known as the AI's She, the 100 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 1: people of the Mounds, or the She for short. The 101 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 1: fairy folk. To some, their realm is a place of 102 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 1: transcendent beauty, their powers and customs to be celebrated. For others, 103 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 1: they were nothing but danger, their thoughts to be avoided 104 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 1: at all cost. The slightest act of disrespect might result 105 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 1: in the theft of a human child, the body taken 106 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 1: away and the spirit removed, replaced by that of a fairies. 107 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 1: It is said that when a fairy takes the soul, 108 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 1: it is only a matter of time before the body 109 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 1: withers away and die. When Michael was a child, his 110 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 1: mother had herself been stolen away by the fairy folk. 111 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 1: It had occurred one afternoon, after which Michael had sat 112 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 1: at home alone, waiting for days on end, until eventually 113 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 1: she was returned, with no recollection of where she had been. 114 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:10,679 Speaker 1: Michael was waiting just so for Bridget. When she returned 115 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: that bitterly cold Monday afternoon, he noticed with some alarm 116 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 1: the appearance of an uncharacteristic, irritable manner and an unwillingness 117 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 1: to meet his eyes, how she sat by the hearth 118 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:30,239 Speaker 1: but seemed incapable of getting warm. The following morning, Bridget 119 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 1: awoke in the grip of a strange fever, a combination 120 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:37,680 Speaker 1: of headaches and congestion and the incessant feeling of cold. 121 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 1: Bridget remained in bed for the rest of the week, 122 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 1: and by Saturday afternoon her condition had deteriorated further. She 123 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 1: speaks of not feeling herself, says Michael to Patrick, Bridget's father, 124 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 1: who also lived in the small laborer's cottage they called home. 125 00:08:57,040 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 1: As storm clouds begin to gather outside, Trick, whose wife 126 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 1: had passed away only the year before, determined that Bridgie 127 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 1: would not suffer the same fate. He pulled on his 128 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 1: jacket and walked four miles in the pouring rain to 129 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 1: alert the nearest doctor. Two days later, with the doctor 130 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:22,440 Speaker 1: still having failed to appear, Bridget's condition worsened. On the 131 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 1: Monday morning, Michael too makes the four mile trek to Fetart, 132 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,720 Speaker 1: demanding again that a doctor be sent to attend to 133 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:33,960 Speaker 1: his wife. That evening, Michael waits in vain for a 134 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:38,560 Speaker 1: doctor that never comes up above the shadow of the 135 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 1: earth creeps slowly across the surface of the moon, bathing 136 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 1: it in a hazy blood red until it was extinguished 137 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 1: completely in a full lunar eclipse. After yet another restless night, 138 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:55,640 Speaker 1: as Bridget veered between sleep and delirium, Michael has no 139 00:09:55,760 --> 00:10:00,720 Speaker 1: choice but to make another arduous trip to Fetart. It 140 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:04,400 Speaker 1: is almost eleven hours later on Tuesday evening when Michael 141 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 1: arrives back at the cottage, surprised to find Briget's cousin 142 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 1: Joanna and his friend and neighbor Jack Donne waiting for 143 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 1: him with a look of deep concern on their faces. 144 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 1: Looking past them towards the bedroom, Michael can just make 145 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 1: out Father Cornelius Ryan of near by Dragon Church as 146 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 1: he administers the last writes to his wife. Father Ryan 147 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 1: gives Michael his condonlences as he leaves, but John is 148 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: surprised when shortly after Michael pulls him quickly to one side. 149 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 1: That isn't Bridget, he says. Michael goes on to explain 150 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:44,719 Speaker 1: how only a few days ago he had watched as 151 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 1: Bridget stood from her bed, appearing a good two inches 152 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 1: taller than normal. Moments later, John took a thread and 153 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: limped over to Bridget. John knew all too well about 154 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 1: the wrath of the she For years, they had plagued 155 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:05,559 Speaker 1: his house night and day, at one point even taking 156 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 1: him from his home and injuring his back. After dropping 157 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 1: him in the yard. Taking the thread, he measured Bridget's legs. 158 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 1: Sure enough, Michael was right. One of the legs appeared 159 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 1: to have grown longer than the other. That night, as 160 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:28,560 Speaker 1: the fire crackled, Done gathered the family together and informed 161 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 1: them in no uncertain terms that it was not Bridgete 162 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 1: lying in her bed, but a monstrous changeling. At first 163 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 1: light the next morning, Michael made his way to the 164 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 1: nearby village of Quiet Lee and to the local herb doctor, 165 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 1: Dennis Gainey. He returned a short time later to find Patrick, 166 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 1: John and Joanna waiting for him, as well as Mary Kennedy, 167 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 1: Bridget's aunt from across the way. Mary had some bad news. 168 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:03,199 Speaker 1: Michael's father had taken ill the previous evening but had 169 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 1: not made it through the night. There would be awake 170 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 1: that night and kill an all a good ten mile 171 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 1: journey away. Michael's face was haggard and drawn. He hadn't 172 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 1: slept in days. He sat by the fire and placed 173 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 1: the bag of herbs that he had collected from Dennis 174 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 1: Gainey on the table as Bridget stirred in the bedroom. 175 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 1: Nobody leaves until this is done, he said. It was 176 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 1: just before ten o'clock when William and Minnie Simpson, who 177 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: had been alerted by the rumors of Bridget's condition, arrived 178 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 1: at the Cleary cottage. On their way they were met 179 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:50,680 Speaker 1: by Joanna and her daughter Katie, who had been sent 180 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 1: to fetch a fresh pail of milk. Joanna explained it 181 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 1: was vital that they used beastling's milk, the first milk 182 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 1: of a cow who had just given birth. It was 183 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:05,199 Speaker 1: the richest and most flavorsome milk, she said, and it 184 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 1: was irresistible to the shea all about. The shutters were 185 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:15,079 Speaker 1: drawn and the front door was locked, but William could 186 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 1: just about make out the sound of scuffling coming from 187 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 1: the inside, but when he banged on the door, there 188 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 1: was no response. Finally, at the sound of a voice 189 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 1: crying away she goes, the door was flung open. William 190 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 1: rushed inside to find a stunned Patrick sitting in silence, 191 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 1: illuminated only by the flickering light of an oil lamp. 192 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 1: He nodded towards Bridget's room. Just as a terrible scream 193 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:47,679 Speaker 1: rang out from behind the closed door, William pushed it 194 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:53,080 Speaker 1: open and gasped. Bridget, dressed in her striped flannel night 195 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:57,200 Speaker 1: dress and calico chemise, lay on the bed, struggling under 196 00:13:57,200 --> 00:13:59,439 Speaker 1: the weight of four men as they tried to stop 197 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 1: her from moving. Jack Dunn had her head in his hands, 198 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:07,560 Speaker 1: gripping her by the ears to keep her still. Pat 199 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 1: Kennedy was sitting on her right arm, while James did 200 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:15,080 Speaker 1: the same with her left. William lay across her legs 201 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 1: with all his weight as Bridget kicked and writhed underneath. 202 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 1: Just inside the door was Mary and sixteen year old 203 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 1: William Ahearne, another neighbor, who stood shivering as he held 204 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:31,680 Speaker 1: a solitary candle in the dark. And at the head 205 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 1: of the bed stood Michael, holding a saucepan of a 206 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:38,400 Speaker 1: green milky substance in one hand and a large spoon 207 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 1: in the other. Bridget screamed again as Michael tried once 208 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 1: more to pour the potion down her throat. Finally, he 209 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:49,240 Speaker 1: was able to prise it open, pouring the hot liquid 210 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 1: down before clamping his hand over her mouth, forcing her 211 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 1: to swallow it. Are you Bridget Cleary? Screamed, Michael, wife 212 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: of Michael Cleary, in the name of God. William Simpson 213 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 1: stared on aghast as Bridget moved her head in agreement. 214 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 1: He also noticed what appeared to be a fresh burnmark 215 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 1: across Bridget's forehead. While on the floor below the bed 216 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 1: lay a still smoldering iron fire poker. Michael yelled for 217 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 1: Mary to pass him the old black saucepan that was 218 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 1: down by the side of the bed. William drew back 219 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:27,520 Speaker 1: at the smell of it, sickly sweet and dark yellow 220 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:31,680 Speaker 1: in color. Michael snatched it from Mary and poured the 221 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 1: whole thing over his wife. Next, the men lifted her up, and, 222 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 1: keeping her legs on the bed, held her head and 223 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 1: body before shaking her violently back and forwards. Away with you, 224 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 1: they shouted, Come home, Bridget, Boland, in the name of God. 225 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 1: Bridget screamed again as they flung her back and forth, 226 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 1: slapping her hands together at the same time. Are you 227 00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: Bridget Boland, they asked again, wife of Michael Cleary, in 228 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 1: the name of God, but Bridget seemed unable to reply. 229 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: John Dunne grew tense. The spell wasn't working. Make down 230 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 1: a good fire, he said, and we will make her answer. 231 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 1: The men grabbed her from the bed with done, taking 232 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:24,120 Speaker 1: her by the head and James by the feet, and 233 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 1: carried her through to the main room. A low fire 234 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 1: burned on the hearth as they placed her down gently 235 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: on to the grate. Patrick Boland helped moved her body 236 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 1: clear of the bars as an exhausted Bridget pleaded to 237 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 1: be given another chance to state her case. If she 238 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:45,200 Speaker 1: doesn't answer by midnight, said John, looking at the clock 239 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 1: showing thirty minutes past eleven, she will be lost forever. 240 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 1: Are you Bridget Cleary, shouted a desperate Patrick. Answer in 241 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 1: the name of God, Yes, dadda, I am the daughter 242 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 1: of Patrick Boland, came the weary reply. Finally satisfied, the 243 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:08,360 Speaker 1: Kennedy brothers picked their cousin from the great and returned 244 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:14,679 Speaker 1: her to the bed. Are you always taking care of 245 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:17,159 Speaker 1: your family? Do you often take care of others and 246 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:20,440 Speaker 1: not yourself? Now it's time to take care of yourself, 247 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 1: To make time for you you deserve it. TELEDOC gives 248 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:27,400 Speaker 1: you access to a licensed therapist to help you get 249 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:30,639 Speaker 1: back to feeling your best, to feeling like yourself again. 250 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 1: With teledoc, you can speak to a licensed therapist by 251 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:38,240 Speaker 1: phone or video. Therapy appointments are available seven days a 252 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 1: week from seven am to nine pm local time. If 253 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:46,160 Speaker 1: you feel overwhelmed sometimes maybe you feel stressed or anxious, 254 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:49,480 Speaker 1: depressed or lonely, or you might be struggling with a 255 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 1: personal or family issue, teledoc can help. Teledoc is committed 256 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 1: to facilitating great therapeutic matches, so they make it easy 257 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:02,359 Speaker 1: to change counselors if needed. For free. Teledoc therapy is 258 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 1: available through most insurance or employers. Download the app or 259 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 1: visit teledoc dot com Forward slash Unexplained podcast Today to 260 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 1: get started. That's t e ladoc dot com slash Unexplained Podcast. 261 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 1: The following morning of Friday, the fifteenth of March, father 262 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:31,639 Speaker 1: Ryan arrived surprised to find Bridget in seemingly better health 263 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:35,439 Speaker 1: than before a sense of relief was cleared throughout the 264 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:39,879 Speaker 1: family that Bridget had been returned to them, But as 265 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:44,160 Speaker 1: Ryan proceeds to say mass, Joanna notices a strange look 266 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 1: on Bridget's face. As Ryan administers the Holy Communion. As 267 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:55,400 Speaker 1: soon as Ryan has left, Bridget calls out to Joanna. Joanna, 268 00:18:55,520 --> 00:19:00,480 Speaker 1: she says, staring oddly at her cousin father Ryan, gave 269 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:04,639 Speaker 1: me this to save me. She opened her mouth and 270 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:08,320 Speaker 1: pointed inside, then pulled out the remains of the blessed 271 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:11,680 Speaker 1: sacrament with her fingers and rubbed it into the blanket. 272 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:16,199 Speaker 1: When Joanna lays the news to Michael later that afternoon, 273 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 1: it comes as little surprise. He had noticed it too, 274 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:24,359 Speaker 1: Not to mention the way that Bridget had kept asking 275 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:29,119 Speaker 1: for more milk, how desperate she seemed for it, Michael 276 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:32,439 Speaker 1: knew all too well that it wasn't uncommon either for 277 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:37,520 Speaker 1: witches to want the beastling milk too. Sensing her husband's 278 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:42,160 Speaker 1: dissatisfaction with the previous ritual, Bridget demands that their neighbors, 279 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 1: Thomas Smith and David Hogan be brought to make a 280 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:50,719 Speaker 1: judgment in the hope of convincing Michael. Later that evening, 281 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 1: Smith and Hogan take a seat by the fire, glancing 282 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:58,239 Speaker 1: nervously to each other. As Michael goes next door to 283 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 1: collect Bridget. The men remained seated, watching in stunned silence. 284 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 1: As a weak and exhausted Bridget shuffles into the room. 285 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:11,239 Speaker 1: She pulled up a bench for herself and sat by 286 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:16,880 Speaker 1: the fire. Smith asked how she was doing She said 287 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:19,639 Speaker 1: that Michael was making her out to be a fairy, 288 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:24,520 Speaker 1: that she was some kind of changeling. Tom nodded and 289 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 1: looked to Michael. He could see it too, This wasn't Bridget. 290 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 1: A moment later, Patrick, James, and William returned from the 291 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:38,200 Speaker 1: wake in somber spirits, but glad to see that Bridget 292 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:42,320 Speaker 1: was up and sitting by the fire. But Michael kept 293 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 1: a quiet counsel, never taking his eyes from his wife, 294 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:57,200 Speaker 1: or whatever it was that claimed to be her. Later, 295 00:20:57,440 --> 00:21:00,679 Speaker 1: Joanna was preparing tea with bread and jam as she 296 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 1: watched Michael leads Smith and Hogan to the door before 297 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: taking the key from his pocket and locking it behind them. 298 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:11,760 Speaker 1: James and William went to lie down on Patrick Boland's bed, 299 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:15,680 Speaker 1: and Mary, who had been taking care of Bridget all afternoon, 300 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:19,240 Speaker 1: retires to Bridget's bed to get some much needed rest. 301 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:24,159 Speaker 1: Joanna laid the food out on the table and the 302 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:28,440 Speaker 1: remaining guests gathered round to eat. Bridget pulled up her 303 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:31,439 Speaker 1: bench to sit with them, but refused to take the bread. 304 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 1: You've taken me for your mother, Mick, She said, it 305 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 1: is her who was taken, not me. The room was 306 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:45,680 Speaker 1: silent save for the crackling of the fire. Then slowly 307 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 1: and purposefully, Michael cut out three pieces of bread, spread 308 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 1: them with butter and jam, and laid them in front 309 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:59,199 Speaker 1: of Bridget. Eat he said. Bridget looked at her husband 310 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:02,399 Speaker 1: for a moment before finally picking up a piece and 311 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:07,679 Speaker 1: taking a bite. Are you Bridget Cleary, my wife, in 312 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:12,639 Speaker 1: the name of God, asked Michael. Bridget stared at her 313 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 1: husband as the fire popped and crackled. Yes, she said 314 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:24,200 Speaker 1: through gritted teeth. Michael motioned again to the two remaining 315 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 1: pieces of bread, the others watching in stony silence as 316 00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:31,400 Speaker 1: the light of the oil lamp played about their faces. 317 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:37,480 Speaker 1: Bridget took a second piece and swallowed it down. Are 318 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:40,160 Speaker 1: you Bridget cleary, my wife, in the name of God, 319 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:48,199 Speaker 1: asked Michael Patrick tensed in his chair. Yes, said Bridget again. 320 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:53,119 Speaker 1: Michael looked down at the final piece and pushed it 321 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:57,840 Speaker 1: towards his wife. Are you Bridget Cleary, in the name 322 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 1: of God, asked Michael. But Bridget said nothing. If you 323 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:09,119 Speaker 1: won't take it down, you will go. Then an awful 324 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:12,720 Speaker 1: scream as Michael leapt upon Bridget, sending her head cracking 325 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 1: against the earth and floor. Jumping on to her chest. 326 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:18,840 Speaker 1: He ripped off her clothes, grabbed her by the throat, 327 00:23:19,119 --> 00:23:23,159 Speaker 1: and stuffed the bread into her mouth. Swallow it, he yelled. 328 00:23:24,480 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 1: Bridget fought desperately, but Michael held firm. Then with his 329 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:31,359 Speaker 1: free hand, he pulled a burning log from the fire 330 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:36,120 Speaker 1: and held it against her head. But Bridget's body had 331 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:40,800 Speaker 1: gone limp. I think she is dead, he said, turning 332 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:47,160 Speaker 1: to Joanna. She's burning, shouted William. The cry brought Mary 333 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:49,760 Speaker 1: stumbling into the room, just in time to see the 334 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 1: first flames take hold. No one moved as Michael grabbed 335 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:56,600 Speaker 1: the oil lamp and tipped it out all over Bridget. 336 00:23:57,240 --> 00:24:01,480 Speaker 1: Within seconds, the flames shot across her body. Mary rushed 337 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:04,480 Speaker 1: at Michael, but he shouldered her back, sending her crashing 338 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:08,199 Speaker 1: against the table. Don't you see, he said, She's not 339 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:12,320 Speaker 1: my wife. William made a run for the door, forgetting 340 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 1: it was locked, but Clearly pushed him away and pulled 341 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:19,080 Speaker 1: a knife from his back pocket. Nobody leaves until my 342 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 1: wife is returned. Would you rather have her with the 343 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:26,959 Speaker 1: fairies than with me? He cried. Patrick Boland stepped forward. 344 00:24:28,359 --> 00:24:31,000 Speaker 1: If I can do anything to save my child, I will, 345 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:36,359 Speaker 1: he said. Michael explained his plan to Patrick that he 346 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:39,200 Speaker 1: would bury the body with her mother and then travel 347 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:42,080 Speaker 1: to the fairy fort at Kill na' granna to wait 348 00:24:42,119 --> 00:24:45,399 Speaker 1: for Bridget's return. It is there that she will appear 349 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:49,479 Speaker 1: riding a white horse, at which point he will rush forward, 350 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 1: cut her loose from the straps, and free her finally 351 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:57,760 Speaker 1: from the fairy's grip. The others retreated to Bridget's bedroom, 352 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:01,520 Speaker 1: where they remained huddled in terror as Bridget's body continued 353 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:04,840 Speaker 1: to burn, filling the house with black smoke and the 354 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:10,880 Speaker 1: stench of burning flesh. In the Mellie William had fainted 355 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:14,960 Speaker 1: and had to be dragged back by his brothers. Out 356 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:18,280 Speaker 1: in the main room, Michael stood in silence, watching his 357 00:25:18,359 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 1: wife burn in the orange light of the flames. Twenty 358 00:25:22,760 --> 00:25:26,040 Speaker 1: minutes later, they heard the front door slam, followed by 359 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:35,600 Speaker 1: the sound of locking. For the next hour, the family 360 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:39,080 Speaker 1: remained barricaded in the bedroom as Mary led them all 361 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:43,000 Speaker 1: in saying the rosary, only stopping when they heard footsteps 362 00:25:43,080 --> 00:25:49,240 Speaker 1: approached the bedroom door. Paddy Kennedy came Michael's voice, Come 363 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:54,160 Speaker 1: out now, or I'll drive this knife through you. With 364 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:57,399 Speaker 1: a little choice. Patrick opened the door, trying his best 365 00:25:57,440 --> 00:26:01,760 Speaker 1: not to gag on the smell. Michael motioned for Patrick 366 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:05,840 Speaker 1: to help him wrap Bridget in a sheet. Patrick wretched 367 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:08,240 Speaker 1: at the sight of the body, or what was left 368 00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 1: of it. The skin had burned off, leaving the bone 369 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:15,920 Speaker 1: sticking out at bizarre angles. A wet mess of intestines 370 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:20,440 Speaker 1: protruded from her stomach. Then Patrick gasped as Bridget's head 371 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 1: rolled to the side, revealing a face virtually untouched by 372 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:27,800 Speaker 1: the flames, but contorted into the most hideous mask of 373 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:33,359 Speaker 1: terrible suffering. Michael grabbed up the corners and thrust a 374 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 1: shovel into Patrick's hands. Moments later, they were stood in 375 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:41,160 Speaker 1: the pitch black of night, a quarter mile from the house. 376 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:45,280 Speaker 1: At their feet a marshy grave three foot in length 377 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:48,560 Speaker 1: and two in depth, carved roughly out of the earth. 378 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:52,639 Speaker 1: Michael slung the body inside, pressing it down with his 379 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:57,600 Speaker 1: foot before covering it up with branches and soil. Later, 380 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:01,199 Speaker 1: he scraped the grease of Bridget from his clothes, gathered 381 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:04,280 Speaker 1: the ash and other remains into a bucket, and dumped 382 00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:14,080 Speaker 1: them onto a heap of manure behind the house. Later 383 00:27:14,119 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 1: that morning, at the church in Drangon, Father Michael McGrath 384 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:20,680 Speaker 1: was preparing for Saint Patrick's day mass, when a red 385 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:25,399 Speaker 1: faced John Dunne barged into the church. Bridget was missing, 386 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:28,720 Speaker 1: he said, and her husband Michael, who was waiting with 387 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:33,880 Speaker 1: Michael Kennedy outside, was in great distress. Dunne asked Father 388 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:39,080 Speaker 1: McGrath to fetch Father Ryan. When the priests returned, they 389 00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 1: found Michael kneeling at the altar, tearing at his head 390 00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:47,840 Speaker 1: and sobbing uncontrollably. Bridget was missing. He told them she 391 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:51,359 Speaker 1: had been taken prisoner by the fairy folk. He begged 392 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:54,399 Speaker 1: Father Ryan for his help, hoping that it might not 393 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:59,480 Speaker 1: be too late. A deeply disturbed Ryan consulted with Father 394 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:02,879 Speaker 1: mc grath before entering the police barracks opposite the church 395 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:06,800 Speaker 1: and returning with Constable Patrick Eden a short time later. 396 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:11,560 Speaker 1: Cleary went cold at the sight of the officer and 397 00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:14,639 Speaker 1: refused to say any more other than that his wife 398 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:20,000 Speaker 1: was missing and that he needed help. Constable Eden, suspicious 399 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:22,879 Speaker 1: of their actions, would later intercept the men on their 400 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:26,760 Speaker 1: return home just outside the village, but they refused to 401 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:31,240 Speaker 1: give any more information. When the men returned to the 402 00:28:31,280 --> 00:28:35,000 Speaker 1: cottage in ballyvard Lee, they found it empty save for 403 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:40,080 Speaker 1: a weeping Patrick Bowland lying on his bed, Michael Kennedy 404 00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:43,680 Speaker 1: returned to the small thatched cottage over the way, and 405 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 1: John Dunn too returned to his home half a mile 406 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:51,800 Speaker 1: up the road. That night, Michael Cleary took the first 407 00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:55,560 Speaker 1: of three trips, walking under the cover of darkness towards 408 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:58,760 Speaker 1: that odd ring of trees on the side of Kilnegrannar Hill, 409 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:03,360 Speaker 1: and there, as the waning moon shone its gentle light 410 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:08,719 Speaker 1: from above, Michael stood ready with knife in hand, calling 411 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:11,640 Speaker 1: out the name of his wife, waiting to cut her 412 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:26,560 Speaker 1: free from a white horse that never came. If you 413 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:29,880 Speaker 1: enjoy listening to Unexplained and would like to show your appreciation, 414 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:32,960 Speaker 1: you can now help support us by going to Unexplained 415 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:37,840 Speaker 1: podcast dot com forward slash support. All donations, no matter 416 00:29:37,840 --> 00:29:43,600 Speaker 1: how large or small, are massively appreciated. All elements of 417 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:47,520 Speaker 1: Unexplained are produced by me Richard McClain smith. Please subscribe 418 00:29:47,520 --> 00:29:49,440 Speaker 1: and rate the show on night Tunes, and feel free 419 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:51,840 Speaker 1: to get in touch with any thoughts or ideas regarding 420 00:29:51,840 --> 00:29:54,680 Speaker 1: the stories you've heard on the show. Perhaps you have 421 00:29:54,720 --> 00:29:57,360 Speaker 1: an explanation of your own you'd like to share. You 422 00:29:57,400 --> 00:30:00,240 Speaker 1: can reach us online at Unexplained podcast dot com or 423 00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:19,320 Speaker 1: on Twitter at Unexplained pod. Now, it's time to take 424 00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:23,680 Speaker 1: care of yourself, to make time for you. Teledoc gives 425 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:26,680 Speaker 1: you access to a licensed therapist to help you get 426 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:30,480 Speaker 1: back to feeling your best. Speak to a licensed therapist 427 00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 1: by phone or video anytime between seven am to nine 428 00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:38,600 Speaker 1: pm local time, seven days a week. Teledoc Therapy is 429 00:30:38,640 --> 00:30:42,800 Speaker 1: available through most insurance or employers. Download the app, or 430 00:30:42,920 --> 00:30:47,200 Speaker 1: visit teledoc dot com Forward Slash Unexplained podcast Today to 431 00:30:47,280 --> 00:30:51,360 Speaker 1: get started. That's t e l a d oc dot 432 00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:53,520 Speaker 1: com Slash Unexplained podcast