STORYTELLING is an art form that has been around as long as humans have had language, but in Ireland it has an especially deep cultural resonance. There is, however, perhaps a temptation to regard it as the preserve of grizzled old raconteurs gathered around turf fires in cosy country pubs.
Nonetheless in recent years storytelling has enjoyed a resurgence, particularly among millennials and Gen Xers – many of whom have flocked to storytelling events and joined story circles.
One of the most prominent has been Seanchoíche - a portmanteau of Irish words Seanchaí (storyteller) and oíche (night), pronounced “Shanna-key-ha” - which was founded by Ciaran ‘Gaff’ Gaffney in 2021 with the aim of allowing “ordinary people to tell extraordinary stories”.
“I come from a family of storytellers,” Gaff explains.
“I think storytelling has always been in my DNA and then during the pandemic there was this growing interest in the ordinary nature of other people’s lives and a desire to connect with loved ones and strangers.
“I was out with some friends in Dublin during that first week when things were starting to get back to normal and I said to them that I’d love to set up a night where people just come and tell or listen to stories. I asked them if they thought it would work.
“Usually, they wouldn’t be behind the door about taking me down a peg or two but on this particular occasion they thought is was a great idea,” he laughs.
Beginning as a friend-only event inspired by desire for connection during a time of isolation, Seanchoíche has grown exponentially since its humble beginnings in Dublin.
The first event, held in the Fumbally Stables, was attended by around 60 people. Five speakers were pre-booked and three chose to speak on the night – an opportunity Gaff offers to the audience at each event.
“It was like everyone had taken rocket fuel. The whole energy of the room was so ecstatic; people were so overwhelmed with how raw some of the stories were, how safe the space felt and how positive the vibes were.”
The second installation immediately sold out, setting the ball rolling for an event series now enjoyed regularly in eight countries, which has subsequently allowed Gaff to make arranging Seanchoíche nights his full-time job.
“It just started growing and growing and we’ve taken it to places like London, Berlin, Manchester, Melbourne and Amsterdam, which has been amazing,” Gaff enthuses.
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It was through a Seanchoíche event in Amsterdam that Gaff met Rebekah ‘Becks’ Guilar and they now co-host the Seanchoíche podcast, In Their Shoes by Seanchoíche, which was launched in June.
“I spoke at one of the first Seanchoíche events in Amsterdam and I think for me it really sparked that need to connect,” Becks recalls.
“The energy in the room and that feeling of community was something I hadn’t experienced before.
“I spoke at a few more events but then I caught really bad long Covid and had to take time off work which gave me time to reflect on what was making me happy, and it was things like Seanchoíche,” she explains.
During the pandemic Becks started her own podcast where she invited different people to come on and discuss a song which had impacted them in some way.
“It was a really fun activity, though it didn’t go anywhere. But with Seanchoíche there was so much potential to share the feeling it creates with a wider range of people.
“So, I pitched the idea to Gaff, and we’ve taken it from there.”
A typical episode sees Becks and Gaff invite two guests to share a story revolving around a certain theme, but instead of reading their own they swap - putting themselves in each other’s shoes.
“It’s gas when we discuss the stories after they’ve been read,” confesses Gaff.
“We go on for hours, so it’s a good job we keep the podcast to a maximum of an hour long because sometimes those discussions end up being around two or three. It’s crazy how much there is to talk about.”
Although the podcast is still in its infancy it already boasts a star-studded line up, most notably Euphoria’s Maude Apatow.
“Alex Gogarty, who appears on the podcast with Maude, went to school with her boyfriend,” Gaff explains.
“And basically what happened was Alex sent her a DM (direct message) not knowing this information and Paddy, her boyfriend, responded.
@seanchoiche We are beyond excited, some would argue ‘euphoric’ for the release of Episode 3 of ‘In Their Shoes’ by Seanchoíche which released THIS MORNING, with our wonderful guests, Hollywood and West End actor Maude Apatow and comedian / sales wizard Alex Gogarty 🚀 An unlikely duo for a podcast episode where stories are swapped, you might argue, but we think otherwise 😉 OUT NOW all podcasting platforms! #podcast #outnow #maudeapatow #euphoria
♬ original sound - SEANCHOÍCHE
“Alex ended up telling this story at a Seanchoíche event which Paddy absolutely loved so then I wrote to him and asked if he wanted to come onto the podcast and read Alex’s story, he came back and said, ‘I have a better idea - how about Maude comes on?’ She did, and she was so cool.”
The duo have also chatted to Extraordinary’s Máiréad Tyers and Sofia Oxenham.
“One thing I really loved about the episode with Máiréad Tyers and Sofia Oxenham was that you could really tell they absolutely love each other,” says Gaff.
“When they passed their stories to one another there was such a strong unwavering admiration for each other, and you could just sense this really strong trust between the two of them - it was so lovely to see.”
Becks adds: “What I found so interesting was the fact they’re both actresses, they perform and tell stories as part of their job, but what they found confronting was the fact they were telling something so personal and that’s something they weren’t usually comfortable with.
“I thought that was really inspirational.”
The pair believe the key to their success so far has been the authenticity of their guests.
“We’re not trying to catch anyone out or grill anyone we’re just trying to get people’s stories across to the world and I think in this day and age people want something real and authentic,” Gaff explains.
“Every single person has a story to tell no matter where they come from or who they are, we all wake up in the morning, go to bed at night and do what needs to be done in between, and that’s what storytelling really encapsulates.”
