The Celebration Sessions

Think Halloween began in America? Think again! Long before pumpkins and party shops, Samhain was Ireland’s new year; a liminal night of fire, ancestry, and the thin veil.In this unmissable episode, Dublin tour guide and storyteller Helena Murphy brings the Irish roots of Halloween vividly to life; from the Wheel of the Year and sacred fires on the Hill of Ward to divination, extra places set at the table, and the genuinely creepy turnip 'Jack o’ Lanterns'. We hear how dressing up began as a way to fool wandering spirits; why Irish hospitality extends to the dead; and how these traditions still pulse through modern festivals.It's a lovely episode, full of surprises; you will never look at Halloween the same way again.If you would like to know more about Helena’s tours, visit Original Dublin here and you can check out Helena on Instagram here; and if you would like details on the Púca Festival, head to pucafestival.comA huge thank you to Helena for joining me for this episode.

A Dublin man once stole the show at the opening of one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, by cutting the ribbon himself!! That’s just one of the extraordinary tales I explore with historian and author Warren Farrell.In our conversation, Warren also shares the story of the woman who “died twice”, a forgotten Wimbledon champion, and a soldier who carried a musket ball from Waterloo in his chest for 34 years.These are the lesser-known legacies brought to life in his acclaimed book So Once Was I: Forgotten Tales from Glasnevin Cemetery.So Once Was I is a wonderful record of some of the many interesting stories and its a must for anyone who has an interest in Dublin, in Ireland, or simply in the stories that connect us all. The book is available through Merrion Press here or indeed if you'd like to support an independent bookshop who have been a huge encouragement to Warren, you can check out the book at thebookshop.ie hereSo Once was I is also available at Chapters Bookstore here and also at Books Upstairs here too.A huge thank you to Warren for joining me on this episode for a chat full of history, intrigue, and humanity, one that might just change how you see cemeteries, and the remarkable lives remembered within them.

In this solo reflection, I share thoughts on what a celebrant-led funeral really looks like. For many, the only funerals they’ve known have been in a church setting, so the idea of a personalised, civil, or independent ceremony can feel unfamiliar.But in truth, these ceremonies are built around stories, memories, and meaning. They’re about creating space for love, comfort, and connection, in a way that feels right for the person at the centre of it all.This episode is a look at the choices families have, the rituals that matter, and why the ‘good funeral’ is about more than tradition.Make sure to let me know your thoughts. Feel free to get in touch with me on Instagram @conorclearcelebrant

In this episode of The Celebration Sessions, I sit down with Ambassador Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid at the Embassy of Palestine in Dublin for a powerful and really lovely conversation.With so much darkness in the world right now, it can be easy to lose sight of hope. But this episode is a reminder of the strength that lives in culture; in memory, in food, in music, in story. Together, we explore Palestinian traditions around weddings, food, and family; from the joyful energy of the zaffa, to the slow-cooked idra shared at celebrations, to the regional variations of kanafa.We also talk about hakawati, the tradition of storytelling that keeps history alive, and how it finds resonance with the Irish seanchaí.Throughout the conversation, there’s a lovely resilience in every story shared; a sense of holding onto identity, even in the face of immense challenge.This episode is about more than celebration. It’s about connection. It’s about spirit.The sincerest thank you to everyone at the Embassy of Palestine for being so welcoming. Shukran.

As we approach the year's end, it can be a time for reflection and anticipation. As a funeral celebrant, I've had the privilege of honouring lives that have left behind beautiful legacies for their families and the concept of 'legacy' has lingered with me, urging me to explore it further. In this episode, I’m joined by end-of-life planner and founder of Living Legacy, Jennifer McConnell to discuss the idea of leaving a lasting legacy. I’m delighted that Jennifer has joined me for this episode as she is a guiding force in helping people navigate this profound journey, ensuring that their values, stories, and dreams endure with grace and purpose. You can find out more about Jennifer and Living Legacy online on livinglegacy.ie; and on Instagram here. You can also connect with Living Legacy on Threads too.

Seosamh Ó'Broin was a historian, Irish language advocate, and member of the community in Inchicore. His impact on Inchicore is far reaching, from campaigning to save and redevelop Kilmainham Gaol, to building a local cultural centre in the heart of the village, to recording the fascinating history of the area in his wonderful book, "Inchicore, Kilmainham and District".Seosamh sadly passed away on 30th October 2022, and this episode of the podcast celebrates the wonderful legacy Seosamh has left for the people of Inchicore and beyond. I'm joined by Michael Flanagan, Deirdre Farrell, Áine Dé Cleir, and Gerri English to pay tribute to Seosamh and celebrate his impact on the area. The Halla Conradh Na Gaeilge in Inchicore continues to be a big part of the community and you can keep up to date with their events on Twitter / X here

This episode is slightly different as it is Conor on his own, sharing his thoughts about the recent headlines from the Vatican regarding the blessing of same sex unions.The language the Vatican uses when talking about LGBTQI+ people can often be so upsetting and hurtful, and this episode discusses a way forward for people of faith who are made feel 'less than' by the Church. Hopefully the main takeaway from this episode for anyone who has a faith and who feels excluded from the Church, is that they know there is a wonderful community of Celebrants across Ireland and further afield who want to celebrate them while also including their faith and beliefs. If you want to get involved in the conversation you can get in touch via The Celebration Sessions on Instagram

There are wedding bells in the air for this episode as the countdown is on to The Wedding and Honeymoon Show at the RDS.I'm joined by writer broadcaster and presenter Andrea Hayes, and award winning wedding expert Sara Kennedy as they share some of the highlights we can expect at Ireland's largest wedding show, this September at the RDS.Make sure to keep up to date with the latest on the show on socials @weddub You can check out Instagram here and Tik Tok here.A huge thank to the organisers for sharing a discount code so when you're booking your tickets, use code CONOR20 And finally make sure to check out Sara on irishweddingblog.ie and Sara's super podcast Real Weddings with SaraEnjoy the episode and more importantly, get yourself to the RDS this September 2nd and 3rd.

The Irish have have left their imprint on the history of Argentina and for this episode we turn our attention to Mayo born William 'Guillermo' Brown; Father Fahy; Alfie Lamb; and Camila O'Gorman. I'm joined by tour guide Victoria Catta who shares stories of military heroes, religious leaders, and a tragic love story of legendary proportions. A huge thank you to Victoria for sharing her time and joining me on the podcast. While this is not an ad and there are no affiliations, I'd love to mention that Victoria is a wonderful guide with Buenos Aires Free Walks and being apart of her tour was really super.I loved learning about these iconic Argentinians and I hope you enjoy the episode.