Whispering Stones

Nestled along the banks of the River Moy near Killala Bay in County Mayo, Rosserk Abbey is one of Ireland’s best-preserved Franciscan friaries. Founded in the 15th century by the Joyce family, this remarkable medieval site holds centuries of history—from its unique Third Order Franciscan community to its destruction during the Elizabethan era.In this episode of Whispering Stones, we explore the architecture, legends, and quiet beauty of Rosserk Friary, uncovering the story of Saint Searc, the nearby Moyne Abbey, and the enduring spirit of Ireland’s sacred past.

Step into the windswept shores of Clew Bay in County Mayo as we explore Rockfleet Castle, the historic stronghold of Ireland’s legendary Pirate Queen Grace O’Malley (Gráinne Mhaol).In this episode of Whispering Stones, we uncover the fascinating story behind this 16th-century Irish tower house, from sea battles and political intrigue to Grace O’Malley’s famous meeting with Queen Elizabeth I.Discover the dramatic life of Ireland’s most powerful female pirate, the secrets hidden within the walls of Rockfleet Castle, and the legends that still echo through its stone corridors today.Perfect for lovers of Irish history, castles, folklore, and the Wild Atlantic Way.

In this episode of Whispering Stones, host Bernice Cooke explores the quiet village of The Neale in County Mayo, a place filled with extraordinary history and mysterious monuments.Just kilometres from Cong, Cross and Ballinrobe, The Neale sits on a limestone plateau surrounded by archaeological treasures including prehistoric cairns, stone circles, ringforts and crannogs. Yet it is the village’s unusual monuments that truly capture the imagination.Join Bernice as she uncovers the story of The Neale Pyramid, an 18th-century architectural folly designed by Lord Charlemont, once crowned with a statue of Apollo. Discover the Temple Monument, a Doric-columned retreat built within the old estate walls, and the mysterious carvings known as the Gods of The Neale, featuring mythical figures like a unicorn and griffin.The episode also touches on Irish mythology and history, including the legendary warrior Lugh Lámhfhada, the Land League movement, and the moment when the term “boycott” first entered the English language at nearby Lough Mask House.If you enjoy Irish history, folklore, mythology, hidden monuments and the forgotten stories of rural Ireland, this is a place where the stones truly whisper.

In this episode of Whispering Stones, Bernice Cooke explores Murrisk Abbey in County Mayo, a 15th-century Augustinian friary nestled along the shores of Clew Bay beneath Croagh Patrick. Founded in 1456 and steeped in legend, reform, and Reformation-era upheaval, this medieval Irish ruin may stand on the site of an earlier church linked to Saint Patrick himself. Discover the stories behind its founders, its striking Gothic features, and the mystery hidden within its name — whether “marsh by the sea” or something far older. A brief, atmospheric journey into Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way and one of Mayo’s most peaceful historic sites.

Step into the windswept ruins of Moyne Abbey in County Mayo, one of the finest surviving examples of a Franciscan monastery in Ireland. In this episode of Whispering Stones, artist and writer Bernice Cooke explores the abbey’s medieval origins, its links to St Patrick, the powerful MacWilliam Burke family, and the dramatic events that unfolded during the Tudor conquest of Connacht.From hidden water channels and sacred springs to monks fleeing by sea and bells gifted by the Queen of Spain, Moyne Abbey holds centuries of whispered history within its stone walls. Discover why this remote ruin near Killala Bay became a centre of learning, faith, and survival on Ireland’s rugged Atlantic coast.

In this episode of Whispering Stones, we explore the haunting ruins of Moore Hall in County Mayo, Ireland — a Georgian manor burned during the Irish Civil War and wrapped in stories of curses, famine relief, rebellion, and restless spirits. From the powerful Moore family to chilling ghost sightings in the forests around Lough Carra, this episode uncovers the tragic history and paranormal legends of one of Ireland’s most atmospheric abandoned houses. Perfect for lovers of Irish history, haunted places, folklore, and ghost stories.

Discover the haunting ruins of Inishmaine Abbey in County Mayo, a once-island monastery on the shores of Lough Mask. Founded in the 7th century by St. Cormac and later rebuilt as a Benedictine nunnery, this peaceful medieval site holds centuries of Irish history, folklore, and spiritual life. In this short and atmospheric episode of Whispering Stones, artist and writer Bernice Cooke explores the abbey’s hidden details, imagined beasts carved in stone, and the quiet beauty of this lesser-known Irish heritage site.

On the remote coast of Doonamoe, County Mayo, history, geology, and art collide. In this episode of Whispering Stones, artist and writer Bernice Cooke explores Dún na mBó, an ancient promontory fort overlooking the Atlantic, a dramatic natural blowhole carved by the sea, and a powerful contemporary sculpture marking a Celtic “thin place.” A short, atmospheric journey along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way where stones still whisper.