Presented by Jen

Our podcasters learn about Michael J. Murphy, a writer and folklorist who lived in South Armagh. We speak to Kevin Murphy, a friend of Michael’s (but no relation!) and historian Una Walsh who give the podcasters a crucial insight into the man, his work and how the slopes of Slieve Gullion were such an inspiration in his work.

Thanks to our guests

Grace Gordon, Sean Hayes, Kevin Murphy and Una Walsh, and actor Mary Lindsay

Thanks to our podcasters

Scotta, Archie, Lois, Kirsty, Jen, Kim and Fiona.

This podcast was produced by Nerve Centre in partnership with the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland for the Now We're Talking project. The project was made possible through a grant from Archives Revealed, a partnership programme between The National Archives, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Additional thanks to Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive and BBC Northern Ireland for archive content.

We hear from PRONI’s Sean Hayes, who was tasked with archiving a massive amount of Micahel J Murphy’s work. As well as getting to browse through some of the archive in the reading room at PRONI, the podcasters learn what was in the 60 boxes of papers and how the archivists began to build a parasocial relationship with their subject during the course of cataloguing Michael J. Murphy’s work.

Thanks to our guests

Grace Gordon, Sean Hayes, Kevin Murphy and Una Walsh, and actor Mary Lindsay

Thanks to our podcasters

Scotta, Archie, Lois, Kirsty, Jen, Kim and Fiona.

This podcast was produced by Nerve Centre in partnership with the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland for the Now We're Talking project. The project was made possible through a grant from Archives Revealed, a partnership programme between The National Archives, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Additional thanks to Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive and BBC Northern Ireland for archive content.

The podcasters dip into one of Michael J. Murphy’s plays, Men On The Wall with actor Mary Lindsay, as well as hearing from local historian Kevin Murphy about the sometimes contentious subjects he wrote about, and the reaction when they were performed. The podcasters discuss the language and imagery of the work, and whether or not it’s relevant today.

Thanks to our guests

Grace Gordon, Sean Hayes, Kevin Murphy and Una Walsh, and actor Mary Lindsay

Thanks to our podcasters

Scotta, Archie, Lois, Kirsty, Jen, Kim and Fiona.

This podcast was produced by Nerve Centre in partnership with the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland for the Now We're Talking project. The project was made possible through a grant from Archives Revealed, a partnership programme between The National Archives, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Additional thanks to Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive and BBC Northern Ireland for archive content.

The podcasters explore some of the superstitions that Michael J. Murphy collected, and find out from local historians if the communities he visited still remember his visits. They also hear about one of his most famous stories, The Goat Men of South Armagh.

Thanks to our guests

Grace Gordon, Sean Hayes, Kevin Murphy and Una Walsh, and actor Mary Lindsay

Thanks to our podcasters

Scotta, Archie, Lois, Kirsty, Jen, Kim and Fiona.

This podcast was produced by Nerve Centre in partnership with the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland for the Now We're Talking project. The project was made possible through a grant from Archives Revealed, a partnership programme between The National Archives, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Additional thanks to Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive and BBC Northern Ireland for archive content.

We learn about the crucial role that Michael’s wife, Alice, played in collecting stories for her husband. The podcasters also talk to historian and filmmaker Una Walsh about the depiction of women in his work and how he was one of the few folklorists making women visible in his journeys around the province of Ulster.

Thanks to our guests

Grace Gordon, Sean Hayes, Kevin Murphy and Una Walsh, and actor Mary Lindsay

Thanks to our podcasters

Scotta, Archie, Lois, Kirsty, Jen, Kim and Fiona.

This podcast was produced by Nerve Centre in partnership with the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland for the Now We're Talking project. The project was made possible through a grant from Archives Revealed, a partnership programme between The National Archives, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Additional thanks to Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive and BBC Northern Ireland for archive content.

We speak to historians Una Walsh and Kevin Murphy as well as PRONI’s Grace Gordon about Michael J. Murphy’s innovative thinking, the use of language, and how important Michael’s collection of folklore is for us today. Our podcasters discuss his legacy and the importance of PRONI’s work in archiving his work.

Thanks to our guests

Grace Gordon, Sean Hayes, Kevin Murphy and Una Walsh, and actor Mary Lindsay

Thanks to our podcasters

Scotta, Archie, Lois, Kirsty, Jen, Kim and Fiona.

This podcast was produced by Nerve Centre in partnership with the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland for the Now We're Talking project. The project was made possible through a grant from Archives Revealed, a partnership programme between The National Archives, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Additional thanks to Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive and BBC Northern Ireland for archive content.