'Ireland's Witchcraft Trials', for History Hit Podcast/BBC. With Dr A. Sneddon and presented by Prof. Susannah Liscombe

Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities

Description

In 1711, a wave of terror gripped the Islandmagee peninsula in County Antrim. First there was the haunting and supernatural murder of a local clergyman's wife. Then 18-year-old Mary Dunbar suffered violent convulsions, levitation and vomiting of pins, feathers, and buttons, sparking accusations against eight local women. After Mary’s sudden death, the trial took an unprecedented turn when one William Sellar was put on trial.

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb finds out more from Dr. Andrew Sneddon about this chilling true story of possession, witchcraft accusations, and Ireland’s only recorded execution of a man for witchcraft.

Subject

Witchcraft in ealry modern Ireland. 

Period10 Mar 2025

Media contributions

1

Media contributions

  • Title'Not Just the Tudors'
    Degree of recognitionInternational
    Media name/outletBBC
    Media typeWeb
    Duration/Length/Size44 minutes
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    Date10/03/25
    DescriptionIn 1711, a wave of terror gripped the Islandmagee peninsula in County Antrim. First there was the haunting and supernatural murder of a local clergyman's wife. Then 18-year-old Mary Dunbar suffered violent convulsions, levitation and vomiting of pins, feathers, and buttons, sparking accusations against eight local women. After Mary’s sudden death, the trial took an unprecedented turn when one William Sellar was put on trial.

    Professor Suzannah Lipscomb finds out more from Dr. Andrew Sneddon about this chilling true story of possession, witchcraft accusations, and Ireland’s only recorded execution of a man for witchcraft.


    Producer/AuthorHistory Hit Podcast
    URLhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0kwsy3j
    PersonsAndrew Sneddon
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