Join a Tellers, Tales, Tradition weekend at the Ballyeamon Barn in Northern Ireland hosted by the wonderful Liz Weir – or via Zoom hosted by Simon Heywood.

You are invited to a unique, immersive weekend of stories with Shonaleigh, the world-renowned tradition bearer and storyteller.

The Glass Palace of the Moon-Maid is a magical wonder-tale spanning this world and the beyond, a tale of stars and comets and moons, life and death, love and betrayal, the occasional goat and two very magical cats…

This tale belongs to the Cycle of Hillel, which is the first of twelve epic, latticed, interlinked cycles of stories passed down through generations of Jewish women.

This is a rare chance to hear these ancient stories in the light and on the tongue, stories untold for two generations and barely spoken of for decades.

Shonaleigh is a Druts’yla, and carries on a living unbroken oral tradition passed down from grandmother to granddaughter. She knows around 4,000 tales that she can recall on request, using the lost art of ‘stories within stories’.

This telling of The Glass Palace of the Moon Maid will be recorded as part of the Last Drut’syla Project to create an archive of this tradition’s stories.

This is an unmissable opportunity for anyone interested in stories or in oral and lost cultures to come and help document and archive this tradition through listening, requesting stories, and asking questions.

Suitable for adults and 11+ only.

Residential option – accommodation is provided in dorms beds in the comfortable hostel-style Ballyeamon Barn, with all meals provided from dinner on Sunday to lunch on Friday. Please let us know any dietary requirements or allergies on booking.

Non-residential option – includes lunches and dinners only.  There are other B&Bs and hotels available to stay locally but these are all at least 6 miles away, you would need a car or to take taxis. Please let us know any dietary requirements or allergies on booking.

Zoom option – provide your own snacks and join remotely via Zoom.

Frequently asked questions

What are the times? Friday – check in to accommodation anytime after lunch, dinner at around 6.30pm, stories from 7.30pm. Saturday – stories approx 10.30am-1pm, 2-3pm, 7.30pm-9.30pm. Sunday – stories 10.30am-1pm, lunch 1pm, finish 2pm.

Nearest Airport? Belfast International or Belfast City

Are transfers available from Belfast? Yes if you are arriving at a civilised time, it will be likely be possible to arrange transfers.  Contact Liz on [email protected] to sort out. She will need to know your flight details and arrival airport.

Can I also attend the preceding Word Dancing course? Yes, if you can make it to Northern Ireland, just book your ticket for that at the same time.

I don’t want to stay in shared dorm accommodation, do you have recommendations of other places to stay? Contact Liz on [email protected] for suggestions.  Note that this is a rural location and at least 6 miles from other options, so you will need to rent a car or to pay for taxis to get to Ballyleamon Barn.