Voices of Boyle Podcast – EP: 7 Anna Robertson

Welcome to Episode 7 of the Voices Of Boyle Podcast! 

A Very Boyle Halloween

Episode 7 of the Voices of Boyle podcast drops us right into the spooky season with a special Halloween-themed chat. Hosts Carlo and Florence Cretaro are joined by Anna Robertson for an episode brimming with ghost stories, folklore, and rich local traditions from Boyle and beyond.

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Meet Anna Robertson: Our Ghostly Guide

Anna is no stranger to Boyle locals and she was the obvious choice for this Halloween special. As Florence jokes, “We’ve been in and out to Anna numerous times… I’d say she hates to see us coming into the office!” But Anna doesn’t disappoint. She dives headfirst into a nostalgic, spine-tingling journey through some of the area’s best-known legends.

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The Green Lady and Other Ghosts

No Halloween in Boyle would be complete without mentioning The Green Lady, a local spirit who has haunted stories (and dreams) for decades. As Carlo puts it, “She’s the one that I think most of us in Boyle remember.” Florence recalls how she was used as a kind of bedtime threat “The Green Lady will come and get you” a memory many local listeners will nod along to.

Anna brings her own vivid experiences from working at King House and Lock Key, where ghost sightings and eerie tales are par for the course. From Roman soldiers haunting King House to children spotting shadows in empty rooms, the stories had our hosts and listeners hanging on every word.

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Rathcroghan & the Origins of Halloween

The conversation then turns to the roots of Halloween itself. Florence and Carlo explain how the festival of Samhain began in Rathcroghan, County Roscommon not far from Boyle. Rathcroghan is home to Oweynagat (the Cave of the Cats), known in Irish mythology as the “Gates of Hell.” It’s believed to be where spirits and monsters emerged at Samhain, marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter.

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Halloween Foods & Traditions

The episode also dips into Halloween food traditions, with Anna sharing memories of colcannon a mash of potatoes and scallions and her childhood version topped with a fried egg. And of course, barmbrack makes an appearance, with its ring baked inside. “You’d be lucky if you didn’t choke on it,” jokes Carlo.

These little nods to Irish traditions add colour to the episode and spark more than a few laughs.

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Dressing Up, Scaring Kids & Halloween in King House

Towards the end of the chat, Anna shares her joy in dressing up and taking part in Halloween events. “In my element. Dressed up as a crazy lady, dancing around the grounds of King House in the pitch black, scaring children.” Her enthusiasm is infectious, and it’s clear she brings as much joy as she does frights to the community.

Florence teasingly asks, “Are you the Green Lady?” To which Anna cryptically replies, “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

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This Halloween special is a brilliant listen, part folklore, part fun, and 100% Boyle. If you’ve ever trick-or-treated on the streets of Boyle, wandered the corridors of King House, or just love a good ghost story, this episode is for you.

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🎧 Listen to Episode 7: Halloween in Boyle
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