We've extended our stay across the water and bringing you a story from Ireland this week! Join us as Anastasia takes us on a bit of a history lesson and tells us the tale of Alice Kyteler, aka "The Merry Widow" or "The Witch of Kilkenny."

Political intrigue, papal bulls, and accusations of the black arts are all front and center in this one. Aristocratic Alice Kyteler was one of the earliest known Irish women to be accused of witchcraft. Despised by her step children, and well as the local bishop of Ossory, she was accused of murdering her four husbands and of acquiring her wealth through the black arts.

Dame Alice and her band of "devil worshipping" cohorts  were accused and persecuted. The Bishop of Ossory was hellbent that he would bring this accused witch to trial and took every opportunity that he could to do so, nearly damning himself in the process. He had Dame Alice convicted in abesentia,  but her story is only just beginning....

We've talked about the last witch burned in Ireland- Bridget Cleary- now join us for the first. It's not who you might think...

Wait to Panic is a weekly podcast where two longtime friends take turns sharing stories that just might make your skin crawl. If you like what you hear and want more, give us some love and come back each Sunday for our newest episode!

Have a story of your own that you want us to share? Email it to us at [email protected] and we'll read it during our listener episodes!

Sources:

https://www.historyireland.com/medieval-history-pre-1500/the-sorcery-trial-of-alice-kyteler-by-bernadette-williams/

https://www.historickilkenny.com/alice-kyteler

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Kyteler

https://www.kytelersinn.com/dame-alice-kyteler/