Storytelling has been enjoying a renaissance in County Wexford.

Since 2000, coordination has been provided by the County Wexford Storytelling Network, an association of all participating groups.  Over the years, the Network has hosted workshops and has undertaken collection projects. Within the annual calendar, two major celebrations have grown in strength.  The autumn Stories from the Hearth programme now linking storytellers with over 5,000 adults and children every November, culminates in the County Wexford Storytelling Festival on the last weekend of the month. The Bealtaine Festival Celebrating creativity in older age  (http://www.bealtaine.com/), every May, provides a vehicle to showcase the contribution of that sector.

Storytelling Festival Brochures Since 1999

By 2004 it had become clear that Wexford’s appetite for storytelling is strong and varied. Now in its 10th year, Stories from the Hearth continues to grow in popularity. Conceived in 1998, the 1st festival took place in 1999 & has grown from strength to strength, where it now today stands as one of the foremost festivals in Ireland with a community of story tellers and story house’s known throughout the land.

County Wexford is ideally placed on the South East Coast, its history over the centuries has been influenced by invading hordes, conquering powers, visiting traders, and an odd story teller or two! These influences throughout the years have furnished story tellers with tales of adventures, ghouls and banshees..

The storytelling houses are open to all, for any community or nationality, with the emphasis on sharing, be it, in the enjoyment of the place, or the stories been told or just been in the company of others from all walks of life.