Dr. Jenny Butler Narrates the Award Winning Film - Spiorad na Samhna (Spirit of Samhan)

Dr. Jenny Butler, a folklorist based at University College Cork's Folklore and Ethnology Department with a PhD thesis on the topic of Irish Neo-Paganism, has narrated an award winning documentary on the origins of Halloween. Dr Butler’s principal interests are in the areas of mythology, belief narratives, folk religion, ritual and festival. A member of The Irish Society for the Academic Study of Religions (ISASR), she has numerous articles to her credit. Dr Butler is currently working on a book about Irish contemporary Paganism. A friend and contributor to Transceltic, we congratulate Dr. Butler on her achievement.

Press Release:

A bi-lingual film about the origins of Halloween has recently won Best Short Documentary Award at the Underground Film Festival in Cork, Ireland.

http://www.undergroundshortfilmfestival.com/#!official-selection-2015/c3kj

http://www.derryjournal.com/news/derry-documentary-scoops-award-1-6933121

The festival screened 122 films in 15 categories, with entries from 35 countries. The film, Spiorad na Samhna -- Spirit of Samhan -- can be viewed at:  https://vimeo.com/101398600

In addition to the award, the project has learned that the film has been recommended to teachers of Religious Education in England. Ed Pawson, Chair, NATRE, National Association of Teachers of Religious Education, has described it as "an exciting resource to widen our  understanding of the diversity and origins of religion, beliefs and  customs today".

The film traces origins of Ireland's biggest Halloween Carnival in Derry back to troubled years of 1980s. It also traces origins of Halloween itself to the Celtic festival of Samhain. Dr. Jenny Butler from the Folklore Department of University College, Cork narrates this award winning film.

http://www.transceltic.com/irish/derry-hosts-irelands-largest-halloween-...

http://www.transceltic.com/pan-celtic/interview-dr-jenny-butler-celtic-f...