Storytelling at the Feast of Fools: Maria GIllen, Tales from Ireland

Tales from the Five Deep Wells of Irish Storytelling.

Presented by: Storytelling at the Feast of Fools

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0	NORTHAMPTON: Quaker Meeting House
P	Wednesday 1st April, 2026
N	7:00pm

Event information

For our 11th birthday, on 1st April – what better date for the Feast of Fools?! – we are seriously delighted to welcome Maria Gillen from Cork City as our guest professional performer.
Storytellers come to the art through many routes, Maria’s may be unique, having spent 22 years in a Global Multinational environment, with her last 4.5 years as a European Operations Manager.  She became a Biodynamic Therapist in 2007 and has an MA in Dramatherapy from Maynooth since 2010.
But she wears this formidable CV very lightly when performing. What you get is a great enthusiasm for the art and value of storytelling, for its traditions and material, with spontaneous warmth, an infectious sense of humour, and a wonderful ability to convey emotional depth with just a few beautifully chosen words.
She comes from a family where stories are cherished and is very interested in what the wisdoms of yesteryear have to offer us in today’s world.

And the Five Deep Wells of her title? Maria describes them as: myths & legends, stories of our stones, Diaspora Stories, Bean Feasa (Wise Woman) stories & co-created stories.
Add all this to the Feast of Fools’ famously welcoming atmosphere, the possibly even more famous Janet’s home made cakes, and the lovely surroundings of Northampton’s Quaker Meeting House and we really can’t think of anything better you could possibly want to spend your Wednesday evening doing!

As always, doors open at 7.00 for 7.30.
More details of the Feast of Fools at https://storyfeast.uk/