In this film, Pádraig Carragher of Bluebell Lane shares the eerie tale of the ghostly light that has both baffled and spooked countless night travellers across Ireland’s haunting landscape. Known as the Will-O’-the-Wisp, this mysterious phenomenon has inspired numerous theories over time. Scientific explanations range from natural gases igniting in bogs and marshes, to bioluminescent fungi, or even moonlight reflecting off the white plumage of barn owls. Yet, in an era when science was the preserve of the privileged, Ireland’s people turned to more metaphysical and whimsical explanations. Pádraig recounts one such tale.

Long ago in Mullaghbawn, there lived a blacksmith named Willy. A master craftsman, Willy’s talent began to wane as he succumbed to the lure of drink, spending his nights in the country’s shebeens and pubs. When his livelihood faltered, he sought the help of a woman reputed to practice black magic. She instructed him to visit the crossroads on Halloween night, where he was to strike a deal with the Devil himself. The full story unfolds in the film, brought to life by Pádraig’s captivating storytelling.

The Devil features prominently in many Irish folktales, often depicted as an officious and humourless bureaucrat preoccupied with rules and convention. Yet, in these stories, he is almost always outwitted by the cleverness of the Irish. This recurring theme reflects Ireland’s fondness for the rogue spirit and may serve as a reminder to savour life, unburdened by excessive concern for spiritual consequences. As the expression goes, there may indeed be wisdom in the old ways.

• Bluebell Lane