She was clever, headstrong, and quick with a needle. A woman of her time, and somehow, ahead of it. Bridget Cleary had her own sewing machine, a prized possession in rural Ireland. She wore stylish boots, sold eggs, and kept a fine house.

But in March of 1895, the people of Ballyvadlea watched smoke rise from the Cleary home. They said she’d gone missing. That she was sick. That she wasn’t herself. And then came the whispers… about fairies, about changelings, about the hollow hills.

By the time authorities arrived, Bridget’s body was already ash. What remained was a tangle of folklore and fear, a quiet village exposed under the harsh light of a trial. And still, more than a century later, the question lingers: What does it take for a husband, a family, a community, to believe a woman is no longer who she says she is?

Quick Note on Pronunciation:
Hi guys! I do my best to get pronunciations right—especially for names and places with cultural or historical roots—but sometimes regional habits sneak in. Like Bourke: in Ireland, it’s usually pronounced “Berk,” but here in North America, you’ll often hear “Bork” (guilty!). Just a heads-up in case you notice any little differences. Appreciate you listening with curiosity and kindness.

Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown.

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Show Notes & Further Reading

The Burning of Bridget Cleary: A True Story – Angela Bourke
The Cooper’s Wife is Missing – Joan Hoff and Marian Yeates

Strange Death Near Clonmel – Freeman’s Journal
Not Witches, But Fairies – The New York Times
Burning Bridget – The Irish Times

The Haunting True Story of Bridget Cleary’s ‘Changeling’ Murder
Behind the Scenes: The Murder of Bridget Cleary
Bridget Cleary Burned to Death
The Horrific Murder of Bridget Cleary, the Irish ‘Fairy Wife’
The Burning of Bridget Cleary: A True Story – Review
The Story of the Last ‘Witch’ Burned Alive in Ireland

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