Bluiríní Béaloidis is a podcast from the National Folklore Collection at University College Dublin. It explores the rich landscape of Irish and European folk traditions.

The podcast represents a significant modern adaptation of traditional folklore transmission, translating oral traditions into digital media while maintaining their essential function as repositories of cultural wisdom, whilst exploring how mythological thinking continues to evolve through new forms of dissemination while remaining connected to its traditional roots.

Host Jonny Dillon's invitation to journey through the "folklore furrow" employs an agricultural metaphor to frame the exploration of cultural inheritance—a fitting approach for traditions deeply connected to land, seasons, and community. This framing positions folklore not as antiquarian curiosity but as civic cultivation—stories and practices that, like crops, require proper tending to maintain their vitality and relevance across generations.

By examining both Irish and broader European folk traditions, the podcast contextualises local narratives within larger patterns of human meaning-making. This comparative approach reveals how specific cultural expressions often reflect universal human concerns, demonstrating folklore's dual function of reinforcing cultural particularity while addressing shared human experiences. The podcast's exploration of diverse subjects and themes illustrates how traditional narratives provided comprehensive frameworks for understanding every aspect of human experience.

Most significantly, the podcast articulates how understanding traditional wisdom can inform contemporary life and guide future development. This forward-looking perspective challenges simplistic notions of folklore as merely preserving the past, instead positioning traditional knowledge as a valuable resource for navigating present challenges. By making these traditions accessible through modern digital platforms, Blúiríní Béaloidis exemplifies how mythological thinking adapts to new contexts while maintaining its essential function of creating meaning and connection.