Stiofáin Cullen
Storyteller, Multi-disciplinary Dabbler
hoganddiceproductions@gmail.com
ARTIST BIO
Once described as being like “a lovely loaf of fresh baked bread served at a satanic orgy” Fáin is an oral storyteller with a multidisciplinary background who loves to discuss the bizarre, the subversive and the deviant while creating an atmosphere of comfort, safety and comradery. Fáin studied Irish Folklore at UCD, laboured in the story mines of The National Leprechaun Museum, and has produced various multi-media projects including podcasts, audio-dramas, Alternative Reality Games and video essays. Often involving weird little puppets.
Their influences include Growler, Tom Waits, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and the local crows.
SELECTED WORKS
Changelings: A Video Essay
2021
Documentary, 67mins
Changelings, the little fairy creatures left to replace stolen children. But is there more to them than that?
Fáin made a video essay about the Changeling myth and its ties to the disability community. This video has been referenced in Dr. Rose A. Sawyer’s The Medieval Changeling: Health, Childcare and the Family Unit
Irish Folklore Collection
2017 - ongoing
Video Series
Credits
Written, filmed and produced by Stiofáin Cullen
Fáin studied Irish Folklore (amongst other things, but mostly folklore) at University College Dublin for several years. They were horrified to learn how much of our Folklore and Culture was lost due to Colonialism. So they do what they can to preserve and protect what remains in a way that’s accessible and entertaining, so nothing else will be lost.
Ireland has a unique and fascinating folklore and legendary tradition. This has been passed down mostly orally for thousands of years and continues to develop to this day. From the legendary adventures of Fionn McCumhail to stories of giant rats in modern day Booterstown this is an effort to record as much of Ireland’s folklore as they reasonably can.
Lockdown Bard
2020
Video Series
Credits
Researched, filmed and performed by Stiofáin
The image we have of Bards and their work in the modern day is a strange and distorted one that would seem very alien to the historical Bards. Poets, historians and geneaologists who primarily used music to maintain a rhythm.
The Historical Bards weren’t just entertainers. They were major political figures whose poetry could lead to the rise or fall of kings and cheiftains. This is a series of readings of real historical Bardic poetry (translated from Old Irish).
2017
Audio series
Credits
Writer/Producer/Director: Stiofáin Cullen
The Host: Keith Byrne
Samantha Ko: Allison Marcellus
Additional Voices: The Tantalus Crew
Theme music: Thomas O’Boyle
Global news on supernatural events is broadcast on a pirate radio station operating out of a remote Lighthouse in an unknown location.
This news is delivered by an enigmatic figure known only as The Host who appears to be dealing with troubles of his own.
Voyage of the Monk
Example: Episode 6: Hell, I guess . . .
2023 - ongoing
Audio Series
Credits
Hosts: Stiofáin and Alice Lockett
St. Brendan the NAvigator famously set sail from Bantry in Co. Kerry in search of paradise. Along the way he and his monks encountered monsters, mysterious beautiful men, talking birds, possibly angelic dogs and island filled entirely with sheep.
Join Fáin and Alice as they fololow the epic voyage of Saint Brendan the Navigator in his quest to sail to heaven!