The First “Witch”: The Trial and Death of Petronilla de Meath

In this episode, we are covering the tragic story of Petronilla de Meath, a widower, a single mother, and working class woman who is largely remembered for being the first "witch" to be burned at the stake in Europe. In unpacking this story, we see how a power struggle that broke out between the rich and powerful in a medieval Irish town led to one woman taking the fall and suffering a horrific fate.

Sources:

Service of remembrance for Petronilla of Meath held at St. Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny (November 3, 2024). Speech delivered by Andrew McGuinnes, Mayor of Kilkenny. Shared by the Kilkenny Archaeological Society on December 7, 2024.

L.S. Davidson and J.O. Ward, eds., The Sorcery and Trial of Alice Kyteler (Center for Medieval and Early Renaissance Studies, 1993).

Nalina Eggert, “The Irish Woman Executed for Witchcraft 700 Years Ago,” BBC News (October 30, 2024).

Lois Martin, A Brief History of Witchcraft (Running Press, 2010).

Bernadette Williams, “The Sorcery and Trial of Alice Kyteler,” History Ireland Vol 2., No. 4 (Winter, 1994): 20-24.

Written and recorded by: Kenyon Payne

Theme music: "Southern Gothic" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Outro music: “D´vil,” anrocomposer

Additional featured music:

“Long Note Three,” and “Virtutes Instrumenti,” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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