Dame Alice Kyteler: Ireland’s First Witch Trial and the Scapegoating of Petronella de Meath

The hosts of Hysterical Hysteria open with a trigger warning and discuss starting a Halloween “witchy” series, noting historical witch hunts targeted unconventional or wealthy women and drawing parallels to modern “witch hunt” rhetoric. They cover Alice Kyteler (born circa 1263), considered the first woman in Ireland accused of witchcraft and sentenced to burn. A wealthy businesswoman with four husbands—three dying under unclear circumstances—Alice was targeted after husband Richard DeVault’s adult children spread rumors when he left her money. Bishop Richard de la Dread brought sensational charges including demonic sex, secret rituals, and murdering husbands for wealth, despite church-state limits and creditors’ motives. Alice, her son William Jr., and servants were arrested; Alice escaped, but servant Petronella de Meath was tortured and burned in 1324, the only recorded Irish witch burning. William Jr. received penance and a costly roof repair punishment.

00:00 Content Warning

00:12 Catch Up Banter

00:48 Halloween Witch Series

02:29 Why Women Were Accused

04:00 Alice Kyteler Origins

06:25 Husbands One and Two

08:18 Husbands Three and Four

12:14 Money Motive and Bishop

16:56 Arrest and Escape

18:51 Petronella Tragedy

19:33 Willie Punishment Fallout

22:30 Sources and Wrap Up

24:10 Outro and Contact Info

hystericalhysteria.com

hystericalsaragina@gmail.com

historickilkenny.com "Dame Alice Kyteler" no author/date listed

historyireland.com "The Sorcery Trial of Alice Kyteler" by Bernadette Williams

"The Imfamous Medieval Witch Case of Alice Kyteler" Youtube video by Medieval Madness

"The Witchcraft Trial of Alice Kyteler" Youtube, by Footnoting History, hosted by Kristin