Story Crossroads

Cap’s Off to You! – Batt Burns (Posthumously) and Celebrating Story

Few storytellers embodied the living tradition of the Irish seanchaí more completely than Batt Burns. Through his voice, generations of listeners discovered not only the folktales of County Kerry but also the warmth, humor, and humanity that gave those stories life. Whether performing at international festivals, mentoring emerging storytellers, or welcoming visitors to his beloved Sneem, Batt did more than preserve Ireland’s storytelling heritage—he invited others to become part of it. The seeds of that calling were planted in childhood as he listened to his grandfather tell stories beside the fire during long winter evenings in the hills of County Kerry. Those treasured moments shaped a lifetime devoted to ensuring that the oral tradition would continue to flourish.

For Batt, storytelling was never simply a performance—it was a way to educate, build community, and keep culture alive. As an innovative educator, he championed storytelling in Irish schools before becoming a full-time storyteller, sharing Irish folklore at festivals, universities, libraries, and communities throughout Ireland and the United States. His founding of the Sneem International Storytelling & Folklore Festival created a home where storytellers and listeners could gather to celebrate the ancient art he loved. Following his passing, the festival honored him as “a major figure in South Kerry traditional culture and, indeed, the entire storytelling community,” a fitting tribute to someone who spent his life ensuring that stories—and storytellers—would continue to thrive.

Perhaps Batt’s greatest legacy is found in the people whose lives he changed. Storyteller Kevin Cordi remembered hearing Batt at Kent State University’s Once Upon a Story Festival: “His inviting tone and stories took me to places that I never knew, real and imagined… I walked in as an education beat reporter and left knowing I wanted to explore this art.” Former student Margaret Mahony O’Sullivan offered another perspective: “There will never be the likes of this man again. He taught me everything I know.” Storyteller Rona Leventhal reflected that “he leaves quite the legacy in his wake,” while Larry P. O’Sullivan-Cutting captured Batt’s enduring gift best: “His legacy will continue just like his stories will be retold.”

Storytellers often say that stories only truly live when they are shared. By that measure, Batt Burns’ legacy is extraordinary. Every festival he nurtured, every student he encouraged, every audience he captivated, and every storyteller inspired by his example carries a part of his voice forward. His stories continue to echo far beyond the hills of County Kerry, reminding us that the finest storytellers do more than tell stories—they awaken the storyteller in others. As long as those stories continue to be shared, Batt Burns remains part of the circle.

If you have links to add – video, audio, articles – please share by emailing info@storycrossroads.org or commenting on this blog post.

You can see more details on Batt Burns with the Story Artists Memorial.

Enjoy the film below. Please be aware that the Closed Captioning is not accurate.

Do you know a Story Artist who has passed on and want others to remember them? Memories? Pictures? You can submit names and memories of Story Artists who have passed on through our online form.

Although I never had the privilege of meeting Batt Burns, I came to know his remarkable reputation through storyteller Liz Weir, whose admiration for him spoke volumes. The many tributes shared after his passing only confirmed the extraordinary storyteller and mentor he was. I look forward to the day, after my own earth time is complete, when I can finally hear Batt tell a story firsthand.

Batt Burns still has a story. You have a story. We all have stories.

Cap’s Off to You! – David Walker Brock (Posthumously) and Celebrating Story

David Walker Brock never needed elaborate costumes or special effects to capture an audience. He simply stepped onto the storytelling stage barefoot, with a warm smile and an invitation to imagine. From the time he joined the Youth Storytelling Group at the Zula B. Wylie Library in Cedar Hill, Texas, under the mentorship of Toni Simmons and Traphene Hickman, David discovered a love for storytelling that would stay with him throughout his life. His bare feet became part of his signature, reflecting the way he moved through the world—with curiosity, freedom, and delight. Whether telling at local events or later as a National Youth Storyteller, David had a remarkable ability to make every listener feel as though they belonged inside the story.

One of David’s most memorable storytelling traditions was the magical “foo-foo powder.” At just the right moment—especially in favorites like The King Who Liked Diamonds—he would invite everyone to toss imaginary foo-foo powder into the air so that something extraordinary could happen and then activate the magic by clapping three times. Children and adults alike eagerly joined in, discovering that the real magic wasn’t in the powder at all, but in the shared imagination between storyteller and audience. David instinctively understood that storytelling is something we create together, and every audience left feeling they had helped bring the tale to life.

David’s love of animals was woven through both his life and his stories. His beloved donkey, goats, dog, and cat were constant companions, and animals frequently found their way into the tales he chose to tell. Stories such as Jack and the Animals and The Lame Donkey reflected his appreciation for the loyalty, humor, perseverance, and wisdom found in the animal world. Just as he delighted in climbing trees barefoot, exploring nature, and observing the world with wonder, he invited audiences to see animals not merely as characters, but as treasured friends and teachers.

Although David’s life ended far too soon after a courageous year-long journey with cancer, he leaves behind a legacy far greater than his twenty-three years. He continued telling stories, serving the storytelling community, and sharing his gifts even while pursuing groundbreaking work in science and technology. As storyteller and friend Viveca Deanes wrote, David will be remembered for “his stories, willingness to serve… his freedom to live barefoot, and his determination to live until he died.” Those who experienced David’s storytelling will always remember the barefoot storyteller, the handfuls of imaginary foo-foo powder, the laughter, and the joy he shared so generously. His stories continue to remind us that wonder is real whenever we choose to imagine together.

If you have links to add – video, audio, articles – please share by emailing info@storycrossroads.org or commenting on this blog post.

You can see more details on David Walker Brock with the Story Artists Memorial.

One of the gifts living near the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival is seeing many of the National Youth Storytellers perform in connection with that event. David Walker Brock was one of those storytellers. I had the joy of hearing him perform at National Youth Storytelling events, where his barefoot charm, playful imagination, and authentic connection with audiences made him truly memorable. It is an honor to help celebrate the life and legacy of someone who brought so much wonder to the storytelling community.

David Walker Brock still has a story. You have a story. We all have stories.

Cap’s Off to You! – Donna Marie Kuczynski (Posthumously) and Celebrating Story

Donna Marie Kuczynski was a storyteller whose warmth, humor, and fierce belief in people traveled far beyond any stage. Long before online storytelling became common, she was already bringing stories into places where they were deeply needed—especially with youth in detention centers, where she encouraged young people to discover that their voices mattered.

Viveca Deanes remembered first meeting Donna more than twenty years ago through juvenile court work, where Donna “would go into the detention home and work with the kids on storytelling.” Kevin Cordi later reflected that Donna Marie was “one of the main reasons I became a storyteller,” describing her as “a fierce advocate” for youth storytelling who “never failed to remind me to pass it on.” Through churches, WRAPPS, and community programs, Donna Marie helped young tellers recognize dignity, imagination, and courage within themselves.

Donna Marie carried stories everywhere she went. Friends remembered how hospital stays somehow turned into communities because she gathered people together with humor and conversation, even creating what Sara DeBeer Zeiger described as “The Table of Mirth” during rehab, where a few residents eventually became nine people gathered around pushed-together tables. She handed out rubber ducks to nurses, attendants, and strangers alike, transforming ordinary encounters into moments of joy and recognition. Sue Schueller shared that one hospital attendant even cried after Donna Marie asked him to sign one of the ducks because “she was the first person who ever recognized his work.” Whether telling Irish lore, stories of knights and chivalry, memories from McKeesport, or family stories rich with humanity, Donna Marie had a gift for making listeners feel welcomed into the story beside her.

During and after COVID, Donna Marie became a beloved presence in online storytelling circles around the world. Week after week, she appeared in Zoom gatherings from Ohio to Ireland to Canada, participating in sessions with Liz Weir, Love of Dunbar, Ballyeamon Barn, and 1001 Friday Nights. Liz Weir wrote that Donna attended online sessions “almost every week for the past six years” and that “her warmth and personality came through in her telling.” Oni Lasana of the Love of Dunbar Collective called Donna Marie “the wind beneath my wings” and reflected that she was “always the first to show up” for their Zoom gatherings. Even when she could no longer travel easily, Donna Marie remained deeply engaged in storytelling communities worldwide, sharing stories, wisdom, humor, and her famous reminders to “hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.”

Donna Marie’s legacy lives not only in the stories she told, but in the storytellers and communities she nurtured. She championed youth storytelling with determination, encouraged emerging tellers before they believed in themselves, and carried a joy for life that remained vibrant into her nineties. As Valerie Farschman wrote, Donna Marie embodied Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem “Keep A-Pluggin’ Away,” while many others described her as a bright light whose kindness and storytelling changed lives.

Every time a story is shared with generosity, humor, and wholehearted welcome, part of Donna Marie Kuczynski’s spirit continues to speak.

If you have links to add – video, audio, articles – please share by emailing info@storycrossroads.org or commenting on this blog post.

You can see more details on Donna Marie Kuczynski with the Story Artists Memorial.

Donna Marie teased that she needed stories for people aged 90 and older to “stay relevant.” She pursued storytelling opportunities with the same enthusiasm and curiosity as any adolescent. I especially remember her attending the virtual workshop to learn more about Dunbar and then becoming part of the Love of Dunbar Collective as a result. While many people slowed down during COVID, Donna Marie became even more present, engaged, and active. Oh, how I look forward to hugging you, Donna Marie!

Donna Marie Kuczynski still has a story. You have a story. We all have stories.