Elizabeth Rose is a Professional Story Artist and Educator from East Tennessee. She was introduced to the Art of Storytelling at an early age and has been entertaining audiences of all ages with her Appalachian stories and ballads for over 30 years. For 40 years, she has been an educator, teaching grades Kindergarten through High School, and served as a principal for 16 years. Elizabeth was the Director of the “National Youth Storytelling Showcase” for many years while the event was held in Pigeon Forge, TN. Throughout her career, she has found a way to be a mom, a wife, an educator, and a storyteller by creating consistent gigs in her own region as a way to fulfill her niche for telling, teaching, and balancing work and home life. Elizabeth will share ideas on exploring opportunities in your region that will provide consistent storytelling in your neck of the woods!
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.
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.
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.
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.
