Today is Friday the 13th a date that, for many, carries an uneasy sense of bad luck and looming misfortune. From religious folklore linking the number 13 to Judas at the Last Supper, to modern horror films that cement its ominous reputation, the superstition has endured for generations.

But where does this fear really come from, and why does it still hold power in a country like Ireland, rich in folklore and tradition?  

Dr Kelly Fitzgerald, Head of the UCD School of Celtic Studies and Folklore, joined Sean to explain