The seanchaí (plural seanchaithe) occupied a specific social role in Gaelic Ireland distinct from but related to the filí — where the poet composed in formal metres, the seanchaí preserved and performed a broader range of oral material including prose tales, genealogies, and local history. The seanchaí's art depended on memory, vocal skill, and intimate knowledge of community tradition. The Gaelic League and the Irish Folklore Commission worked in the twentieth century to record the last practitioners of this art, recognising that their knowledge represented an irreplaceable literary and cultural archive. The figure continues to inspire poets as an image of embodied cultural memory.

Seanchaí is the Irish-language term for the traditional storyteller, skilled in history, genealogy, and legend. The seanchaí is a respected figure who maintains community identity through oral performance. In poetry, the seanchaí is a source of wisdom and authority. Poets often adopt the persona of the seanchaí to tell stories or impart lessons. The seanchaí represents the survival of Gaelic culture despite colonial pressures. Understanding the seanchaí is key to appreciating the oral foundations of Irish literature.