The distinctive role and craft of the seanchaí is particularly associated with the Gaeltacht (the Irish-speaking areas of Ireland), although story-tellers recognizable as seanchaithe were also to be found in rural areas throughout English-speaking Ireland.

In Gaelic Ireland, there were at least ten instruments in general use, which were the cruit (a small harp) and clairseach (a bigger harp with typically 30 strings), the timpan (a small string instrument played with a bow or plectrum), the feadan (fife), the buinne (oboe or flute), the guthbuinne (a bassoon-type horn), the bennbuabhal and corn (hornpipes), the cuislenna (bagpipe), the stoc and sturgan (clarions or trumpets), and the cnamha (bones).