Most Irish family historians will be aware of The Schools' Collection, a sizeable record-set of stories about Ireland and its inhabitants gathered by children in the Republic of Ireland in the 1930s. The schoolchildren were asked to speak to their parents, grandparents, older neighbours and family friends and record their folklore tales, local customs and traditions, words of wisdom, memories of events and recollections of how they and their communities used to live.
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| Click image to find out more at Gill Books |
The resulting collection includes some genealogical information (some details of the 'informants' are recorded with each 'story'), but the content of the stories attracts a much wider audience. It is digitised and available free on the Duchas.ie, the website of the National Folklore Collection held at University College Dublin.
Launching today is a 400-page book edited by John Creedon, one of Ireland's best-known broadcasters, entitled An Irish Folklore Treasury. It is a 'best of' selection that includes chapters telling stories of ghosts and supernatural beings, life on the land, life at home and at the table, forgotten trades, school routines, weather lore, religion, celebrations and local pastimes. It is great illustrations, too.
It is, John hopes, a book that Irish households around the world will dip into and enjoy for generations.
The book is published by Gill Books with a recommended price of €24.99 (click the cover image above) and should now be on sale in good bookshops in Ireland, and online at Amazon, Blackwells, Eason, Kenny's etc.
ISBN 9780717194223