Donegal fairy stories by Seumas MacManus

I do enjoy fairy stories, of all shapes and sorts. When I was younger I read plenty of the children’s versions of the Irish myths and legends. But I don’t ever recall coming across these stories before. They aren’t the myth and legend of the Red Branch, or the Fianna, but instead are versions of more traditional stories. Irish versions of Snow White, and the like. I loved them.

MacManus, who collected and translated these stories from the Irish, tells them in the the shanachie style. For the non-Irish out there a shanachie is a story-telller. And the best way to explain that style is to show you. This is Eddie Lenihan, who used to be on the Den telling 5 minute tales back when I was a child. In those far off and distant days :)

Anyways, these are great little stories. Perfect for reading out loud. You really get the sense of what it must have been like telling stories to a group of people all sitting around the fire, joining in with the repetition and recognising the commonly used phrases.

In short, they are awesome!