Subject
Folklore -- Ireland -- Juvenile literature Books
Best books
E. M. (Ethel Mary) Wilmot-Buxton
Old Celtic tales
"Old Celtic Tales" by E. M. Wilmot-Buxton is a collection of mythological and folkloric stories retold from the Welsh "Mabinogion," crafted to engage readers with the enchanting world of Celtic heritage. Written in the late 19th century, the tales encapsulate various characters and adventures, grounding themselves in themes of magic, transformation, and the quest for love and knowledge. Central characters include Lir, who suffers the loss of his children, and the brave Prince Kilhugh, whose determination leads him on a quest for his beloved Olwen. The opening of the collection introduces the tragic tale of "The Children of Lir," where the children of the noble Lir are transformed into swans by their envious stepmother Eva and cursed to live for centuries until the sound of a Christian bell breaks the spell. Their story of resilience and longing sets the tone for the collection, highlighting themes of transformation and loss. Alongside this, the beginning hints at other tales featuring daring quests and mystical creatures, promising a rich tapestry of adventure that intertwines with the human experience, ideal for readers seeking to explore the deep roots of Celtic mythology.
Lady Gregory
The Kiltartan wonder book
"The Kiltartan wonder book" by Lady Gregory is a collection of Irish folk tales written in the early 20th century. Drawn from the Kiltartan oral tradition and told in a chatty, fireside voice, these wonder tales brim with enchantments, quests, giants, clever girls and foolish boys, and animals that speak or save the day. Readers meet a stream of different heroes—a simple prince on a talking mule, the bewitching Beswarragal, the Fish’s son, Shawneen, and others—in self‑contained episodes rich with magic objects, tests, and trickery. The opening of this collection strings together brisk, storyteller-led tales: a “Fool” prince chases a singing bird, rides a miraculous mule, wins a king’s daughter, and breaks the mule’s enchantment; Beswarragal, a swan‑maiden, is lost and found through trials, a magic horse, and a fight with the Queen of the Black Wood; the Fish’s son, aided by a white hound and a hawk, slays Croagcill to free a princess. Shawneen gains giant‑won treasures, kills a dragon in the Black Duke’s armor, dies to a hag, and is revived by his brother Shamus; a man marries a mermaid who later returns to the sea, leaving a child and a pot of gold; a loyal Bullockeen guides a boy through battles with red, white, and green bulls before dying and gifting him great strength. Further brief pieces showcase riddling wit and conditions (King Solomon), the blessing‑and‑curse moral of sharing with a robin (and finding crocks of gold), a thread‑led rescue from an enchanted killer, a hare‑witch saved from black hounds, and a foolish wife who blunders into riches; the last fragment begins a visit to tiny “Danes” in a fairy fort before the excerpt cuts off.
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