Essential Resources for Irish Folklore

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Irish folklore, with its rich tapestry of myths, legends, and traditions, has long captivated scholars and enthusiasts alike. For those beginning (or continuing!) this fascinating journey of discovery, certain texts and resources stand as indispensable guides, illuminating the path through Ireland’s storied past.

This article delves into a selection of these essential resources, offering insights into their significance and place within the broader context of folklore research in Ireland. See also: The Richness of Irish Folklore.

✨ Post by Lora O’Brien, MA in Irish History

(Many of the following are paid links fyi, it doesn’t cost you to click but it helps us!)

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Pioneering Texts in Irish Folklore

The First Conscious Collector

Thomas Crofton Croker’s “Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland” (1828) represents a pioneering effort in folklore collection, not just in Ireland but in Britain as well. Croker’s work is crucial for understanding the genesis of folklore as a serious academic discipline. [Reprinted Version is Here]

Our First President, a Cultural Nationalist and Scholar

Douglas Hyde’s “By the Fireside” (1890) stands out as a groundbreaking work by a leading Gaelic scholar and cultural nationalist. Although from an Ascendancy family, he learned and spoke Irish himself and collected the folklore directly. Hyde’s collection provides invaluable insight into the oral traditions and folklore of Ireland during a pivotal era. [Reprinted Version is Here]

A Seanchaí’s Legacy

“Leabhar Sheáin Í Chonaill” (1948), translated as “Seán Ó Conaill’s Book” by Máire MacNeill, is a significant volume edited by Séamus Ó Duilearga/James Delargy. It captures the vast storytelling repertoire of a seanchaí (storyteller), preserving a vital part of Ireland’s oral tradition. [Out of Print, See It Here]

Somewhat Questionable Contributions

Lady Gregory’s “Visions and Beliefs of the West of Ireland” (1920), a seminal work of the Irish Literary Revival, offers a rich collection of folklore and local traditions.

Note: Personally, I hesitate to recommend Gregory’s work for anything other than historical value and completeness of this list, due to the sanitisation she inflicted on her source materials to remove the ‘Gaelic Barbarism’ which offended her Ascendancy sensibilities.

For similar reasons of patronising elitism, avoid anything by WB Yeats. There are better sources!

Foundational Analysis

Diarmaid Ó Giolláin’s “Locating Irish Folklore” (2000) is a cornerstone in the academic study of Irish folklore. Ó Giolláin provides a detailed analysis of the historical and social contexts that shaped the field, offering a critical backdrop for understanding the evolution of folklore research in Ireland. [Available Here]

While not specific to Irish Folklore, Jeana Jorgensen’s “Folklore 101: An Accessible Introduction to Folklore Studies” is an excellent primer for any student. It’s a fun, accessible guide to the academic study of folklore which packs in a college class’s worth of material, from basic concepts and major folklore genres to special topics based on identity, fancy theories, and more. [Available Here]

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Modern Studies in Irish Folklore

Exploring Irish Wake Traditions

Seán Ó Súilleabháin’s “Irish Wake Amusements” (1967) provides a fascinating look at funerary beliefs and customs in Irish tradition, showcasing his stature as a giant in folklore scholarship. [Available Here]

Also interesting is Anne Ridge’s “Death Customs in Rural Ireland: Traditional Funerary Rites in the Irish Midlands” (2009). [Available Here]

Seasonal Lore

Kevin Danaher’s classic “The Year in Ireland (Irish Calendar Customs)” (1st 2001, now in 2nd Edition), describes how the round of the year, with its cycle of festivals and seasonal work, was observed in the Ireland of yesterday. [Available Here]

Máire MacNeill’s “The Festival of Lughnasa” (1962) is an exceptional study of seasonal traditions in Ireland, tracing cultural continuities from the earliest history. [Out of Print, possibly Available Here]

An excellent successor to those foundational tomes is Marion McGarry’s “Irish Customs and Rituals: How Our Ancestors Celebrated Life and the Seasons” (2020). This work casts a discerning eye on the mid-19th to the mid-20th centuries, a pivotal era marked by the gradual waning of numerous traditions and beliefs. This period witnessed the fading of many customs steeped in the remnants of pre-Christian lore, which existed alongside, and often in quiet defiance of, the prevailing religious norms, and linger on in the cultural fabric of contemporary Ireland. [Available Here]

Ethnographic Perspectives

Henry Glassie’s “Passing the Time in Ballymenone” (1982) offers a compelling ethnographic study of late 20th-century storytelling traditions in County Fermanagh, reflecting modern methodologies in folklore research. [Available Here]

A regional work from Galway is William Henry’s “Away with the Fairies” (2020). Henry is a historian, archaeologist and author from Galway city, who provides a fascinating local insight into historical and modern folk beliefs in the area. [Available Here]

We couldn’t leave out our favourite Bannerman, Eddie Lenihan, for the perspective from County Clare. The classic from him would be “Meeting the Other Crowd: The Fairy Stories of Hidden Ireland” (2004). [Available Here]

Daithí Ó hÓgáin

Vital for any student of Irish Folklore is the definitive reference book by Daithí Ó hÓgáin, “The Lore of Ireland: An Encyclopaedia of Myth, Legend and Romance” (Reprint 2006). [Available Here]

“The Hero in Irish Folk Tradition” (1985) by Daithí Ó hÓgáin discusses the interplay of history, literature, and folklore in shaping Irish folk heroes, providing a comprehensive view of this aspect of Irish tradition. This one is long out of print, unfortunately, and very difficult to lay hands on.

Complete Study of the Banshee

“The Banshee: The Supernatural Death Messenger” (1986) by Patricia Lysaght is a rigorous academic exploration of one of Ireland’s most iconic folklore figures, exemplifying advanced research methodologies in the field. Again, unfortunately out of print… if you find a copy grab it! [Possibly Available Here]

All About Fairies

To round out the ethnographic studies mentioned above, my own book on the topic is “The Fairy Faith in Ireland: History, Tradition, and Modern Pagan Practice” (2021). The Fairy Faith in Ireland has a long history, from the time of the mythology of the Tuatha Dé Danann through the folklore that arose with the coming of Christianity, and many of those traditions continue still to this day. These beliefs and practices have been studied by many scholars, antiquarians, and folklorists, and are interwoven all through the study of Irish Folklore. [Available Here]

Additionally, I recommend Morgan Daimler’s “Aos Sidhe: Meeting the Irish Fair Folk” (2022), as a concise and accurate introduction to the Aos Sidhe, the People of the fairy mounds, and to Irish fairy beliefs. [Available Here]

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Fundamental Irish Folklore Research Tools

The Irish Folklore Commission’s Main Manuscripts Collection and Schools Collection, if you get to the Archive at UCD in person… along with Seán Ó Súilleabháin’s “A Handbook of Irish Folklore” (1942) [Available Digitally Here], are pivotal resources.

Additionally, “Béaloideas”, the journal of the Folklore of Ireland Society, and digital records of personal interviews in the collections available at Duchas.ie, offer invaluable primary sources for deepening your understanding of Irish folklore.

This selection of texts and resources provides a comprehensive foundation for anyone interested in the study of Irish folklore. Each work, in its own right, contributes significantly to the understanding and appreciation of Ireland’s rich cultural heritage, offering a window into the soul of a nation deeply connected to our past.

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