This engrossing and charming work by a noted scholar, widely regarded as a classic in its field, explores the vital Irish past, noting the diversity of folk customs and traditional activities in rural Ireland, from early Celtic migrations through centuries of English and Scottish influence, up to the sudden appearance of mechanization.
Readers will find here a wealth of observations on country ways and the essentials of Irish life, among them how to thatch a roof, churn butter, cultivate and harvest crops, make pots and pans, build furniture and fences, fish and navigate streams, and much...

This collection of reports of elfin creatures in Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and Brittany ranks among the most scholarly works ever published on the subject. The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries begins with the author's account of firsthand testimony from living sources, classified under individual countries and introduced by leading authorities on anthropology and folklore. The next section concerns the recorded traditions of Celtic literature and mythology, followed by an examination of a variety of theories and their religious aspects. The book concludes with a remarkably rational case...