Away with the Fairies – a spooky Halloween treat
In recent years, Halloween in Ireland has become all about the imported American tradition of Trick or Treat – which may have, in a simpler form, originated in this country, according to experts.
But with Tricking and Treating off the menu for this year, it might be time to return to more traditional Irish traditions.
There’s no better place to start with fairy and ghost stories and these can be found in abundance in the latest book from city historian, William Henry.
Away with the Fairies, which is now in the shops, contains some 50 stories and tales gathered from across Galway, City and County, that have entertained countless generations.
“Ireland really is the heart of a supernatural tradition and some of its most famous manifestations include the Banshee, Cóiste Bodhar, Pooka, Leprechaun and the Fairies,” explains William.
“The stories and beliefs surrounding these characters formed part of everyday life for people long ago,” he adds. And it wasn’t so long ago either.
Introducing the stories, Mike Glynn, former editor of the Galway City Tribune, points out that in an era before rural electrification, “the sounds and movements of the night were truly frightening when there were only candles and crude lamps to cast limited light”.
Rural electrification only happened in the mid-20th century, which in the broad scope of history, is merely the blink of an eye.
William opens the book by introducing the reader to Ireland’s main fairy characters and this sets the scene for the extraordinary tales that follow.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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