Irish Fairy Tales

audiobook

Irish Fairy Tales

EN·~3 hours·28 chapters

Chapters

28 total
1

E-text prepared by Sankar Viswanathan, David Edwards, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org)

5:31
2

ILLUSTRATED BY JACK B. YEATS

0:01
3

LONDON - T. FISHER UNWIN - 1892

0:02
4

WHERE MY BOOKS GO.

0:51
5

INTRODUCTION - AN IRISH STORY-TELLER

5:59
6

NOTE

0:43
7

LAND AND WATER FAIRIES

0:01
8

THE FAIRIES' DANCING-PLACE - By William Carleton

2:37
9

THE RIVAL KEMPERS - By William Carleton

12:51
10

THE YOUNG PIPER - By Crofton Croker

15:33

Description

In this lively anthology the listener is invited into the hush of Irish hills and glens, where old women still speak of silver‑footed dancers and hidden courts beneath the heather. An early 20th‑century folklorist shares a warm hearth conversation with a seasoned storyteller, revealing how ordinary folk regard the fair folk as neighbors rather than myths. The introduction sets a tone of quiet reverence, grounding each tale in the lived rhythms of rural life. Subtle humor slips through the tales, reminding us that these stories have been told beside turf fires for generations.

The collection unfolds a mosaic of creatures and characters: mischievous water sprites, a devil’s mill that grinds the unwary, a heroic knight whose sword sings, and even a clever cat that outwits a king. Each narrative carries the lyrical cadence of oral tradition while hinting at deeper moral currents. Illustrated pages, originally drawn by a contemporary artist, lend the stories a charming visual texture that enhances the listening experience. Altogether, the volume offers a gentle journey into Ireland’s enchanted past, perfect for anyone who enjoys folklore that feels both timeless and intimate.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~3 hours (186K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

2010-03-25

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

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