Poets and Dreamers: Studies and translations from the Irish

A thoughtful blend of scholarship and storytelling, this volume invites listeners into the living world of Irish verse. Drawing on field notes, folk recollections and careful translations, it offers a vivid portrait of the bardic tradition that shaped rural life for centuries. The author’s gentle guidance makes the complex rhythms and cultural references accessible, while still honoring the depth of the original Irish language.

The book’s heart beats in lively anecdotes, like the spirited debate between two elderly women recalling the rival poets Raftery and Callinan. Their memories—filled with humor, rivalry, and reverence—illustrate how poetry functioned as both entertainment and social commentary in the countryside. Through these encounters, listeners hear the echo of songs that never were written down, gaining a sense of the community’s love‑and‑fear relationship with its wandering poets. The result is an intimate, richly textured journey that brings the sounds of old Ireland to life for today’s ears.