Clare Folk Tales

''Stories seep into your cells and become part of you until sometime later you realise you know that story, and tell it again.''

Continuing the wonderful journey to the Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland, I found myself in beautiful County Clare. Here, I came across all those characteristic elements that give this special aura to the Irish myths and legends.

We meet brave women like Maire Ruad who refused to submit herself to men and conventions. Healers like Biddy Early, beautiful maidens and princess like Grian, the daughter of the Sun, and evil queens and witches like Mal and Mong Finn. We meet heroes like Cúchulainn and Brian Boru, mythical blacksmiths from the times of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Mermaids, fairies, ghosts and elves, saints and monsters, and naturally, magical water horses. (We are in Ireland, after all!)

My favourite stories were the Little Ark of Kilbaha -which if it is true, it must have created quite a blast- and The Woman Who Was Knitting. The last one reminded me of grandmother who used to say that noone should talk to a woman while she was knitting, because all the good wishes that were being woven with every movement of the needles would be disturbed. I suspect the real reason is quite a bit more practical, but anyway...

Ruth Marshall writes as if she's narrating each story to every reader, in a personal and quirky language and provides the sources of many tales, along with a handy pronunciation guide.

So, this one is highly entertaining and highly recommended. Next stop, Wicklow, the Garden of Ireland, and one of my most favourite places in the world.