Antrim Folk Tales

Folk Tales

by Billy Teare, Kathleen O'Sullivan

County Antrim, home to the Giant’s Causeway, has a rich heritage of myths and legends which is uniquely captured in this collection of traditional tales from across the county. Featured here are stories of well-known figures from Irish folklore, including Conal Cearnach, with his association to Dunseverick Castle, and Deirdre of the Sorrows, whose mournful plight is linked to the rock at Ballycastle, known as Carraig Usnach. Here you will also find tales of lesser-known Antrim characters such as the heroic outlaw Naoise O’Haughan and local lad Cosh-a-Day, along with fantastical accounts of mythical creatures, including the mermaid of Portmuck, the banshee of Shane’s Castle, and the ghostly goings-on in Belfast.These stories bring to life the county’s varied landscape, from its lofty mountains to its fertile lowlands and dramatic coastline.

192 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2013

Reviews

[Ricard · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's nice to get to know better a place you've visited, in a way is like going back but with more awareness. I liked the short stories related to Irish mythology, and I enjoy reading about more recent local history and their characters. The only negative point is that I particularly don't like so much ghost stories, and there were too many for my taste, at the end.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this eclectic collection of stories, made even more fascinating by the author's inclusion of narrative snippets, local lore and details of the Antrim landscape. I encountered everything from witchcraft, ghosts, faery, mermaids, ancient Kings and Queens and even recipes. It's true; some tales link to places further afield than Antrim, including Scotland. My family (grandparents and great-grandparents), who were weavers and tenant farmers from Ahoghill (Ballynafie), were always spread between Antrim in Ireland and Ayrshire in Scotland, so I didn't find it unusual that a collection of Antrim tales would include Scottish characters and references. This collection of stories has made me yearn even more to see Antrim's coasts and glens one day. As a collection, it's given me a glimpse into the folk stories of a corner of the world unknown to me and brought it nearer. If I get there, I'll be sure to go with my mother's blessing, a chicken and a small bannock, a piece of sparbled fadge and a blessing for your cows.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Antrim Folk Tales contains some Antrim folk tales but it also contains many, many things that are not Antrim folk tales. These include but are not limited to: Irish Myths and Legends, Belfast murders, stories of peculiar people, etc. Disappointing.