Stories of Ireland

by Brian Friel, Unknown Author

A collection of delightful short stories from one of Ireland's greatest ever writers, Brian Friel

A fake! A quack! A charlatan! Get a grip on yourself, woman! We’ll say another rosary and then I’ll leave you home.’

Stories of Ireland is a brilliant, colourful compendium of mid-century Irish experience from one of Ireland’s greatest ever writers, Brian Friel. Demonstrating all of Friel’s peerless instinct for voice, scene, and the uncanny mystery found in the everyday, these tales tell of beauty, struggle and from the drowning of a man in the bog-black waters of Lough Keeragh, to the camaraderie of teenage potato gathers in County Tyrone, and from the careful work of the German War Graves Commission in Glenn na fuiseog, to trawlermen’s talk of sunken gold off the coast of Donegal.

Selected by Friel himself, and introduced by acclaimed author Louise Kennedy, this charming, heartful collection truly offers some of the best stories ever written.

'Some of the best stories ever written. They are everything short stories should be – deft, skilfully written, funny and quite often breathlessly sad' Edna O'Brien

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, 20th Century

Paperback

About the author

Brian Friel is a playwright and, more recently, director of his own works from Ireland who now resides in County Donegal.

Friel was born in Omagh County Tyrone, the son of Patrick "Paddy" Friel, a primary school teacher and later a borough councillor in Derry, and Mary McLoone, postmistress of Glenties, County Donegal (Ulf Dantanus provides the most detail regarding Friel's parents and grandparents, see Books below). He received his education at St. Columb's College in Derry and the seminary at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth (1945-48) from which he received his B.A., then he received his teacher's training at St. Mary's Training College in Belfast, 1949-50. He married Anne Morrison in 1954, with whom he has four daughters and one son; they remain married. From 1950 until 1960, he worked as a Maths teacher in the Derry primary and intermediate school system, until taking leave in 1960 to live off his savings and pursue a career as writer. In 1966, the Friels moved from 13 Malborough Street, Derry to Muff, County Donegal, eventually settling outside Greencastle, County Donegal.

He was appointed to the Irish Senate in 1987 and served through 1989. In 1989, BBC Radio launched a "Brian Friel Season", a series devoted a six-play season to his work, the first living playwright to be so distinguished. In 1999 (April-August), Friel's 70th birthday was celebrated in Dublin with the Friel Festival during which ten of his plays were staged or presented as dramatic readings throughout Dublin; in conjunction with the festival were a conference, National Library exhibition, film screenings, outreach programs, pre-show talks, and the launching of a special issue of The Irish University Review devoted to the playwright; in 1999, he also received a lifetime achievement award from the Irish Times.

On 22 January 2006 Friel was presented with a gold Torc by President Mary McAleese in recognition of the fact that the members of Aosdána have elected him a Saoi. Only five members of Aosdána can hold this honour at any one time and Friel joined fellow Saoithe Louis leBrocquy, Benedict Kiely (d. 2007), Seamus Heaney and Anthony Cronin. On acceptance of the gold Torc, Friel quipped, "I knew that being made a Saoi, really getting this award, is extreme unction; it is a final anointment--Aosdana's last rites."

In November 2008, Queen's University of Belfast announced its intention to build a new theatre complex and research center to be named The Brian Friel Theatre and Centre for Theatre Research.

Reviews

[Will Cafferky · Rating 5 out of 5]

very lovely, especially the ones about the fishermen and the chickens.

[Joy McClean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this immensely; particular favourites were ‘Mr Sing My Heart’s Delight’, ‘Among the Ruins’ and ‘The Saucer of Larks’ - each an ode to Ireland in their own way.

[Molly Cavanagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved dipping in and out of these

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Possibly my favourite collection of short stories I’ve read! But then, as a fan of Brian Friel’s dramas already, I knew I would enjoy these immensely. Friel has a real gift of setting the scene right from the outset, and drawing the reader it to its time and place. If only I’d read these by an open fire, in a cottage somewhere in Donegal or Tyrone!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

idk that any of these stories had a huge impact on me - but I really enjoyed the writing, and the way he was able to evoke the emotions of these moments of life, whether dramatic or seemingly mundane.

[eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

such warming simple stories about irish life, makes me nostalgic for things i’ve never experienced! favourites were the widowhood system and the saucer of larks

[Stian Koxvig · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean it is okay. Nothing really happens they are every day stories about people ni this beautiful country I love.

Two of the stories stand out tho. The Saucer of Larks is incredible and Brian Friel manage to capture a truly horrifying story without really saying why. His descriptions of the landscape manage to portray grief and war in a really unique way that stuck out

And The Diviner stands out as a satirical poke at rural superstition.

Friel is known as a playwright and I am sure these stories would be excellent on a stage as a drama club. as they feel like mini plays.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

3½ stars really.
Maybe the older collection The Saurcer of Larks is better: it contains 18 stories, 8 of which are contained in this newer collection. The stories left out of this one are not necessarily the weakest, and the five added here are not quite the best (they seem a little too explicit or pointed in their symbolism/message to me).

[Eibhlín · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The past did have meaning. It was neither reality nor dreams, neither today’s patchy oaks nor the great woods of his boyhood. It was simply continuance, life repeating itself and surviving.”

Brian Friel taught my grandad English at school, he sounded like a wonderful teacher who instilled a love of storytelling in my grandad.

[Paul K · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of short stories. Set mostly in the author’s beloved Donegal, Friel is a master at distilling the essence of people and place.
The writing is simple but beautiful, the stories captivating.

[Kronk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad.

[Angela Feraru · Rating 5 out of 5]

A regular re-read for sure!

[Aimée-Stephanie Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

These were such beautiful little windows into people’s lives. I really enjoyed A Man’s World, loved seeing the different direction the aunts could’ve taken.

[N B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection, there were many good stories but I think The Ginger Hero was my favourite of all

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not much variety but beautifully written.