The Celtic Breeze: Stories of the Otherworld from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales

by Heather McNeil

Delve into a world of kelpies, mermaids, selkies, ghosts, warlords, and fairies. This collection gives you Celtic tales, previously unrecorded or only found in obscure compilations. Mostly collected by the author on her ancestral home of the Isle of Barra in the Hebrides, these lesser-known tales from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales are supported by a brief history of the Celts, a glossary of the Gaelic integrated in the stories, an appendix of superstitions about fairy protection, and bibliographies that reflect the author's extensive research. Seventeen ballads collected almost one hundred years ago and excerpts from the author's journal of travels in Scotland make this book a unique and valuable resource for anyone who tells stories.

Genres: Folklore

214 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Rebecca L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so fascinating! I've read it twice now and will probably read it again which say's a lot for it because I hardly ever read books more than once! Such interesting stories of Celtic mythology that really give you food for thought and exciting ideas!

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy this book -- mostly because I'm a professional storyteller, and I'm especially interested in the oral storytelling in Celtic traditions. That's what the author offers. If you're looking for an extensive collection of folktales -- this is not it. It includes sixteen stories, all retold in a way that would make for good oral retelling. "Breeze" is apt. This is a breezy introduction to oral storytelling in Celtic lands. The book is attractively arranged, with black-and-white illustrations and Celtic-themed borders. Each story is introduced with details about where the author heard the tale, variants, history. And most of the tales are followed with a related folksong or two, including both words and music. This is not a compilation, but it is an experience.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heather MacNeil's "The Celtic Breeze" offers a popular, easily digestible introduction to Celtic folklore and mythology. In addition to 16 folktales (she has retold both old favorites such as "The Buried Moon" and "Binnorie" [which she retitles "The 2 Sisters"]) and newly reworked stories such as "The Baker and the Fairies", the book contains background material, ballads (with both words and music) and recommended readings. The book is published as part of Libraries Unlimited's World Folklore series, but differs from some of the other series entries in not being a collection of ready-to-tell tales for storytellers, but rather an accessible overture to Celtic history and folklore.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good collection of stories that I had not read before, though it was somewhat marred by the addition of Christian symbols to keep away Fairies. I can't understand that if you are going to write stories about Fairies why you would want to keep them away.

[Beka · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories are nice, and the book is very informative. It's actually about half stories and half information about the cultures and customs in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.

[Katharine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to the Mists of Avalon, I have been delving into my heritage via fun books of all types. This is a collection of 16, mostly Scottish folk stories, each with it's own introduction, illustration, and related songs. I wish the stories were more in depth, but they are very fun for a quick night-time read. Fun and quick - I wouldn't necessarily suggest anyone go out of their way to read it.

[Kayleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great short stories, but in my opinion they could be darker. Theres no such thing as too dark.