Doolin

by Eddie Stack

"I know of nobody better than Eddie Stack to write this book." Martin Hayes Doolin is a unique book about the place, its people and culture. Beautifully written, this collection of essays and conversations features local tradition-bearers who were renowned for their music, songs, dance and storytelling. Folk art and traditions run through the book, which has chapters on the music of the Russell Brothers and the Killougherys; reminiscences of the last Doolin native Irish speaker, Paddy Pharaic Mhichil Shannon; the storytelling tradition, with storytellers Stiofáin Uí Ealaoire, Seán Ó'Carún and others. Also featured are Botious MacClancy and Francis McNamara, local gentry who made Doolin famous in the 16th century and the 20th century. Doolin is illustrated with photographs, music, songs, maps and journal excerpts. It is an essential work for anyone wishing to know the background of this magical place Eddie Stack grew up in neighbouring Ennistymon, County Clare. He played music and collected tunes, folklore, songs and stories from Doolin tradition-bearers between 1969 and 1985. He is the author of four collections of short stories, a novel and three novellas. The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The Observer and other flagship publications have lauded his work their reviews. Eddie Stack teaches at the Celtic Studies Department, UC Berkeley, California

166 pages, Paperback

Published May 30, 2015

About the author

Eddie Stack has received several accolades for his fiction, including an American Small Press of the Year Award, a Top 100 Irish American Award and Caomhnú Award. Recognised as an outstanding short story writer, he is the author of four collections of short stories: The West, Out of the Blue, Quare Hawks and Borderlines. He has also published HEADS, a novel, and The Irish, a collection of three novellas.

His work has appeared in literary reviews and anthologies worldwide, including Fiction, Confrontation, Whispers & Shouts, Southwords, Criterion, State of the Art: Stories from New Irish Writers; Irish Christmas Stories, The Clare Anthology and Fiction in the Classroom.

Stephen Windwalker of Kindle Nation wrote this about ’Derramore‘, a story from The West:

"Let me just say this: I've read dozens of novels and stories that found some way to pay homage to James Joyce over the years, but frankly there have been few of them that convinced me they had any real claim on the reference. Not so with 'Derramore.' Turbo Tracy's forgeries may not involve the uncreated conscience of his race, but this story, more than any that I've read in decades, put me in touch again with the best of Dubliners and some of the vignettes of Portrait and Ulysses, so much so that, when I finished reading the story and found the blurbs from the Times Book Review and other journals, I actually felt they were understated".

A natural storyteller, Eddie has recorded spoken word versions of his work, with music by Irish Martin masters Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill. Mp3 audio stories are available on his website.
Eddie is currently working on a book about the culture and traditional arts of Doolin, County Clare. Slated for publication in 2014, it includes interviews and profiles of tradition bearers, features on storytelling, dancing as well as music and songs from Doolin. Readers will have access to a web site where they can listen to, and download, audio and video of the tradition bearers featured in the book.

Eddie Stack's books are available in print, and ebook format for Kindle, iPad, Nook and Kobo.