Storytelling on the Northern Irish Border: Characters and Community

by Ray Cashman

More than quaint local color, folklore is a crucial part of life in Aghyaran, a mixed Catholic-Protestant border community in Northern Ireland. Neighbors socialize during wakes and ceilis―informal nighttime gatherings―without regard to religious, ethnic, or political affiliation. The witty, sometimes raucous stories swapped on these occasions offer a window into Aghyaran residents’ views of self and other in the wake of decades of violent conflict. Through anecdotes about local characters, participants explore the nature of community and identity in ways that transcend Catholic or Protestant sectarian histories. Ray Cashman analyzes local character anecdotes in detail and argues that while politicians may take credit for the peace process in Northern Ireland, no political progress would be possible without ordinary people using shared resources of storytelling and socializing to imagine and maintain community.

320 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2008

Reviews

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved how Cashman was able to combine anthropological, historical, AND literary theory in his book in order to get the most complete folkloric study he could. I hope more books are written like this in the future!

[Caden · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yuck. Took me far too long to get through. Found it to be very slow and repetitive. Had to read for class. Absolutely the worst book I've read.