Tales from Old Ireland
Malachy Doyle's Tales from Old Ireland is a fascinating collection, greatly enhanced by the illustrations of Niamh Shakey. The collection of seven stories includes "The Children of Lir," one of the most well known and loved Irish folktales, "Fair, Brown, and Trembling," an Irish Cinderella story," and "The Twelve Wild Geese," a fairy tale about family love and loyalty. Some of the tales are unsettling, some are sad, some have satisfying conclusions; all have a depth missing in many modern retellings.The illustrations, while at first glance deceptively simple, are sophisticated in color and design. Shakey, an award winning artist, used oil and gesso on canvas to produce the distinctive artwork. Tales from Old Ireland was designed to be read aloud. Don't expect leprechauns and pots of gold here. These stories are more reminiscent of the brothers Grimm. They will particularly appeal to children eight to twelve, although younger children will also enjoy them.
The author has included several helpful resources. There is a pronunciation key at the beginning of the book and a fascinating Sources page at the end. There, Doyle provides information on the history of the tales, including when and where they first appeared in print. Tales from Old Ireland was first published by Barefoot Books in 2000. The latest edition, with companion CDs, was published in 2008.
