The Faerie Isle: Tales and Traditions of Ireland’s Forgotten Folklore

Quinn, Sine and Dermot Flynn, illustrator. The Faerie Isle: Tales and Traditions of Ireland’s Forgotten Folklore. 2025. 80p. ISBN 9781536240719.

The Faerie Isle unveils a captivating world of Irish folklore, introducing readers to fifteen extraordinary fae beings, ranging from mischievous leprechauns to powerful giants. The book warns of the enchanting yet perilous selkies, who dance ashore every ninth day, and the ill-omened sight of a mermaid combing her hair. It also cautions against the Charmer, whose seductive words can leave a person lovesick and heartbroken. These tales, inspired by the Irish National Folklore Collection, paint a vivid picture of a world where magic and danger intertwine.

Through dramatic illustrations and detailed descriptions of each fae's traits and origins, the book provides an illuminating glimpse into the lesser-known heroes and villains of Irish mythology. It serves as a treasured keepsake, offering a rich tapestry of stories that explore the complexities of the fae world. This collection not only entertains but also preserves the cultural heritage of Irish folklore, making it a valuable resource for anyone fascinated by the mystical creatures and their enduring influence.

How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe

Cahill, Thomas. How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe. 1996. 246p. ISBN 9780385418492.

Often maligned in popular culture, the Irish suffered through English colonization and the resulting oppression and disasters that followed. Despite their assumed lack of civilization, the Irish are responsible for saving Western civilization following the fall of Rome. Once an isolated backwater not conquered by the Roman Empire, the Christian monks that were kidnapped or that found refuge in Ireland brought with them the works of classical Greeks and Roman writers, and also preserved Jewish and early Christian writings. 

A confluence of events following the decline and fall of the Roman Empire brought chaos everywhere in Europe except in Ireland, where its remoteness allowed its culture to continue. A fairly egalitarian society, the Irish welcomed refugees who brought with them their own books and traditions. The aesthetic life of congregating in communities of learners saw the rise of monastic orders dedicated to the preservation of knowledge. Much of what we know of the writings of the antiquity survived through their efforts.

As states rose on the ruins of what the Romans had built and enough order was restored, monks began to travel from Ireland back to England and thence to continental Europe, bringing with them a renewed Christianity, along with knowledge that has vanished from the collective memory. Through the hard work and dedication of Irish monks, the heritage of Western Civilization was preserved and shared with a newly awakening world, rebuilding the foundation of a renewed civilization we still enjoy today!

Fans of history will love hearing about the tales of the unconquered Irish, what is known of Ireland before the arrival of the English, and how various male and female religious orders evolved and grew over two centuries of consequential changes. Without the Irish, our world would look very different indeed!

Viking

Margeson, Susan. Viking. 1994. 72p. ISBN 978-0-75566-1095-1. Available at 948 MAR on the library shelves.

Following the fall of the Roman Empire and the barbarian invasions from the East, Europe fragmented in a multitude of kingdoms and petty chiefdoms. Starting in the late 700s, however, a new wave of invaders swept through the continent, reaching as far south as Jerusalem and what is now Algeria, as far east as the Ural mountains, as far west as Newfoundland, and as far north as Iceland and Greenland. The Vikings, mighty seafarers, boarded their shallow bottom ships from Scandinavia and sailed across seas and up rivers in search of glory, plunder, and slaves. For three hundred years, Vikings ventured where they liked, spreading culture establishing trade routes, founding cities and finding new territories to colonize.

Scandinavia was rich in iron ore and timber, but poor in other resources, and the Vikings traded these for gold, silver, and other riches, but often attacked and looted towns and cities. Their religious views held that it was better to die in the glory of battle than to die an old man, and the Vikings took that to heart. Viking women ran the household and their farms while their husbands were away for war, keeping the local economy going. Eventually, Christianity spread to Scandinavia, and local myths and legends were adapted. Viking kings ruled all of Scandinavia, England, parts of France and Ireland.

Adept jewelers and artisans, the Vikings left a lasting impression on the world and passed into legend as a warlike people who contributed to the development of Europe.