What is so wonderful about the Irish folks is their love for a good story. The type of stories that take a person to another place, another time and it's totally magical. Frank Delaney penned the tome Ireland which features a storyteller who tells three tales and is soon banished because the audience is not enthralled and amused with his tales. However, young lad Ronan is not only enthralled and amused, he finds that this is his calling. Ronan follows in the footsteps of the storyteller and carries on the time honored Irish tradition of spinning a good yarn. It is without a doubt that Irish authors have honed their skills through the very tradition that Delaney writes about. Which brings about the observation that the folklore of Ireland gives a glimpse into the heart and soul of the country and its people.
For starters, the tales always take place a time long ago, in some faraway countryside where it's always greener than green and breathtakingly beautiful. Who are these storytellers kidding? It may have been long ago but the countryside they speak of has to be Ireland. Where else could it be? To be fair, there could be one small corner of Ireland that has not yet been explored and deep down in the lush green grass there may live tiny creatures that are magical and marvelous. But the keen reader knows this magical placed could be nowhere else in the world but Ireland.
It seems that every Irish Folklore has wonderful yet pesky little creatures called Leprechauns. Every St. Patrick's day, these characters re-emerge with sneaky grins, green hats and black shoes. Always bright red hair is seen peeking out of the hats . Legend has it is very lucky to run into these Leprechauns but they also warn that they can be quite deceiving as well. Why shouldn't they be? After all, every time a mere mortal finds them they must turn over their pot of gold. To be honest, that's not a fair deal for the leprechaun, is it?
An Irish folktale is hardly ever complete without a hero or heroine who is down on their luck, poor as poor can be and more often than not, laziest person in the village. They may even be the outcast of the village. This is not to say they are bad folks. They just don't have food on the table or a fiddle to play for the King. In other words, they may be outcasts because they can't get their act together. Regardless of their state in life, the reader can not help but root for the beloved impoverished hero/heroine and hopes that things turn out for the best. Of course, they always do and there is a happily ever after for all involved.
Three is the magic number. In all folktales, not just in Irish tales, turn of events evolve around three attempts to complete a task or test. If these hero or heroine's are going to change their luck it's going to take them a little sweat equity to earn their pot of gold. Once the tasks has been completed the tale comes to it's ultimate completion. Lessons have been learned. Rewards have been earned. Everyone, mortals and magical creatures alike, are very happy.
This leads us back to what the folktales tell us about the people of Ireland. They are proud, and rightly so, of their beautiful lush green land which has earned them the moniker, The Emerald Isle. Their tales are always filled with warmth, humor and a poke at human nature. Yet, when all is said and done it is understood that one might be poor, lazy or unlucky, one still has to do something to earn their keep. The storytelling spirit is alive and well in Ireland today and may it remain to be that way for a thousand more years. On St. Patty Day. always remember this : Be they Kings, or poets or farmers, They're people of great worth, they keep company with the angels and bring a bit of heaven here to earth." Ah yes, the Irish good folks with their lively tales can usher in a bit of heaven for those who dream of a paradise where there is no end in stories or books. Happy St. Patty's Day to one and all.
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