Irish folk ways

by E. Estyn Evans

A work of great charm, in the field of social history, based on extensive fieldwork and fully documented. The author draws parallels between the folkways of Ireland and those of other parts of Western Europe and more distant parts of the world.He has not contented himself with descriptions of rural tools and customs but has been concerned to trace their origins and to bridge the centuries between the prehistoric past and the living scene which the visitor will find in many corners of Ireland. He has illustrated his book with nearly one hundred line drawings, most of them from sketches made in the field, which record regional variations and suggest, where possible, evolutionary sequences.

Genres: Ireland, History, Research, Paganism, Nonfiction, Irish Literature

324 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1967

Reviews

[Amanda B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A detailed look at everyday life in pre-famine Ireland, everything from butter churns to fishing lures, marriage customs to peat-cutting methods. Highly recommended not just for fans of Irish history but for writers interested in world-building--this is a great overview of a specific system, how it evolved, and how everything worked together. I guarantee it will make you question the mechanics of your created fantasy world and desire to improve it and make it feel more probable/functional.

[Anthony Buckley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an extraordinary tour de force. Old fashioned certainly, in that it adopts a survivalist, even Darwinian approach, but a classic study based on a deep understanding of the Irish countryside and people.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was probably reading this for at least a year. It’s not really a book you read all in one go. It’s also not something I’d necessarily recommend unless you have a particular interest in the topic for a specific reason. If you’re just casually interested, I think you will be overwhelmed by the level of detail this goes into describing things like farming and fishing tools and similar topics like that haha. But if you’re using the book for research, it’s very useful.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book on the customs and beliefs of the past.