Classic Irish Stories

by Michael P. Quinlin (Editor)

This uncommon collection offers twenty hidden gems from Ireland's past, shedding new light on the illustrious literary history of the Irish at home and abroad. Readers can explore what it means to be Irish through the words of not just the famous authors but also the lesser-known ones, who are often difficult to find in anthologies and deserve wider publication. Writers include Oscar Wilde, who recounts his famous trip across America in 1882, playwright and humorist John Brougham, and essayist and poet Mary Boyle O'Reilly. The book also includes some of Ireland's famous legends and stories translated from ancient Irish texts.

Genres: Ireland, Irish Literature, Short Stories, Fiction

229 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Cheryl]

Oy, the unfinished pile. It's not that these aren't good stories. Rather, someone should have warned me about the eclectic mix of this collection. I mean sure, I like Liam O'Flaherty's "Spring Stories," but pardon my insistence, dear editor, when I disagree that it is "a meditation on…the unforgiving environment of Ireland." Its mood and flow feels like a magical tale of new love and the farming lifestyle: the love of the land, the value of hard work. It embodies the value of land as an Irish theme, yes, but to say--oh well, moving along. Bram Stoker may have written one of the most popular books out there, but his story was my least favorite. And oh, William Butler Yeats, I liked your "Village Ghosts"and the magical realism of it but I didn't love it. I get the feeling that had this been a collection of magical stories or similarly-themed stories, they would have fared better for the reader because once you prepare to read a short story collection, you expect something else that is not this. So until I am really familiar with Irish storytelling to understand why this collection baffles me, I will save my rating and the rest of my reading.

[Dhwani · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was under the impression that this would be a collection of classics and myths--the kind of stories you've heard of and always meant to read. Instead, it was a haphazardly chosen set of stories with no real connection between them. Most of the stories weren't even that good. Also, I'm not even sure how the question of "Irish" stories or even "Irish" writers was determined: the author did not go into that at all nor did he lay the context for some of the predominant themes and ideas.

A few stories were enjoyable to read, such as "The Irishman Abroad" by George A. Birmingham, "O'Reilly's Great Escape" by Alexander Young, "A Rich Woman" by Katharine Tynan, and "The Red Pony" by William Larminie, but overall, as a collection, it was a struggle to read.

It's a shame because this was a great opportunity to showcase Irish literature. Instead, it fell flat and made me confused about who can be called an Irish writer.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a collection of stories from some well-known writers and some less-known ones. Each story had an Irish theme (hence the title I'm sure). There were some well-known authors such as Arthur Conan Doyle and Bram Stoker.

It's the usual compilation of stories - some good and some bad. There were sad stories about the rent coming due and tenants not being able to pay. There were fantasy stories about a man playing music so well that a mermaid comes to try and marry him. And there were non-fiction stories about good old Ireland.

I disliked more stories then I liked which is why I gave it the lower rating. However, there are good stories and it's a fast read.

[Pat Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some famous and some not so famous Irish authors contributed to this collection. Has some pretty good examples of Irish biting wit in it.

[Molly · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book had been in my To Read pile for quite a while but was a dismal start to my 2020 reading. Most of the stories are older and written, not so much by Irish, as by Anglo Irish writers. Many had that old English settler attitude of condescension towards the 'peasants' and indulgence of their foibles. But modern Irish writers are having the last laugh, in English no less!

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful survey/introduction to Irish Literature.

[Edwina Book Anaconda · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were a few gems scattered throughout this book, but it wasn't really worth wading through all of the tedious ones to find them.

Take a pass on this one, you won't really be missing much.

[Riley Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

These stories were fairly good and short. This is a good gift if you have someone in your life who is obsessed with Ireland and books.

“Classic” may be a bit of a stretch, but I still enjoyed it.

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am currently really not enjoying this book. It does not really paint the Irish in a very good light. I'm only four stories into it and am going to keep reading since they are stories by different authors, some might be better than the first four. Usually if they stink, it's due to a poor editor. We'll see.

As per the stories in this book, the Irish are cheerfully violent to the point of killing others, poor, ignorant, cursed, superstitious of both religion and the "wee" people and just completely unpleasant to be around.

This book is horrible. I could not finish it. I used to finish short story books, no matter how bad the stories were, because the stories were all by different people, so they can't ALL be equally bad. I have since learned that if the editor doesn't know good literature, then the book will be bad the entire way through, so I no longer read the entire thing and no longer feel badly about it.

This book was horrible and very negative towards the Irish. Steer clear.

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read lots of Irish stories, but these were just not my favorites. They all seemed really gloomy, not at all what I think of when I think Irish stories. Although I realize many of the Irish folk tales did not have especially happy endings, most were a little more upbeat than the stories in this book.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little slow until I got to "The Irishman Abroad," by George A. Birmingham, 1914. I thoroughly enjoyed those stories that were more non-fictional, providing neat little snapshots into everyday Irish life, at home and abroad. A charming little book, this is.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a somewhat hard time getting through this book but ended up liking it more than I thought I would. My favorite story was more of an essay about how the Irish helped others win battles but struggled to win their own battles in their own land against the English.

[Claire S]

Read one or two so far.. Good..

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Timely reading of classic Irish legends and stories.

[Fran Hemingway-large · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Tis a dam sight asier t ree-ad iv ye folks are Irish. Twas a divvle of a job f'r a lass frim th' USA.

[April · Rating 2 out of 5]

This seemed so neat in theory but some of the short stories were so hard to get through!

[Mona M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection of short stories; some I thought better than others, but all were good.

[Ruth Dahl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of the stories were ok, but for the most part were confusing or straight up weird, and not in the usual whimsical Irish folklore way.
Pity, I really wanted to like these