An Irish Folklore Treasury: A selection of old stories, ways and wisdom from The Schools’ Collection

Born out of a project set up in the 1930s to protect Irish folklore, this mesmerising treasure trove of old tales and wisdom collected by schoolchildren all around Ireland offers unique insights into the country’s past.

In this people's history of Ireland, John Creedon introduces a fascinating collection of stories from the Schools' Collection. This treasure trove of old stories, ways and wisdom, which could have been lost for ever, was collected by schoolchildren as part of a nationwide project set up in the 1930s to preserve Irish folklore.

Published here for the first time, this 'best of' selection includes chapters on ghost stories, agriculture, forgotten trades, schooling and pastimes. The result is an incredible arc of folk history that tells us about ourselves and how we lived long ago.