It is currently Fri 29 Mar 2024 5:20 am

All times are UTC


Forum rules


Please click here to view the forum rules



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 5 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Mon 12 Nov 2018 10:52 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon 16 Nov 2015 1:36 pm
Posts: 123
Location: Brussels
I want to get some books of Irish mythology to read to my son, and it's quite a bit of work finding all the books available so I'll document it here in the hope it helps someone else. And if anyone knows a book I missed, do mention it. Thanks.

(I don't have these books, so I say "probably" and "might" because I'm trusting websites.)

The most useful books for learners are probably:

  • The six books in the "Fadó Irish Legend Series" from Red Stag Publishing. Irish on the left page, English on the right. Small books, 48 pages (20 for Irish, 20 for English, 8 of drawings). €7 or €8 each.
  • The box set "Fionn Mac Cumhaill Boscra" with four books and a CD of them being read by Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin. (Fun fact: "boscra" means "box set".) €24 or €30, depending on shop.

The golden medal for value might go to:

  • Laochas, by Séamus Ó Searcaigh, €5.50. 193 pages.

I've very little info about these from Leabhar Breac except that they're each 40 pages and €7.50:


I'm just after finding this "Nutshell" series too, some in Irish, some in English (despite having seemingly-Irish names):


And here's another book but I'm not sure what stories are in it:


And I found Scéalta le hinsint don ghealach (€12, 100 pages), which the author says has twelve stories that are rewrites of traditional stories from Ireland and abroad, which she has changed to make the female characters more central and more assertive.

There are other books, but they look like they're for teenagers or adults:


Anyone know of other such books for kids?

_________________
Pages I made:
(These are unfortunately offline for the near future, but they'll be back!)


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat 17 Nov 2018 4:42 pm 
Offline

Joined: Thu 01 Sep 2011 9:55 am
Posts: 2114
Location: 91 - France
I was waiting for someone else to reply to this. If I understand it correctly, your son is still quite young so I wouldn't have thought that books on Irish mythology would be particularly suitable for him. As I am sure that everyone here on the forum will know, Irish mythology is bloodthirsty, violent and brutal, not to mention that often the stories are complicated with endless numbers of warriors and events, and the language used isn't very simple either. There are books on this subject complete with very explicit illustrations that have been published in Irish that I could list, but they'd probably give him nightmares. For adult readers there are various books available, written and compiled by the specialists who try to make sense of it all. I could give a list of them if you like. You could always try looking at what's on the curriculum for junior infants or ask Saoirse.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat 17 Nov 2018 9:30 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Sun 28 Aug 2011 8:29 pm
Posts: 2982
franc 91 wrote:
As I am sure that everyone here on the forum will know, Irish mythology is bloodthirsty, violent and brutal


True. The original versions are like that, we studied some of them for the Leaving Cert. But there are sanitised versions for children too, with simple language, and nothing frightening. Kinda like what Hans Christian Anderson did with the Ghrimm tales.
Very young children like stories read to them even if they don't understand all of it.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat 17 Nov 2018 10:25 pm 
Offline

Joined: Thu 01 Sep 2011 9:55 am
Posts: 2114
Location: 91 - France
Well try this - Treasa Ní Ailpín adapted some of the Ladybird storybooks into Irish, but of course these stories are not taken from the Irish oral tradition and they're becoming difficult to find. Kenny's still have some in stock.

Na Trí Ghabhar Chliste

An Tornapa Mór Millteach

Na Trí Mhuicín

An Chircín Rua

An tSnáthaid Mhór have some storybooks for younger children, but although I like the illustrations by Andrew Whitson, Mac Rí Éireann for example wouldn't be suitable for them, nor would An Ceithearnach Caolriabhach by Darach Ó Scolaí.

You could try Scéalta Sí by Sinéad de Valera, translated by Diarmuid Ó Tuama (why wasn't it published in Irish in the first place?), Seoda ár Sinsear by Eddie Bheairtle Ó Conghaile and if you can get it Síobhraí na mBeann is na nGleann but these might be better for older children.

Aesop's Fables and Le Petit Prince are also available in Irish.

PS - The book I'm reading at the moment is 'In Search of the Irish Dreamtime -Archaeology and Early Irish Literature by J P Mallory - some parts of which are not for the faint-hearted.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun 18 Nov 2018 2:29 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon 16 Nov 2015 1:36 pm
Posts: 123
Location: Brussels
franc 91 wrote:
If I understand it correctly, your son is still quite young

Yes, 3 and a half. So I'm looking for kids versions. But a certain amount of blood and death are ok.

franc 91 wrote:
Na Trí Ghabhar Chliste

An Tornapa Mór Millteach

Na Trí Mhuicín

An Chircín Rua

We have all nine books from that series. We found An Píobaire Breac to be clearly the best, then Na Trí Mhuicín, then Cinnín Óir agus na Trí Bhéar. They're all pretty good, except An Lacha Bheag Ghránna. One negative point about those books is that there are sometimes very few words, which means I have to use my poor Irish to fill the gaps. But they're nice books anyway.

franc 91 wrote:
Scéalta Sí by Sinéad de Valera, translated by Diarmuid Ó Tuama

Oh, that looks nice. I found it on this online bookshop:

http://www.siopaancarn.com/books

franc 91 wrote:
Seoda ár Sinsear by Eddie Bheairtle Ó Conghaile

For a book with rhymes or poems, I'd have to look at it before buying.

franc 91 wrote:
Síobhraí na mBeann is na nGleann but these might be better for older children.

Haven't found this anywhere.

franc 91 wrote:
Aesop's Fables and Le Petit Prince are also available in Irish.

I have both but we haven't read them yet.

(Thanks for your many suggestions, here and in other threads!)

_________________
Pages I made:
(These are unfortunately offline for the near future, but they'll be back!)


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 5 posts ] 

All times are UTC


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot], Google [Bot] and 34 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group