North of Ireland Folk Tales for Children

North of Ireland Folk Tales for Children is a collection of strange, wonderful, and irreverently told tales from Doreen McBride, not for the faint of heart or adults.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 176 pages
\n Publication date: 13 March 2019
\n Publisher: The History Press Ltd
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North of Ireland Folk Tales for Children is a rich tapestry of mermaids, pishogues, haunted dolmens, ghosts, rude Celts, and bloodthirsty warriors. This captivating collection, curated by award-winning storyteller Doreen McBride, offers a delightful blend of weird, wonderful, and irreverently told tales that are sure to captivate the hearts of young readers. However, it is important to note that this book is not intended for the faint of heart, and is certainly not appropriate for adults.

Within the pages of North of Ireland Folk Tales for Children, a spider plays a peculiar role that sets the course of history in motion. According to the tale, a young girl named Bridget was tending to her family's cows when she stumbled upon a spider web. Intrigued by its intricate design, she decided to unravel it. To her surprise, the spider emerged from its hiding place and begged for her help.

The spider revealed that it had been cursed by a wicked witch and was unable to spin its web properly. Bridget, feeling sorry for the spider, decided to assist it in breaking the curse. She took the spider to a nearby stream and washed it in the water, hoping that the curse would be lifted.

To her amazement, the curse was indeed broken, and the spider was able to spin its web with ease. The spider thanked Bridget for her kindness and promised to repay her in the future. Little did Bridget know that her act of kindness would have far-reaching consequences.

Years later, a group of soldiers was passing through the area on their way to battle. They were tired and hungry, and their supplies were running low. As they searched for food, they stumbled upon a small cottage. Inside, they found a lonely old woman who was willing to share her food with them.

The soldiers were grateful for the woman's hospitality and decided to stay for a while. However, they soon realized that something was amiss. The woman seemed to be possessed by an evil spirit, and she was using her powers to harm the soldiers.

One night, as the soldiers were sleeping, the woman attacked them. She threw knives and spears at them, and they fought back with all their might. However, the woman was too powerful, and the soldiers were defeated.

Just as it seemed that all was lost, the spider that Bridget had helped appeared. It spun a web around the woman and trapped her in it. The soldiers were able to defeat the woman and save themselves.

From that day forward, the soldiers knew that they had been saved by the spider that Bridget had helped. They thanked Bridget for her kindness and promised to tell her story to others. The spider, for its part, continued to spin its web and play a role in the lives of those around it.

Another tale in North of Ireland Folk Tales for Children involves a Celtic warrior named Cuchulainn. Cuchulainn was a fierce fighter who was known for his bravery and strength. He was also a skilled musician and poet, and he loved to spend his time wandering the countryside, playing his harp and composing poems.

One day, Cuchulainn was wandering through the countryside when he came across a group of men who were robbing a village. Cuchulainn was outraged by the men's actions and decided to take action. He fought with the men and defeated them, but not before they had caused much damage to the village.

The villagers were grateful to Cuchulainn for his bravery and thanked him for his help. However, they soon realized that Cuchulainn was not happy with what he had done. He felt guilty for the damage that he had caused and knew that he had to make amends.

Cuchulainn decided to travel to the underworld and seek the help of the goddess Macha. Macha was known for her wisdom and power, and she was able to help Cuchulainn find a way to make amends for his actions.

Macha told Cuchulainn that he had to perform a series of tasks to atone for his sins. The first task was to retrieve a magical spear that had been stolen from the underworld. The spear was guarded by a fearsome creature called the Bull of Cooley, and Cuchulainn knew that he would have to face it if he wanted to retrieve the spear.

Cuchulainn set out on his quest to retrieve the spear. He fought with the Bull of Cooley and defeated it, using his bravery and strength to overcome the creature. He then returned to the underworld and retrieved the spear.

The second task was to travel to the other side of the world and retrieve a magical cloak that had been stolen from a king. The cloak was guarded by a fierce dragon, and Cuchulainn knew that he would have to face it if he wanted to retrieve the cloak.

Cuchulainn set out on his quest to retrieve the cloak. He fought with the dragon and defeated it, using his bravery and strength to overcome the creature. He then returned to the other side of the world and retrieved the cloak.

The third task was to travel to the other side of the world and retrieve a magical horse that had been stolen from a king. The horse was guarded by a fierce giant, and Cuchulainn knew that he would have to face it if he wanted to retrieve the horse.

Cuchulainn set out on his quest to retrieve the horse. He fought with the giant and defeated it, using his bravery and strength to overcome the creature. He then returned to the other side of the world and retrieved the horse.

Finally, Cuchulainn returned to the village and made amends for his actions. He repaired the damage that he had caused to the village and promised to never hurt anyone again. The villagers were grateful to Cuchulainn for his bravery and his willingness to make amends, and they praised him as a hero.

In conclusion, North of Ireland Folk Tales for Children is a rich tapestry of stories that explore the weird, wonderful, and irreverent side of Irish folklore. The tales in this collection are not for the faint of heart, and they are certainly not appropriate for adults. However, they offer a glimpse into the rich and complex history of Ireland and the people who have lived there.

The spider's tale, for example, shows how a small act of kindness can have far-reaching consequences. Bridget's act of kindness to the spider helped break a curse that had been placed on it by a wicked witch, and the spider repaid her by saving the soldiers from an evil spirit. Cuchulainn's tale, on the other hand, shows how a Celtic warrior can make amends for his sins and become a hero to his people.

These tales are not just for children, but for anyone who loves to explore the world of folklore and mythology. They offer a glimpse into the rich and complex history of Ireland and the people who have lived there, and they are sure to captivate the hearts and minds of readers of all ages.

\n Weight: 200g\n
Dimension: 130 x 197 x 12 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780750988001\n \n