Book Review: Irish Gothic Fairy Stories by Steve Lally and Paula Flynn Lally*

If you thought fairies were the loveable, helpful, dainty creatures that appear in Disney movies – think again. In Irish Gothic Fairy Stories authors Steve Lally and Paula Flynn Lally turn the stereotype completely upside down and inside out. They reveal that fairies are far from the sweet and innocent creatures most of us have read about in books and seen on screens.

In Ireland, the ‘Sidhe’ are an ancient and magical race. They’re referred to as the good folk, the wee folk, the gentle people and the fey, but are most commonly known as: ‘the fairies.

But unlike the whimsical fairies of Victorian and Edwardian picture books, these creatures are feared and revered in equal measure, and even in the 21st century are spoken of in hushed tones.

Storyteller Steve Lally and his wife, singer-songwriter Paula Flynn Lally, have compiled this collection of stories from every county in Ireland. Illustrated by Steve and also by James Patrick Ryan, the 224-page book gives a fascinating insight into the magical world of Irish fairies.

What we thought of the book

I grew up watching such Disney classics as Cinderella (with the Fairy Godmother) and Sleeping Beauty (with the three ‘good fairies’). But later I became more interested in the darker tales of the Brothers Grimm.

Like Grimms’ Fairy Tales, Irish Gothic Fairy Stories reveals the more sinister side of folklore. Through this engrossing and fascinating book I now know that you should never accept food or drink from a fairy – unless, that is, you want to be abducted and taken away to their world.

I’ve also learned what to do should I find myself lost in a fairy fort, field or ring. The rescue plan, according to Steve and Paula, involves taking my right shoe off and putting it on my left foot, then doing the same with my other shoe. I should also take my coat off and put it on inside out, then turn around three times. This strange behaviour, apparently, will protect me from the fairies because they ‘fear madness’.

The stories feature leprechauns, banshees, giants and changelings, to name just a few. There are also fairy kings and queens, and ‘pooka’ horses.

Each chapter is introduced by a short background on the area where the tales originated from and who they came from. In fact, it’s not simply a collection of stories, because the book also gives a glimpse into Ireland’s rich history and the events that have shaped the land and its people.

The stories have a common thread: that we should fear and respect the fairies. However, some good does result from their mischievous and often menacing behaviour. For instance, their actions have turned lazy folk into hardworking individuals.

The quality illustrations add to the magic of the collection, which is ideal for dipping in and out of, or even for reading aloud to friends or family by candlelight on a cold winter’s evening.

How much is the book and how can you buy it

Irish Gothic Fairy Stories is available as a hardback for £17.99 and also from the iBookstore for £6.99 (available on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac). Find out more here.

About the authors

Paula Flynn Lally grew up in Forkhill, County Armagh. She is a singer-songwriter who had a hit with David Bowie’s Let’s Dance. She appreciates the darkness and the light, and she believes in the fairies.

Steve Lally was born in Sligo and later moved to Dublin, before settling in Rathcoffey, County Kildare. Steve is an international storyteller and successful writer who has already written and illustrated three books on folklore. Like Paula, he appreciates the darkness and the light, and he too has great respect for the ‘good people’.

About the book
Title: Irish Gothic Fairy Stories
Publisher: The History Press
ISBN: 9780750986984
Pages: 224

Review by: Colette Warbrook.

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* We were given a copy of the book in return for a feature. All opinions are our own.