Long ago in Ireland, few people could read and write. The ordinary people got their news from other people and learning from those who learned it from others who in turn heard it from someone else. Obviously this verbal method led to many errors and lapses of memory. But in time accurate verbal rendition became essential and those with good memory as well as the ability to tell the story in an entertaining way became welcomed wherever they traveled. Many took to this new professional, traveling around the land, spreading the news through their storytelling and having a good time. They were called Seanchai, pronounced "Shanakey".
In fact, the oldest known epic poem found in Europe is Irish. Around 400 AD, writing came to Ireland and many of their stories came to be written down for the first time. These stories were soon put to music and bards traveled around the countryside literally and figuratively singing for their supper. Soon many nobles had their own in-house bards. By the 1600's Irish bards were specializing in different branches of the art such as bard, storyteller or poet. By the 1800's the divisions had disappeared and the traveling storyteller came on the scene.
The Irish have developed a "gift of the gab", a delight in parody, satire and the grotesque and a unique sense of humor that is still extent today. Wherever you go in Ireland, you will encounter a storyteller who will entertain you with legends, history and tall tales told in the special Irish lilt that is so endearing and entertaining. Ireland, for good reason, is known as the land of storytellers.
Perhaps some day, I will get to visit Ireland and, maybe, just maybe, with the "luck of the Irish", I may recall those magical stories told my Irish Gramma and be able to tell them to my grandson, Cassidy.
Go To Page: 1 2
