WOMEN AND TRADITIONAL IRISH STORYTELLING

In the Irish countryside, one woman would host other women from their neighborhood so they could sit around and tell tales that range from local happenings to fairy lore. These stories were told in the Irish language, and performed in various ways. These close knit groups of women were highly selective, and they typically only performed for each other. These narrators told the tales with a strong emphasis, recounting complex tales. These performances allowed these women to share stories of personal narratives and share legends of local lore. This served as a form of entertainment and social circle for these women.