An Irish Folklore Treasury

By John Creedon

A People’s History of Ireland — Stories, Wisdom and Wonder from the Schools’ Collection

In this captivating celebration of Irish heritage, broadcaster John Creedon gathers a remarkable collection of tales, memories and traditions from the Irish Folklore Commission’s Schools’ Collection — one of the great cultural treasures of the 20th century.

In the 1930s, thousands of Irish schoolchildren set out to record the stories of their parents and grandparents — from ghostly legends and farming customs to long-forgotten trades, cures, and childhood games. These handwritten accounts, preserved for generations, capture a living portrait of rural Ireland and the voices of the people who shaped it.

Published here for the first time, Creedon’s carefully curated selection reveals the humour, hardship, and humanity of our shared past — an intimate window into how ordinary Irish people lived, worked, played, and believed.

Both a love letter to Ireland’s storytelling tradition and a time capsule of folk wisdom, An Irish Folklore Treasury invites readers to rediscover the richness of Irish life and imagination.

Why You’ll Love It

• A beautifully told collection of real stories from 1930s Ireland

• Drawn from the National Folklore Collection’s Schools’ Collection

• Explores ghost stories, old cures, crafts, farming, and traditions

• Richly nostalgic and deeply human — perfect for folklore lovers