Loretta A. Murphy

Dia dhuit (JEE-ah gwitch)! Hello!

You have arrived at the shanty door of the seanachai (SHAN-ukh-ee) or storyteller. Shanty means "old house" in Irish.

In Ireland, a story is called an sc`eal. The Irish are very famous for their stories. Much of Irish tradition, history, and culture has been passed down through the art of the story. Storytellers throughout Irish history have been well respected for their craft. They often would travel from village to village, receiving great welcome. It was an honor to have the seanachai stay at one's home and important to treat the visiting dignitary with great respect.

The storyteller was a source of news and messages but most importantly, a revered form of entertainment. Villagers, young and old, would often crowd together nightly in the home where the storyteller was lodging just to listen to his tales. When the story teller was finished his yarn, he would say "Sin an sce`al !"("That's the story!")...while his audience, should they wish for just one more story before the night was called to a close, might beg "Ar'is" ("Again, please") for an encore.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to this little corner of Ireland.  What part of my sc`eal here did you like best?

Kindly leave me a message in the guestbook below.  If you would like to contact me personally, click here .

All your comments and other feedback are treasured.

Tar ar ais, led` thoil  (tor err ash, led hell)! Please come again!

Loretta