Irish Folk Tales of Coast and Sea

Irish Folk Tales of Coast and Sea gathers 44 tales from Ireland’s coastline, representing 19 coastal counties and drawing on maritime folklore, myth, legend and selected historical records. The stories range from accounts of ghosts, witches, shipwrecks and drownings to older traditions associated with sea creatures and otherworldly beings.

Colin Urwin, a storyteller from the Glens of Antrim, reworks each tale in literary form and supplies a short introduction explaining its background or source. The collection includes stories reaching back over 100 years, material first recorded by medieval monks, and traditions believed to preserve much older roots. Among the featured tales is Fearghus mac Léti and the Muirdris, concerning a chieftain’s encounter with a terrifying sea monster.