A Field Guide To Irish Fairies

Bob Curran’s guide organises Irish fairy lore around individual beings and traditions, including the grogoch, Grey Man, sheerie, pooka, merrow, banshee, leprechaun and dullahan. It also considers changelings and lesser-known figures, presenting their reported characteristics alongside the customs and stories associated with them.

The entries connect fairy traditions with particular parts of Ireland, including north Antrim, Rathlin Island and Donegal, while discussing alleged habitats, histories and behaviour. Andrew Whitson’s illustrations accompany the text, giving the volume the appearance of a compact folkloric reference book. Together, the regional details and creature accounts show how varied Irish fairy belief can be across landscapes and communities.