The Devil Is an Irishman

The Devil Is an Irishman gathers four Irish stories about encounters with the Devil, drawing on a tradition in which infernal figures appear amid ordinary rural life. Eddie Lenihan’s collection includes “Larry and the Devil”, “Jack o’ the Lantern” and a story involving Seán Ó Duinnín, alongside references to places including County Clare and Galway.

The tales range from encounters involving drink, cards and village conversation to contests of wit, nerve and religious conviction. An introduction places the stories within Irish storytelling tradition, while a glossary explains words and names that may be unfamiliar outside Ireland. The result is a compact collection of folkloric Devil narratives, shaped by local speech, belief and dark humour.