Publisher's Synopsis
This was more a book of Faerie Tales than one of Fairy Tales--instead of Cinderella-like maidens being rescued by princes and aided by fairy godmothers, there are the shi of Faery who mingle with the humans for mischief and pleasure, although often the humans manage both of those quite well on their own.
Most of the tales deal with Fionn the son of Uail, and his life and times. They are well-written and witty, and captured my attention.
The first story, though. The first story was boring, uninteresting and had nothing to do with Fionn (although I admit I had no idea who he was when I read it). It was about Tuan, the son of Cairill and how he started as one of Noahs grandsons, and then after achieving old age, managed to be reborn as every notable creature that inhabits Ireland. It was...not a great start to this otherwise wonderful book, and I was expecting the worst after reading it, so I was very pleasantly surprised to find that the rest of the stories were actually interesting.
Stories included are: The Story of Tuan mac Cairill
The Boyhood of Fionn
The Birth of Bran
Oisins Mother
The Wooing of Becfola
The Little Brawl at Allen
THe Enchanted Cave of Cesh Corran
Becuma of the White Skin
Mongans Frenzy (which has VENOMOUS SHEEP in it)
