Old Days, Old Ways: An Illustrated Folk History of Ireland

By Olive Sharkey

Book Overview

Olive Sharkey is the daughter of farmers in the midlands of Ireland. 'I belong to a family which was the last in our district to relinquish the old ways on the land and in the home, ' she says. Her research brought her to folk museums throughout Ireland and 'into the homes of fascinating elderly folk with surprisingly clear memories.' The daily and seasonal rhythms of life and work 'in the ould days' is recaptured, from building the house and turning the sod for a new crop, to saving the hay and burying the dead.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0815602189
• ISBN13: 9780815602187
• Release Date: September 1987
• Publisher: Syracuse University Press
• Length: 178 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.9" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Absorbing and fascinating

This is a wonderfully written commentary on many aspects of rural Irish life in the recent past - when my grandparents and great-grandparents lived like this. There are a multitude of good drawings, interesting to learn about and/or compare with American implements. It's easy to pick up again after a hiatus, or easy to read right through. The author draws on her own family's experiences and acquaintances to illumine her narrative. I'm so glad I stumbled on this little volume!