Story Ireland

irish short stories, essays, etc.

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Changes

From the middle of January this blog will be closing on WordPress, but will continue at a new address i.e. http://www.mystic-ireland.co.uk I will place all the old posts at this address and new posts will continue there, Please join me and take note of the web address, IT IS OPEN NOW!!!!!

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TWO BLACK EYES - New Book 6

TWO BLACK EYES – New Book 6

In years gone by the towns and districts of Ireland were under British administration and relied upon appointed Magistrates to dispense justice to those lawbreakers brought before the court system by local police. In the decades that Britain governed from Dublin most of the resident magistrates were retired officers from the British forces, who often had their own means of income and were part of…

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Books

I have removed my books from EBAY.uk for the moment. You will all be advised when and where they will be available at a later date. Sorry for any inconvenience, but send me a pm and I will get a copy to you.

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Nettles -New Book 5

Nettles -New Book 5

Seán Óg McVeigh was a tall man whose body was thin as that of a skeleton, and he would walk around the town in a long, heavy black coat, the hems of which trailed the ground. On his head he would wear a wide-brimmed hat that cast a shadow to hide his bright blue eyes. But in the area Seán Óg was a widely known and highly respected personage who was greeted with deference that would usually be…

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Fire - New Book 4

Fire – New Book 4

It was one of those nights when low-lying clouds virtually covered the sky, obscuring almost all the light from the moon, making the entire area dark and impenetrable. Then, in the blackness of the night, bright flames coloured red, orange, yellow, and gold stretched upwards to the sky giving light to the dark clouds as they slowly floated over the mountains, westwards. The source of those bright…

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Moving House.

My wife and I have bought a new house and moved in. That’s why you have not heard much from me for the past few weeks. But now that we are in our new home, which is deeper into the countryside and a neighbouring county the work shall begin. It might be slow at first, but we will get up to speed leading up to Christmas. To all you new followers a hearty “Cead Mile Failte”. I hope to hear from you…

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Tales of a Wake - New Book 3

Tales of a Wake – New Book 3

Seamus Curran was a popular businessman in the town and the news of his sudden death came as a terrible shock to everyone who knew him. From every corner of the town and outlying district people came to the house where his body was being waked to pay their respects to their friend and the family he had left behind. After first visiting Seamie lying in his coffin most of the mourners were crowded…

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Paul's Story - New Book 2

Paul’s Story – New Book 2

It was at Mick Harte’s funeral that I first met Paul Quinn, a popular and friendly man who was, before this occasion, a stranger to me. Paul, however, had been a very good friend to my Uncle Mick and he had, I was to discover, helped my father’s brother to avoid the full penalty of the law on many occasions. “Mick was your uncle?” he asked as we walked behind the black hearse. “Then, it was…

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Tony Cullen and the Gauger - New Book 1

Tony Cullen and the Gauger – New Book 1

Young Tony Cullen, if you have never heard of him, was descended from a long line of ‘Poteen-Makers’. It is not surprising then to learn that he was a young man who was filled with a practical wit, wisdom, cunning, and a fertile mind that would help him get out of many dangerous situations. His talents had been sharpened by the experiences of family created from generation to generation in…

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Irish Tales - A New Book

Irish Tales – A New Book

I am in the process of writing a new book and I am requesting the help of those who follow my blog. I will be putting the first draft of each story into the blog for each of you to read and review. It is important that you review each story constructively; Do you like it? Is it of interest? Does it contain humour? wish to know your honest, but constructive thoughts and not just that you thought…

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The Bride

An Irish Poem The bridal veil hangs o’er her brow; The ring of gold is on her finger; Her lips have breathed the marriage vow. Why should she at the altar linger? Why wears her gentle brow a shade? Why dim her eye, when doubt is over? Why does her slender form for aid Lean tremblingly upon her lover? Is it feeling of regret For solemn vows lately spoken ? fear, scarce own’d as…

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Tappers and Corner Boys - Chronicles 7

Tappers and Corner Boys – Chronicles 7

There are many things that were once part of everyday life in Ireland which have now disappeared. Some for the better and some, in all honesty, that have left a large sentimental hole in community life. One day last week I happened to be walking through my hometown when I met an old acquaintance of mine that I had not seen in many years. He was sitting on a wooden summer-seat outside the Church,…

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Poteen Making - Chronicles 6

Poteen Making – Chronicles 6

An Old Established Industry Vulgar legend has it that it was St. Patrick himself who first gave the Irish the wrinkle how to make poteen. A ribald rhymester of the last century hoped to perpetuate this foolish notion when be introduced it into a song which bad a pasting popularity and then followed its author into oblivion. That poteen-making, however, is a domestic industry of considerable…

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Medicine for Sick Greyhounds - Chronicles 5

Medicine for Sick Greyhounds – Chronicles 5

One damp Wednesday morning the local district court was entertained by the prosecution of a man for possession of fifteen gallons of poteen. His excuse for this was that the poteen was kept as medicine, which he would give to his greyhounds whenever they were taken ill. Nonetheless, he faced a second charge of harbouring it. The accused was a well-known local man called Patrick O’Brien. Justice…

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Busy Day at Court - Chronicles 4

Busy Day at Court – Chronicles 4

As one travels around the country you will undoubtedly discover that there are some district courts which are much busier than others, prosecuting a variety of cases including the production of Poitin. One such court was occupied by Judge Louis Walshe for several hours one day a few years ago, because there were so many cases of illicit distilling of Poitin brought before him for his judgment.…

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Battle for the Still - Chronicles 3

Battle for the Still – Chronicles 3

You could guarantee that at least once every month the wilder areas of South Armagh would get a visit from the Customs & Excise men, or ‘Gaugers’, as part of their efforts to seek out and remove all illicit Poteen Stills that were spread all over the area. They were not always successful in their searching, and, on many occasions, they would meet resistance from the poteen makers, especially if…

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Molly Maguire's Abduction - The Poitin Chronicles 2

Molly Maguire’s Abduction – The Poitin Chronicles 2

One evening Sergeant Brennan was manning the front desk of the police station when an obviously irate and breathless Jimmy Lennon burst through the main door. “In the name of Jesus!” exclaimed the Sergeant. “Hold on, Sergeant, ‘til I catch my breath,” panted Jimmy. “By God, man dear, I thought you were going to take that door off its hinges,” scolded Brennan. It took Jimmy a moment or two to…

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