Vanishing Ireland

Taking readers back to an Ireland virtually unrecognizable to today's generation, this collection of stunning photographs and evocative interviews documents the dying ways and traditions of Irish life. Through their own words and memories, 64 men and women transport readers to a time when people lived off the land and the sea, music and storytelling were essential parts of life, and a person was defined by their trade. Divided into five parts—Children of the Field, Children of the Music, Children of the Horse, Children of the Trade, and Children of the Water—this collection brings together the stories of those who lived through Ireland’s formative years. We hear of children harassed by the Black and Tans, céilís in kitchens, the rigors of working in the fields, the wonder of electricity, and the devastation of emigration. From coalminers to saddlers, farmers to fishermen, along with horse dealers, publicans, housemaids, and musicians, these remarkably poignant interviews and photographs, in their simplicity and honesty, will make readers laugh and cry but, above all, will provide a valuable chronicle that connects the 21st century Irish to a rapidly disappearing world.