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O'Farrell, Padraic

Padraic O’Farrell [1932–2003] was born in Kildare but lived with his family in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. His published books include Proverbs and Sayings: Gems of Irish Wisdom and Superstitions of the Irish Country People.

Irish Blessings Toasts & Curses The Irish have blessings, toasts and curses for every occasion: hearing the news of a death or marriage, consoling neighbours in sorrow or sharing their joy, looking for a husband or wife, going off to work, saving turf, or having a drink at the end of the day. Irish Blessings, Toasts and Curses €7.99

Irish Proverbs and Sayings Padraic O'Farrell gathered a rich harvest of wise sayings from the Irish countryside, the lips of great men – such as Shaw, Wilde, Synge and Swift – and the unspoilt fount of Irish folklore and legend. Whenever Irish people congregate, however long removed from a rural environment, gems of wisdom are to be heard in their conversation. This appealing new hardback edition will be popular with tourists and locals alike, who are looking for a pithy statement such as: * The wrath of God has nothing on the wrath of an Irishman outbid for land, a horse or a woman. * A hair on the head is worth two on the brush. * The family that has no skeleton in the cupboard has buried it instead. * Dead men tell no tales but there's many a thing learned in a wake-house. * Put an Irishman on a spit and you'll soon have two Irish men turning him. €7.99

Irish Superstitions Do you know why it is considered unlucky to meet a barefooted man? Start a journey on the tenth of November?

Get married on a Saturday?

Irish country people believed that fairies were always present among them and that around the next corner or in the very next clump of thistles there might well be somebody lurking who would lead them to the crock of gold at the end of the rainbow. Fairies were good to mortals who observed the superstitions, e.g. those which called for leaving them food, not throwing out water without first shouting a warning on them, and so on. Irish Superstitions is a quirky reflection of the Irish customs. Going to work, to sea, to weddings, wakes – at all of these there are fascinating customs to be observed.

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