A river demon, a copyright-violating monk, a giant serpent, a shape-shifting male drudge and a nasty teacher transformed into a pig are just some of the cast members of these engaging Ulster place-lore stories. The Cattle Raid of Cooley is told from an original angle: the brown bull's misguided and arrogant perspective. Feisty girl and boy characters add further appeal for young readers. The spare narrative style redolent of Sinead de Valera is complemented by the richly detailed and occasionally eerie illustrations by Conor Busuttil
* Children's Books Ireland *
Will captivate ... a fine introduction to Irish storytelling
* Ireland's Own *
A beautiful book ... perfect for Christmas
* BBC Radio Ulster's John Toal Show *
Legends from each of the nine counties of Ulster see the fire breathing dragon Paiste, the red hand of Ulster, and river demon of Fermanagh animated by Conor Busuttil's rich illustrations
* Evening Echo *
This is a delightful collection of fairytales and legends from every corner of Ulster. Each story succeeds in capturing the imagination of the reader and transporting them to another land; a land where magic is at its centre. Each story is so well written and rich in vocabulary. These stories provide for endless discussion in the classroom and can be explored across the curriculum from literacy and history to the visual arts. The book is beautifully illustrated with bright, vivid and detailed imagery that enable the reader to paint a picture of each story in our minds. Each legend and fairytale in the book take us on a journey where we meet many different characters from the Horseman of Aileach to Maeve MacQuillan. Many themes are explored in this book from bravery to friendship and love. We take something different with us from each story. I think that every school library should have a book like this, so rich in heritage and culture. I would recommend it from 3rd class onwards although it is certainly a book to be adored by both young and old.
Terri O'Donovan, Co Donegal
* InTouch Magazine *
