Éamon Kelly, actor, seanchaí and writer, was born near Rathmore in County Kerry in 1914. He had a varied and successful career as an actor, performing in the plays of Brian Friel, Tom Murphy and Sebastian Barry, among others. He published two volumes of memoirs, The Apprentice (1995) and The Journeyman (1998).

• IntroductionBeyond the HorizonGoing to AmericaThe Gobán SaorGoing to the TrainPegg the DamselShrovetimeMick the Fiddler Comes HomeKilling the PigAfter HoursTobaccoLove and MarriageThe HereafterThe First ChurchFather MacGillacuddyEoghan Rua and the PriestThe Priest and the PeopleConnor the CarmanThe Parish ClerkThe MissionCivil and StrangeA Quiet DrinkThe Poor SoulsThe Severe PenanceEoghan’s SchoolThe Golden BallThe Station HouseCon and BridgieThe Holy WellDoing the RoundsNell CaseyThe EffigyAbbey’s BowlA Ruminating AnimalThe MermaidMinding the HouseThe Season of LightThe Barefooted GanderThe Dear DepartedWashing the Cock’s FeetThe Cock and the CoopThe Blacksmith’s WifeIt Snowed That NightMay MorningDaniel O’Connell and the Colonel from BatterseaThe Biddy BoysMary O’Shea’s StoryThe Archdeacon, His Clerk and His CurateThe King of the LiesThe JennetSpiorad an TobacClever DogsThe Woman That Went to HellTóg Bog É!The GolaunsDean Swift and His Serving ManI am a Young FellowEoghan Rua Ó Súilleabháin Finds an English-speaking Son-in-law for a Wealthy FarmerThe Man That Never SleptThe Hiring FairsThe Young Woman’s DenialTwo Fierce LiesSmall Michael and the MajorThe BicycleThe Singapore PolicemanPaddenThe Cat and the SplinterThe Tay-ManThe Connachtman’s StoryFilling the FirkinsThe Apprenticed DoctorGlossary of Irish (and Hiberno-English) Words and PhrasesGlossary of Irish SentencesAbout the AuthorAbout the Publisher