A weaver's memories....

[Ialtog]

I came across an unusual book at my library the other day, and thought I would share it with you all as it seems to be not very well known or highly circulated. The title is "The Last of the Name", edited by Brian Friel. It is a very slim book (just over 100 pages) and is composed of the collected reminiscences of a gentleman named Charles McGlinchey. He was a weaver by trade and lived in a tiny village in County Donegal his entire life (1861 to 1954). This isn't a book about Irish history or politics, but rather an interesting attempt to transpose beautiful oral stories to a literary form. McGlinchey left his village only two times in his life, and doesn't even bother recounting those tales. Instead he weaves together his memories of rural life in northwestern Ireland into a form that almost approaches a song to me. If anyone is interested in day-to-day life and the fascinating stories that arise in a normal lifetime, you might want to check your library and see if they have a copy. Sorry, but so far I haven't run across any references to kilts....

[Mattg]

Sounds pretty good...I'll have to look for it.

[Kilted KT]

I'll have to dig for that one. Sounds like a really good read.