Treasures of the National Folklore Collection/Seoda as Cnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann

Críostóir Mac Cárthaigh Séamas Ó Catháin Ríonach uí Ógáin Seosamh Watson editors. With a foreword by Dr T.K. Whitaker

‘A beautifully produced book ... a new artefact to be cherished', Deirdre Nic Mathúna, Irish Literary Supplement.

‘This is a celebration of the cultural treasures in the possession of the commission’s National Folklore Collection. Text and captions freely move from Irish to English with no translations, and this is not just a picture book, though the period photos, facsimiles of documents and reproductions of artwork all in generous sizes are an invaluable part of it. It is an exceptionally handsome production providing a guide to the collection and a history of the commission … A lovely and valuable record of one of the first and most successful initiatives of the Free State', Books Ireland (February 2011).

‘The editors are to be congratulated in their judicious selection of material which does admirable justice to the magnificent collection which it heralds … The photographs take us back to another world which, from the perspective of our fast-driven lifestyle, appears in many ways to have existed long before they were taken … all of the essays in this collection are generously illustrated with photographs from the collection which add in no small measure to our appreciation of the work of the Commission and greatly enhance this publication … This book, I feel, will be greatly enjoyed by all people with an interest in Irish folklore and vernacular culture … it achieves its ultimate goal of crediting and celebrating all those who have disseminated, enjoyed and collected Irish folklore', Robbie Hannan, Familia (2011).

‘The twenty contributors’ pieces, generously illustrated with reproductions of original documents and numerous black-and-white photographs, many taken by the folklore collectors of a long-lost Ireland, do indeed constitute nothing less than a treasure', Books Ireland (September 2011).

‘What a pleasure to delve into a book studded with exquisite gems of old photographs, sketches and artwork! The accompanying essays are rich with bewitching anecdotes … All hail to the National Folklore Collection’s sacred mission!’ Mary McWay Seaman, The Celtic Connection (August 2011).

'Without a shadow of a doubt this book is a real gem for anybody wanting to capture more than a glimpse of the folkloric life of Ireland. Dr T.K. Whitaker reminds us in his foreword to this volume that “the Irish Folklore Commission, founded in 1935, came into being just in time to save a precious oral heritage from oblivion” … this publication itself provides a fascinating glimpse of this hugely important resource that offers enormous research potential for the genealogist, local historian and social historian', Michael Merrigan, Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette (May 2011).

‘This artistically designed, large format volume comemoratas the seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of the Irish folklore Commission in 1935 and includes nineteen essays, both written and photographic, on various aspects of Irish folklore and the work of preserving the oral traditions of the nation throughout the years', Reference & Research Book News (April 2011).