The Man Who Talked to the Wind : And other Rathlin Folk Tales from the Tommy Cecil Archive by Colin Urwin
Swept by strong ocean currents and ferocious storms, Rathlin Island is mysterious and hauntingly beautiful. Lying just six miles off the north coast of County Antrim, it is the most northerly inhabited island of Ireland. Once home to prehistoric hunter-gatherers, its inhabitants have endured Viking raids, medieval massacres, famine and emigration.
As farmers, fishermen and seafarers, they are resourceful, independent and proud – and they have always enjoyed a good story. Drawing on Irish and Scottish traditions, Rathlin has a rich folk heritage all its own. Much of it may have been lost but for one island man – Tommy Cecil.
Best known for rescuing Sir Richard Branson after his hot-air balloon ditched into the sea off Rathlin, Cecil was also instrumental in saving many of the island’s old stories. Taken from recordings held in the Ulster Folk Museum, this unique collection brings these stories to print for the first time.
Swept by strong ocean currents and ferocious storms, Rathlin Island is mysterious and hauntingly beautiful. Lying just six miles off the north coast of County Antrim, it is the most northerly inhabited island of Ireland. Once home to prehistoric hunter-gatherers, its inhabitants have endured Viking raids, medieval massacres, famine and emigration.
As farmers, fishermen and seafarers, they are resourceful, independent and proud – and they have always enjoyed a good story. Drawing on Irish and Scottish traditions, Rathlin has a rich folk heritage all its own. Much of it may have been lost but for one island man – Tommy Cecil.
Best known for rescuing Sir Richard Branson after his hot-air balloon ditched into the sea off Rathlin, Cecil was also instrumental in saving many of the island’s old stories. Taken from recordings held in the Ulster Folk Museum, this unique collection brings these stories to print for the first time.
Swept by strong ocean currents and ferocious storms, Rathlin Island is mysterious and hauntingly beautiful. Lying just six miles off the north coast of County Antrim, it is the most northerly inhabited island of Ireland. Once home to prehistoric hunter-gatherers, its inhabitants have endured Viking raids, medieval massacres, famine and emigration.
As farmers, fishermen and seafarers, they are resourceful, independent and proud – and they have always enjoyed a good story. Drawing on Irish and Scottish traditions, Rathlin has a rich folk heritage all its own. Much of it may have been lost but for one island man – Tommy Cecil.
Best known for rescuing Sir Richard Branson after his hot-air balloon ditched into the sea off Rathlin, Cecil was also instrumental in saving many of the island’s old stories. Taken from recordings held in the Ulster Folk Museum, this unique collection brings these stories to print for the first time.
About the Author
Colin Urwin is a modern-day Seanchaí. He is a folk-singer, songwriter, oral storyteller, and author of a number of folktale collections. Steeped for a lifetime in the language, folklore and traditions of his beloved Glens of Antrim, Colin has long been exposed to traditional Irish and Scottish music, song and story. He is most inspired by the people and places, the history and legends, and the sheer, rugged romance of the northeast coast of Ireland. From these he conjures up many of his beautiful ballads, magical rhyming monologues and delicately woven tales of wonder. Colin regularly appears at local storytelling and music events for schools, libraries, a wide range of community and business groups, and at international storytelling festivals and conferences all over the world.
Publisher: The History Press Ltd
Date Published: 5 December 2024
Paperback, 136 pages
ISBN: 9781803998183
