Magical Laois tale features in new book
Part of the cover of the new book published on 9 October
A STORY set near Ballyfin village in Laois features in a new collection of magical tales from every county in Ireland.
Author Kieran Fanning selected the legend of ‘Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the House of Time’ to represent Laois, in his latest book titled which was published on 9 October.
The illustrated book, which follows last year’s bestselling , is described by the publishers as ‘a captivating new collection of magical tales’, each one rooted in a different county.
The beautifully crafted hardback showcases striking illustrations by Canadian artist Julia Iredale and includes a detailed map to lead readers through all 32 locations.
Laois’s story is set in the Slieve Bloom mountains near Ballyfin which, as every local schoolchild knows, means ‘Town of Fionn’ in Irish.
The main character in the Laois tale is the famous Fionn Mac Cumhaill, leader of the Fianna, who often returned to the Slieve Bloom Mountains where he had been reared. One evening, he was so engrossed in hunting that he left it too late to return home.
Along with his son Oisín, Fionn set out in search of shelter together with their fellow Fianna Conán and Diarmuid. They came upon a cottage where an old man, with a long white beard, welcomed them and offered them a place to stay for the night. Inside, they noticed a beautiful woman seated by the fire, with a black cat at her feet and a lamb tethered nearby.
During a sumptuous meal mysteriously prepared by the old man prior to their visit, the tethered lamb broke loose and caused chaos, overturning dishes and wrecking the place. Each of the Fianna men tried to restrain the lamb but the creature was too strong for them all, even Fionn.
In the end, the cat was the only one who could control the lamb, leading it back to where it had been tethered.
Music and dancing followed the meal. The Fianna men tried to impress the beautiful girl by the fire but she refused when each of them asked her to join them, saying that they all had their chance in the past but none had appreciated her. Confused, Fionn and his men retired to their beds.
It wasn’t until the following morning, when Fionn asked about the strange events of the previous night, that they discovered the house was no ordinary cottage. The old man revealed that it was ‘The House of Time’ and that the unruly lamb they’d failed to control was called Life.
The old man explained that Life can be controlled only by Death, which was the black cat. When his host told Fionn that the beautiful girl was Youth, what she had told them the previous night made sense. Nobody appreciates youth when they have it.
‘And who are you?’ Fionn finally asked the old man. He replied: I am Time. The master of Life, Death and Youth.’
The author adds: ‘Fionn and his friends left with a newfound understanding of their lives. Afterwards, they often tried to find The House of Time again but couldn’t, for Time is elusive to all, even to heroes.’
With the full title , the collection is published by Gill and is available in all bookstores and online.
