A bit hard to read and honestly i mostly don’t get scared while reading this. Evil Eye is such a strong opening and it’s my favorite. However, the other stories not quite gripping. I love how the author narrated the story using beautiful words

Such a rich and interesting collection of stories! I really fell in love with a few of them, but overall the stories hold a very high standard.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

This book is a collection of short stories from the 19th and 20th centuries reimagining Irish folklore and mythology. It features authors such as Sheridan Le Fanu, Elizabeth Bowen, and many more.

To start with I did not finish this book I only got about 40% of the way through, I’m not totally sure why I was unable to finish this book by all rights it’s something that’s right up my ally, I do believe It would have been easier to read in a physical format than a digital one, and I am fulling intending to pick up again in future.

This book would be perfect for people who like short story collections, Irish folklore and ghost stories.

A deeply interesting and rich collection, any reader interested in Ireland and/or folklore must read Uncanny Ireland. A collection of both fiction and nonfiction stories, readers will stay rapt until the very last page.

Ghost stories – from Ireland. It does what it says on the tin.

We start with an essay containing several instances of the evil eye at work, from Oscar Wilde's mother. A similar piece comes from the noblewoman who helped found the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, as she gives us quotes from copious people about the ghosts they know people to have seen. We quickly break into the more fictional, however, with Nobel Laureate Yeats showing how Ireland might defend herself, and then a snappy tale has a woman making a mistake. Part two closes with the first piece that might be said to be a touch too long, regarding a ruin haunted by penitent monks, and why, although the colloquial narrator is a joy.

The voices in the next pieces are more brogue than just colloquial, with a well-trodden plot of a fisherman and his son, and a door that refuses to stay shut. A great store is had here by going after female-written stories, and the merits of that include these and the lovelorn lass that comes next, and the lovelorn man after her. That section is rounded out by an unwelcomely-talented piper.

The next section has a mansion haunted by the sounds of parties at night, which acts as snappy prelude to a J Sheridan le Fanu that to me was too long and ineffective. Better was a man taking on the job of the dead. A woman on Achill Island joins that number. "The evil spirit that sets men mad" is discussed in rural Ireland, whether she likes it or not. Another lass wastes away due to fae influence.

The final chunk starts with some major names – William Trevor with his "imaginary friend" character finding more favour with me than Elizabeth Bowen. They contrast with the lack of biography available regarding the penultimate author. And we close with 'A Ghost Story', which has to be said, after a book mostly successfully presenting ghost stories, is not the biggest surprise in the world.

This is one of those books that didn't fully do it for me, but I could see its appeal. It's important and decent and proper and right that such compilations exist, and I'd have been remiss if I hadn't picked this from the pile, but I did find the shocks too light on the ground and the quality control too uneven. Certainly it's a well-crafted volume, with just the right amount of background information, spoiler-free added bits, and the pick of clearly a well-read editor. So while I felt this a touch too much of an ordeal to get through happily, I give it four stars quite willingly, to alert the many that might feel differently. They should definitely keep this in their consideration.

Interesting collection of a wide range of tales. I liked that it was such an eclectic mix of genres, with both more modern tales and stories from another time! Of course I did not like every story included here, but that's just how it goes with story collections. Most of them were pretty cool, though.
I read most of these during a spell of high temperatures and all-day sunshine, which stood in marked contrast to most of the stories' atmosphere... which was actually pretty nice! :) I loved reading about rainy moors and fog and all that while baking in 30 degree Celsius heat. There were some issues with the formatting (I was reading on an older Kindle), but I got used to it after a while, so that's okay.

I've always loved Irish folklore, but admittedly did not know much beyond the common pop-culture adaptations. This was a really informative and well-written entry point into the subgenre and taught me about several tales and legends that I had never heard of before. Edited collections are hard for me to review because there is inevitably always a strong and weak chapter. I liked most of the sections here, but there were a few that read more like research/newspaper while others felt like a work of fiction. I think this disparity may make it a bit difficult for the average reader to enjoy because it did feel like a dramatic shift in styles. Overall, I would still recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about Irish folklore!

Uncanny Ireland, edited by Maria Giakanki, is a chilling, atmospheric anthology that taps into the haunting folkloric roots of Irish storytelling while showcasing the literary richness and psychological depth of the country’s finest supernatural fiction. From shadowy glens to windswept ruins, this collection offers a journey into the eerie and the unexplained, guided by some of Ireland’s most gifted literary voices of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Giakanki curates with precision and care, bringing together canonical figures like Sheridan Le Fanu and Elizabeth Bowen with lesser-known yet equally compelling authors such as Charlotte Riddell, Katharine Tynan, and Lady Gregory. Each story draws from the well of Irish folklore—tales of the aos sí (the fairy folk), the Otherworld, and long-forgotten gods—but reinterprets these themes through the lens of the weird, the gothic, and the psychologically uncanny.

What’s striking about the collection is how seamlessly myth and modernity intermingle. In many of these stories, the supernatural isn’t overtly monstrous but instead lurks in the edges of perception—a glint in the eye, a strange silence, a hill that feels too still. Le Fanu’s signature restraint, Bowen’s psychological sharpness, and Riddell’s subtle domestic horror all contribute to a growing sense of dread that transcends time and place.

The writing throughout is lush, lyrical, and often deeply introspective. These aren’t merely ghost stories; they are meditations on grief, guilt, belief, and the porous boundary between the real and the unreal. Giakanki’s editorial notes—though minimal—are insightful, offering historical and literary context without disrupting the immersive experience of the stories themselves.

Uncanny Ireland is more than just an anthology—it is a spellbinding excavation of a cultural psyche where the supernatural is not separate from the everyday but interwoven into the land, language, and legacy. Whether you’re a longtime devotee of Irish folklore or a newcomer drawn to literary horror, this collection is a masterclass in quiet terror and timeless storytelling.

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Elegant, eerie, and richly evocative, Uncanny Ireland is a must-read for lovers of folklore-infused fiction and literary horror. Maria Giakanki has assembled a collection that feels like stepping into a misty glade where the past still whispers—and where not everything you see can be trusted.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!

Honestly my favourite parts were reading about the authors lives before each short story. I felt that was a wonderful added piece. It made it feel like a collection that meant something.

As with all short story collections some I enjoyed more than others.

Welcome to Some Thoughts in which I discuss new or upcoming releases very briefly and offer my thoughts along with an overview of what the release entails.

‘Uncanny Ireland: Otherworldly Tales of the Strange and Sublime’ is the latest in a series of eerie and wide ranging collections of supernatural works from the ‘Gilded Nightmares’ series. Coinciding nicely with a renewed interest in folk horror, this collection features anthologies of classic Gothic authors, such as Sheridan Le Fanu and Bram Stoker, alongside compilations of local folk tales, such as in Uncanny Ireland and a selection of stories from the Season of Samhain, or, as it is known, Halloween.

‘Uncanny Ireland’ is excellent. Despite offering almost nothing in regards to new writing, the curation from editor Maria Giakaniki is an art form in and of itself. Marrying history and atmosphere, Giakaniki prefaces each tale with a quick run-down of contextual and regional background, designed not only to ground the reader but also to cut them loose, to allow them the ability to pull their own conclusions from here. An awful lot of anthologies like this would pre-empt and hammer down any sociological curiosities, cutting tales down into boxes such as national grief, and social upheaval before the reader has even had chance to take them in. ‘Uncanny Ireland’ avoids this. Of course, the land of Ireland is one mired in a history rich and deep but it is not simply a political underpinning, but an artisitic one too. Giakaniki, then, is able to situate these stories in a cultural history that is both rich and radical. These are not merely anthropological curiosities, but means of communication, of expression, and of national identity.

An excellent text. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and IPG for the advance copy! As always 100% of the thoughts below are my own.

I've always been curious about Irish folklore, but I am embarassed to confess that I don't think I've read any works by Irish authors. "Uncanny Ireland" by Maria Giakaniki is a perfect short story collection for anyone looking for poignant, uncanny tales by Irish authors from 1835 to 1990.

The book features twenty short stories by twenty different authors covering various themes, styles and subjects. What's impressive is, unlike most short story collections I've read, I liked every single included story. They were all beautifully lyrical and gothically dark. While I still enjoyed some more than other, either due to the writing style or the plot itself, all in all I found myself looking forward each night to read one of the stories and was never disappointed.

Since this is a short story collection, I will include brief notes for each of the stories and my rating for that individual story:

Evil Eye: 4
I would describe this more of an article that includes stories from various sources that describes the Evil Eye and its deadly force. It was overall very interesting, especially to someone with Egyptian roots, since I could see the similarities in our folktales and beliefs.

Unquiet Dead: 4
A tapestry of eerie oral tales and dialogue on the tongue of various people. All of them recount tales of those that linger after death. I really enjoyed the writing here despite all stories being around one paragraph or less short.

The Curse of the Fires and Shadows: 3.5
This story is set during the Irish Confederate Wars, which I only know very little about. An abbey set ablaze, brutal murders and a curse make for a grim supernatural story.

A legend of Barlagh Cave: 3.5
This moody tale draws the readers into a tale of unrequited love and unintended consequences. A story of false hope and shattered dreams that is rich in symbolism and ambience. It continued to haunt me in the days after despite its short length.

The Monks of Saint Bride: 4.5
I was pleasantly surprised with some of the background humour in this one, but the tale itself is about a ruined monastery on All Souls’ Night and the lingering spirits of its long suffering monks. An important theme about redemption, moral reflection and humility.

The Drowned Fisherman: 4
Between the premonitions, the dialogue and the moody atmosphere, I found myself really enjoying this one despite how short it is and seeing how it would end. What starts with a gut feeling and dreams of future husbands takes a chilling turn when tragedy strikes.

A Scrap of Irish Folklore: 4
This was a short ghost story that primarily features Catholic spirituality and Irish superstition with a dose of maternal guilt. The haunting is sentimental and used as a warning against careless cursing. I enjoyed the writing especially and definitely would love to read more by Rose Mulholland.

The Strange Voice: 4
A chilling story about love beyond death and a descent to madness. This has strong gothic vibes. While maybe it doesn't offer much new when it comes to the haunting itself, it delivers it wonderfully and I genuinely enjoyed the lyrical prose and imagery.

The Wee Gray Woman: 4.5
There is something almost poetically beautiful about this tale being published posthumously. This is a tale about loss, loneliness and memory featuring a mysterious small, gray-cloaked visitor. The lyrical prose paints a quiet, almost colourless, atmosphere that potently delivers the sense of isolation. I really enjoyed this one.

Tale of the Piper: 3.5
An uncanny tale about, who else, a mysterious piper. I think it offered strong symbolism for the power of art and music. Ultimately, though, I felt it ended abruptly which, to be fair, I believe was the intention and it added to the strangeness.

The last of Squire Ennismore: 4
A very atmospheric ghost story about an aging squire who returned to his ancestral home with a mysterious past and hidden secrets before the arrival of mysterious foreign visitors haunt him and his estate. It is hard for me to quite pinpoint the themes, but I got a strong sense of perhaps guilt and payback for one's vice and greed. There is an undercurrent of imbalance or unjust power and wealth decaying with time.

The Fortunes of Sir Robert Ardagh: 4.5
A deliciously eerie gothic tale with strong themes of isolation and tormented souls. How far would one's ambition drive him? It offers accounts of a man that met his death under inexplicable circumstances. The ambiguity fuels the eeriness. I reread it twice because I enjoyed its delivery.

Watcher o the Dead: 4.5
A haunting, melancholic story set in a remote cottage following a mask tasked with a ritual to watch over the dead through the night. With strong themes of accepting one's fate, keeping promises and facing mortality, this one hit deep for me.

The Sea's Dead: 4
After the death of her beloved husband, Moya Labella, an outcast young woman meets a mysterious fate. Her community believe they have learned her origins. It presents strong themes of nature's duality with a dose of grief and mourning.

Julia Cahill's Curse: 3.5
I am not sure if I can call this a supernatural story per se as it's more of symbolism for prejudices and loneliness. A tale told by a young priest who wishes to convince the priests of nearby parishes to assist him in establishing looms. Instead, he finds himself discovering more about the parish's scandals and a supposed curse.

The Return of Niav: 4.5
If you're familiar and interested with fae folkore, this is perfectly it. A single mother describes an encounter she and her daughter had with Niav, a changeling, that enchanted them both. The execution was wonderful sending a shiver down my spine. If you're looking for unsettling nature and a gothic cottagecore (is that a thing?), this would be perfect for it.

The Back Drawing-Room: 4.5
At an artistocratic party, the guests start to tell ghost stories. An unknown guest relates his own experience in the Irish countryside. I will say that the author mixes social commentary and some humour with the ghost story. The story itself is very short but ambient enough to deliver. The highlight for me was the characterization of the guests. Even though you know very little about them, they felt unique and lively. At least to me, they were memorable.

The Raising of Elvira Tremlett: 4.5
In this slowly unfolding unsettling modern story, a family's long-buried secrets are resurfaced. It's unclear if the haunting is by ghosts or shadows of the family's fears and dark memories. It explores how our imagnation and escapism can both protect and imprison us. I think a good description for this one is it's psychological gothic.

Encounter At Night: 4
A very short moody nighttime story that follows a chance meeting between the main character and a violent stranger. Despite, or perhaps because of, its short length, the story left me feeling uneasy after it was over. Strong themes of isolation and fear are potent in the quiet build up and continue to linger after the last paragraph.

A Ghost Story: 5
This was one of my favourite stories in the collection. Narrated by a newlywed man (a very questionable man, in my opinion) as he reflects on his first home with his wife. As the couple settles in the new home, uncanny events being to unfold. The social commentary intermixes with 'Haunted House' elements which ultimately meant a fun time for me. My only complaint was I wished it was longer.

I actually think this was a lovely collection. The only reason why I’m not giving 5 stars is because some of them feel like they could’ve gone on for longer and some could’ve been a little shorter.

Despite the nice mix, it does feel like some of these could’ve gone for more than just an anthology.

<I>Uncanny Ireland</I> is a rich and atmospheric collection of short stories that explores the eerie, the folkloric, and the otherworldly aspects of Irish storytelling from the 19th and 20th centuries. Edited by Maria Giakaniki, this anthology blends classic ghost stories, rare mythological retellings, and modern spectral chillers into a cohesive and haunting read.

Some tales are from familiar names, while others are lesser-known gems that deserve more attention. The mix of traditional folklore with more contemporary weird fiction keeps things fresh, and the Irish setting adds a layer of melancholy beauty throughout. You can feel the fog, the damp stone, and the whisper of something ancient in the hedgerows.

I read an EPUB ARC that was formatted a bit wonky on my Kindle, which made it a little difficult to get into at first. However, that's a formatting issue, not a content one, and definitely not something most readers will encounter. Once I got into the rhythm, I found the stories incredibly engaging and well-curated.

If you enjoy folklore, the uncanny, or ghost stories with literary flair, this anthology is well worth your time. A solid addition to the shelf of any fan of Irish fiction, supernatural tales, or gothic short stories.

<I>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.</I>

3.5 Stars
One Liner: An interesting collection
The book is a collection of twenty short pieces (as you can see, I didn’t say stories as not all of them are fiction) written in the 19th and 20th centuries by famous authors. It contains tales based on Ireland’s rich folklore, modern stories with ancient and otherworldly elements, and tales of weird and macabre.
The collection is divided into the following categories:
• Folktales and Folk Beliefs (2 stories)
• Myths and Legends Reimagined (3 stories)
• Some Rural Ghosts and Uncanny Sounds (5 stories)
• Gothic Chills (3 stories)
• Strange and Dangerous Women (3 stories)
• Modern Horrors (4 stories)
The table of contents is followed by a detailed introduction that discusses the fascination with Irish mythology, how the culture (barely) survived through oral storytelling as Christianity did its best to wipe out paganism, the Celtic Revival, the political turmoil that lasted for decades, and more. This sets the tone for the book and explains how the works have been broadly classified with a bit of overlapping (inevitable).
Then, we have a publisher’s note about the language, attitude, etc., in the pieces that may not align with modern sensibilities. I love that the publisher highlights how they cannot be separated from their history. They say that only minor edits have been made to make the anthology feel more consistent in terms of style and sense. I appreciate this as I don’t believe in the idea of removing ‘problematic phrases’ from older works.
Each story is preceded by a detailed author bio (one page long), where the last paragraph provides a short insight into the story.
I usually prefer story-wise reviews for anthologies, but I realized that style may not work well for this one. So, I’m mentioning the ones that impressed me in some way.
• The Unquiet Dead by Lady August Gregory
• The Monks of Saint Bride by Herminie Templeton Kavanagh
• The Strange Voice by Dora Sigerson Shorter
• The Last of Squire Ennismore by Charlotte Riddell
• The Watcher O’ the Dead by John Guinan
• The Sea’s Dead by Katherine Tynan
• Julia Cahill’s Curse by George Moore (easily the best, though it is not a horror/ paranormal story)
• The Return of Niav by Dorothy Macardle
• The Rising of Elvira Tremlett by William Trevor
The writing styles need some time to get used to. It has outdated phrases and words that mean something entirely different today. Some of it has a thick Irish slang, and I did my best to wing it. Still, I prefer that the stories be read the way they were written rather than be toned down and rewritten for modern readers. They have a rustic and otherworldly charm, which goes well with the book’s theme.
To summarize, Uncanny Ireland is a well-put-together collection of classic stories dealing with paranormal, supernatural, and uncanny in some form. The editor’s efforts are evident in how well the book is structured and presented. If you try this book, I recommend reading only one or two stories per day.
Thank you, NetGalley and Trafalgar Square Publishing (British Library Publishing), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Trafalgar Square Publishing | British Library Publishing for my arc in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

This was such a cool collection! I've always been interested in Irish folklore and legends, but my field of literature never really touched on it. Coming across this arc was such an informative opportunity. I learned about some authors that I would have never thought to be connected to Irish folklore and read some fascinating stories! While there were some stories that I felt were a bit more "academic" than whimsical, I still really found this collection interesting.

I think for the layman, some may find this more wordy than they might have anticipated, but for myself, it was worth the wordiness.

I have always been fascinated by Ireland and its folklore and eerie tales so I knew I would love this collection and I wasn't wrong. It is an atmospheric and eerie collection of short stories that I raced through. Some kept my attention more than others but on the whole I really enjoyed it.

DNF
Uncanny Ireland is a collection of Irish short stories. I really tried to push through this collection but I just was not captivated by many of the stories. The beginning of the book felt hard to get through as it didn’t seem like it was a specific story so much as a collection of anecdotes of Irish folklore. I skimmed and skipped ahead and once I got to the section titled “Gothic Chills” there were a few actual stories I did enjoy so I kept pushing forward. But now at about 60% through the book it pains me to say I find myself incredibly uninterested again.

I’m sure there is an audience of people who would greatly enjoy this. But it’s not me.

‘’The remnants of a pagan past combined with Catholic faith and political conflict have rendered Ireland a bewitching land for those who wish to be initiated to its mysteries, marvels, wonders and horrors.’’

There’s something quietly magnetic about the way Irish storytelling leans into the mist—how it welcomes the uncanny, the haunted, the half-seen. Uncanny Ireland, edited by Maria Giakaniki, is a rich and atmospheric collection that does just that, drawing together strange tales from across time and place. The book is divided into six evocative sections—Folktales and Folk Beliefs, Myths and Legends Reimagined, Some Rural Ghosts and Uncanny Sounds, Gothic Chills, Strange and Dangerous Women, and Modern Horrors—each offering a different lens into Ireland’s darker imaginings. I was especially proud, as a Greek reader, to see this volume edited by a fellow Greek woman. There’s a quiet affinity, I think, between Irish and Greek storytelling—both steeped in myth, shaped by sorrow, and fiercely rooted in land and lore, even if our shores are miles apart.

‘’Open and let me in,’’ she called to the warder. ‘’I claim the protection of this holy place.’’

The Evil Eye (Lady Jane Wilde): Snippets written in the language of the Irish people, narrating true stories of omens, customs, and beliefs.

The Unquiet Dead (Lady Augusta Gregory): True cases of spectral encounters and the connection between our world and the next.

The Curse of the Fires and of the Shadows (William Butler Yeats): A tale of the sidhe, of loss and death set during the Irish Confederate Wars.

A Legend of Barlagh Cave (Fitz James O’Brien): Celtic mythology is strongly imbued in the Irish tales. This is a story of love and despair.

The Monks of Saint Bride (Herminie Templeton Kavanagh): One of the most atmospheric tales in the collection, this is the legend of a curse in the name of love, and uncanny sounds echoing in an old abbey.

The Drowned Fisherman (Anna Maria Hall): The tragic fate of a fisherman who drowns, but the mystery and sorrow surrounding his death unravel deeper secrets within the tight-knit community. Hall weaves themes of loss, superstition, and human frailty with a poignant sensitivity to the harsh realities of rural life.

A Scrap of Irish Folklore (Rosa Mulholland): Fairy men are better than real men, no doubt about it.

The Strange Voice (Dora Sigerson Shorter): A love that withstands death as a young woman is determined to follow her shadowy lover.

The Wee Gray Woman (Ethna Carbery): One of the most haunting, moving, tragic stories. A tale of a doomed love, condemned by a young man's reluctance to acknowledge his love for a mysterious girl.

Tale of the Piper (Donn Byrne’): A piper's tune that may echo the Devil’s music.

The Last of Squire Ennismore (Charlotte Riddell): A fascinating tale of a seaside spectre and unlucky vessels.

The Fortunes of Sir Robert Ardagh (Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu) : I can never connect to the stories of this writer. I just can't get the fascination with his stories which, for me, are the epitome of the sleeping pill.

“It is now the fall of the night. The last of the neighbours are hitting the road for home.”

The Watcher O’ The Dead (John Guinan):
A sad tale that makes use of the conviction that the last person to be buried must guard the graveyard and its souls.

The Sea's Dead (Katharine Tynan): My favourite story in the collection. The tale of a woman who may be a selkie and her undying love for her man.

Julia Cahill's Curse (George Moore): I am not sure what this story wanted to accomplish. Promiscuity is hardly the road to progress…Indifferent, idiotic.

The Return of Niav (Dorothy Macardle): An interesting take on the myth of the Changeling that briefly echoes the Children of Lir and a few of the most famous Irish myths.

The Back Drawing-Room (Elizabeth Bowen): A Christmas story in which one of the guests narrates an unsettling encounter in an abandoned estate.

The Raising of Elvira Tremlett (William Trevor): A boy finds solace in the company of a strange girl as domestic life becomes more and more difficult.

Encounter by Night (Mary Frances McHugh): A man who is trying to find shelter for the night stumbles upon a tragic event. Sad and shocking, set in Dublin.

A Ghost Story (Mary Beckett): A young married couple that seems unable to see eye to eye in practically everything is about to fall apart because of a haunted house and a TV.

Uncanny Ireland left me with a range of responses, which is something I value in a collection like this. A few stories stayed with me—The Sea’s Dead and The Wee Gray Woman in particular—while others felt forgettable or simply not for me. But that’s part of reading widely: letting yourself respond honestly, rather than expecting each piece to resonate in the same way. What I appreciated most was how rooted these stories are in place and memory—how they carry the weight of old beliefs, quiet heartbreaks, and things half-said. There’s something universal in that, even if the setting is deeply Irish. These stories may come from another time and place, but the feelings they stir—longing, fear, wonder—are instantly familiar. While Uncanny Ireland offers many moments of atmospheric richness and haunting storytelling, it didn’t consistently maintain that immersive quality for me throughout. A few stories truly stood out and lingered, but others felt less compelling or just didn’t resonate. By my usual standards, when I find myself wavering between 4 and 5 stars, it’s a clear sign to lean toward 4—honesty in ratings matters to me. This collection is well worth reading, especially for lovers of Irish folklore and uncanny tales, but it’s not without its uneven patches.

“The greys of the landscape deepened; the green - purple of the trees sunk into gulfs of black all around; a few poplars beyond the cabins stirred faintly in the sky, and the white-blossomed boughs of an alder-tree glimmering out of the deepest darkness down the vanished road, and suggested the hovering nearness, yet aloofness of a reserve of sympathetic and vigilant spirits.”

Many thanks to the British Library Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/

This was a lovely, atmospheric collection that celebrates the eerie and enchanting side of Irish literature. What stood out most to me was the thoughtful curation, each story was not just presented, but framed with context about the author and the folkloric or historical background that informed their work.

From the unsettling hills of Knockdoula to glimpses into the Otherworld, these tales draw deeply from Ireland’s rich tradition of storytelling, blending myth, gothic atmosphere, and literary craft. I appreciated how the anthology honors both well-known voices like Sheridan Le Fanu and Charlotte Riddell, and lesser-known but equally compelling authors such as Katharine Tynan and Lady Gregory.

If you're a fan of folklore, gothic short stories, or Irish literature, this is a quiet but evocative read that will pull you into a shadowy realm where fairy mounds and ghostly whispers feel just a breath away.

I picked this one up because I’m traveling to Ireland later this year and wanted to get in the mindset (I'm so excited!!!). This anthology was unique, quirky, and at times otherworldly, and I think it gave me a wonderful start of insight into Irish mythos and folklore. I really like The Evil Eye by Lady Jane Wilde in particular - so atmospheric.

I had difficulty with some of the stories, but that's to be expected. It gave me a new appreciation for Ireland’s literary roots and was a fun and immersive way to get (even more) excited about my upcoming trip.

Recommended for fans of Irish folklore, ghost stories, and history through a spooky/supernatural lens.