The Folklore of the Irish in Australia by Bill Wannan

Book Description

Secondhand. Very good condition. Minor wear to book corners and edges. Dust jacket has creasing at edges and at spine and is now enclosed in a glossy protective cover. Interior and binding are still excellent.

The influence of the early Irish settlers looms large in Australia's heritage of legends, literature and ballads.

Irish men and women, mostly convicts, formed about a quarter of the colonial population and were deeply involved in the early armed rebellions.

The tradition of Irish humour and blarney can be detected in many of Australia's folk yarns and tall stories and the Irish were outstanding balladists of colonial days.

This book brings together the drama, humour and romance of the Irish in Australia, and includes a special section with more than 30 of the most popular Irish songs and ballads from early Australia. The chapters are: the exiles of Erin; emigrants & settlers; leaders & pathfinders; wits characters & local identities; the criminous; the comic; transportation & other convict songs & ballads; emigrant songs & ballads; outlaw songs & ballads; sporting songs & ballads.