I tried something new in the Irish Storytelling Tradition this summer. Since I had, 2/3s of the whole group in my class, I decided to teach them the basics of putting together a short personal story using Donald Davis’ “ Five Ps” – People, Place, Problem, Progress, Point. Twice in the semester, I asked them to select something they had experienced the previous weekend and then to quickly craft and tell it. The first time, they each told to a partner and we heard a few of them in the second group. The second time we heard all the stories. This was a great way to not only teach them an additional skill, but to learn what they’d been up to! My feeling is that the stories they take home will last longer and have a bigger impact than any souvenir. Here, briefly, is what each one told about after their third weekend in Ireland:
· Ashley told about their trip to Kildare and missing the train they wanted home by five minutes. They settled in a pub and entertained each other. Her point was that “even in a small town, in a good pub with good friends you can pass the time”.
· Sarah told about fitting everyone in my car, and then enduring the car ride to and from Ballynacargy.
· Faye told about going to Dublin to see her friends there. They witnessed a march to improve the treatment of greyhounds. This was important to her since she is “passionate about animals.”
· Nikki told about how “content and at ease” she felt touring Galway, since she had some familiarity with the city from the previous weekend. This was in contrast to the nerve wracking bus trip back to Athlone, as she tried to figure out what she was supposed to do to get off the bus!
· Kayla told us about her new (cute) haircut and the bleach job that necessitated it. Her point was “don’t bleach your own hair”.
· Shelli Curtis (“Needles” as dubbed by Jesse) told about walking at Black Abbey in Kildare when Sarah (“Tiger Lily”) broke the gate, with the Garda sitting in the car right across the street. Her point was, “don’t break things that aren’t yours”.
· Fidencio told about hearing a guitar player in Dublin who had broken the Guinness World Record by playing for 114 hours straight.
· Jesse told about how Ashley and Sarah “scratched the asses” of the ponies at the Irish National Stud in Kildare. To his way of thinking this went on rather a long time.
· Bryan told about how he managed to down 7 shots in 15 minutes when he was chosen as a taste-tester at the Jameson tour in Dublin. He got a plaque!
· Melinda and Angela tandem told about their trip to London, which was plagued with difficulties the first day, but very nice the second.
· Lizzy told about her experience playing with Chas at an engagement party in Grogan’s pub in Glasson. She told us about getting Chas to loosen up. “If you want Chas to play, buy him a beer”.
· Laura told about going to Northern Ireland with Liz Weir. She was sick on Saturday and missed the Giant’s Causeway. But she was much better for the amazing session on Saturday night. Her point was, “If you ever get a chance to go up to Liz’s, take it”!
· Alysa told about her failed attempt at sleeping over the weekend and how she went to Flannery’s and got free Guinness.
· Melissa told about having her windows banged on by hooligans. She ran out of the apartment screaming for help. Fortunately, Bob Farwell and Barry Brady were coming around the corner from the Londis. Barry chased the guys off, and then he and Bob came and checked the house and made her feel safe. Her point was that she regretted running out of the apartment and wouldn’t do that again.
· Andrea told about being asked to tell at Liz’s session in Cushendall. She was nervous and felt intimidated, but she did it. Her point was, “If you’re going to hang out with professional storytellers, be prepared”.
· Alison told about going golfing with Barry Vaughan at Mount Temple. She was initially disappointed, as she’d never heard of the course before. But once there, she was impressed. “It turned out better than I ever imagined or expected”.
I could say the same for my whole summer – it’s been one of the best.
The image at the top is from our trip to the Burren
Monday, June 20, we heard the last five of our second set of stories. Faye Daniel got us started with the 80th story we've heard this month.
16. (80) Faye told the eerie story of The Black Dog from Eddie Lenihan's Meeting the Other Crowd.
17. (81) Andrea Robinson told a very well crafted version of The King with Donkey's Ears that she put together from several sources.
18. (82) Bryan Jagiello told John Broadson adn the Police Officer from Henry Glassie's Irish Folktales, a perfrect match for his temperment.
19. (83) Kayla Linn took great pleasure in telling us The Priest and the Farming Man, also from Glassie.
20. (84) Shelli Curtis gave us a bravura performance of The Man Who Was Rescued from Hell, from Sean O'Sullivan's Folktales of Ireland. I was very glad she chose it, since it was collected from Peig Sayers who we were studying during the last week of class. She had us all spellbound during her 20 minute telling.