1890 Rare Book - Turf-Fire Stories and Fairy Tales of Ireland by Barry O’Connor

Author: Barry O’Connor.
Title: Turf-Fire Stories and Fairy Tales of Ireland.
Publisher: New York, P. J. Kenedy & Sons, 5 Barclay St., 1890. First thus.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 7.5 x 5.5 inches.
Pages: vii-405 pages
Binding: Attractive and very good original publisher’s brown cloth binding, elaborately decorated in black and gilt with clover motifs and an illustration of an Irish castle ruin. Gilt title to spine with shamrock accents (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, last endpaper inner hinge slightly worn but still tight - as shown). 
Illustrations: Profusely illustrated with full-page and vignette wood-engravings throughout, many of which are highly detailed and rich in folkloric character. Complete with the portrait of the author with a facsimile signature: "Believe me, Yours truly, Barry O’Connor."

Estimate: (Scarce with no or few other copies available for sale worldwide).

The book: Turf-Fire Stories and Fairy Tales of Ireland is a vivid collection of Irish folklore, rural tales, and supernatural legends. Comprising over 30 stories—ranging from humorous yarns like Corney’s Fiddle to ghostly encounters such as Dan Doolin’s Ghost, and traditional lore like The Leprechaun and The Fairy Boy—this anthology paints a colorful and often poignant portrait of Irish peasant life. The stories are told in a warm, colloquial tone and feature themes of resilience, magic, and cultural memory. The illustrations enhance the immersive quality of the tales, making the book a visual and literary feast. This is a fine example of 19th-century Irish-American publishing and a valuable artifact for enthusiasts of Celtic folklore.

The author: Barry O’Connor was an Irish-American writer and folklorist active in the late 19th century. With a style steeped in the oral tradition of the Irish countryside, O’Connor captured the voices, superstitions, and storytelling rhythms of his homeland. His works, such as Turf-Fire Stories, reflect a deep affection for Ireland’s mythic past and the character of its rural people, serving as both entertainment and ethnographic record.