I read and used this book with some 4th class pupils and my daughter. It’s a wonderfully simple retelling of the traditional Irish legend of the same name. In this retelling, Niamh is the beautiful, forever young protagonist of Tír na nÓg who notices the kind and lively Óisín in the human world. She decides to offer him the chance to live in her world, where he will never grow old or sick and where every day is perfect.
Óisín leaps aboard her horse and all should be happily ever after if not for Óisín’s longing for home and the chance to experience a life with all of life’s feelings that “keep our hearts lively”.
This retelling captured the children’s attention with its robust pacing of plot and ethereal illustrations. They wanted to linger over many of the images, particularly those of Tír na nÓg which felt nostalgic of my own childhood understanding of the story. It really brought this oral story to life for me and them. I found the interlude story of Liath Luachra took away from the pace of the story arc a little but it did help to solidfy the inferences and moral of the story from a teaching point of view.
It would be a brillant addition to a history lesson or even as a precursor to later doing the story trí Ghaeilge. I used it with a social/emotional group as I’m a Nurture Teacher. I used it to support the development of the themes that all feelings are welcome, gratitude, character strengths and decision making. My daughter is only 2.5years old but she was equally transfixed by the illustrations.
The story is best suited for 8-9 years ideally and would be a beautiful addition to a class library owing to the appropriately pitched language. The text is also aced so it could be helpful to teach in extracts for those with literacy difficulties.
Overall I’d give the story 9 out of 10 for its beautiful illustrations, accessible and engaging plot and for the wonderful reminiscence it inspired in me whilst I read it to my pupils and daughter.
By Róisín Leeson
“Tír na nóg – A Favourite Irish Legend” by Erika Mc Gann and illustrated by Conor Busuttil, published by O’ Brien Press, is on sale now for €14.99 (H/B).
Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher, O’ Brien Press, free of charge to Seomra Ranga for the purposes of this review.
