Mattie Lennon is a frequent guest post contributor to Irish American Mom. I’m delighted to introduce his new storytelling CD, “Truth and Lies” to you today.
Mattie is a true ‘seanachai” (pronounced “shan-ah-key”), an Irish storyteller.
But before I share the details of how to enter to win a copy of Mattie’s new CD, let’s first explore what it means to be a seanachaí in Ireland.
Mattie Lennon – The Lacken Seanachaí
What Is A Seanachaí?
The simple answer to this question is that a seanachaí is a traditional Irish storyteller. But a great storyteller does more than just tell a story. He captures the imagination and whisks you away to another world.
In centuries past, the seanachaí traveled from house to house reciting epic sagas, legends and poems, recounting tales of Ireland’s mythological and ancient past.
In Ireland, being bestowed with the ‘gift of the gab’ is seen as a blessing. Storytelling has been an integral part of our Celtic culture and is a good example of how we put this legendary ‘Blarney’ to good use to entertain our audiences, both large and small.
The ancient Irish custom of memorizing songs, poems and stories was the duty of the seanachaí. In the courts of Ireland’s Celtic kings, then Norman lords, the seanachaí, who sometimes could not read nor write, entertained audiences with tales of legendary heroes and mythical creatures.
When Ireland’s royalty became poor as paupers and lived in thatched country cottages, they continued to welcome the seanachaí to their hearths and homes. Sitting beside open turf fires by candlelight our forefathers shared stories of the past, both true and magically embellished.
But what makes a seanachaí great is not merely the words he shares, but the way in which he captivates his audience. There is a rhythmic lilting to his tones, his voice rising and falling in musical, nearly hypnotic waves.
His story unfolds like magic, words weaving and winding their way into your heart and soul, so that time itself holds no meaning.
And please remember not all seanachaí’s are male, but for the purpose of this explanation I used the pronoun “he’ for easy telling of my tale.
And also don’t forget, that everybody has a story just waiting to be told. The senachaí just knows how to dig out that story and tell it in the most captivating way.
Praise for Mattie the Seanachaí:
One journalist wrote that Seanachaí, Mattie Lennon had,
“ . . .a penchant for holding forth at length
on the little vignettes and foibles of human nature
that many others pass by unnoticed.”
Be that as it may, Mattie Lennon has now brought out a CD, “Truth and Lies With Mattie Lennon.”
Join the west Wicklow storyteller for 80 minutes, 14 tracks, of seanachaí stories (some of them true!)
With titles like, “Balfe the Robber” and “ Nostradamus and Me,” this CD is a treat for anyone who loves an Irish tale.
Here’s a little excerpt from the story “Balfe the Robber” to whet your appetite….
BALFE THE ROBBER
(A West Wicklow Highwayman)
By Mattie Lennon.
“Saint Patrick stood at Burgage an’ he come no farther. An’ he pointed his staff up at Lacken, Kylebeg an’ Ballinastockan an’ he sed ‘Let that be a den of thieves an’ robbers forever more’ “.
When the above statement was made to me some years ago, by the late Jimmy Freeman of Ballyknockan, I didn’t know what to make of it.
I thought he was indulging in a bit of, good-
Being well aware of the God-
Oh, sure enough, a Ballinastockan man was once fined sixpence for riding an unlit bicycle in Blessington during the hours of darkness.
And it was rumored that (before my time) a farmer on the Kylebeg/Lacken border was prosecuted under the Noxious Weeds act, but nothing serious.
But now I have discovered that two hundred and ninety seven years ago a local man was found guilty of more serious offences.
In his book, “Gallows Speeches From Eighteenth-
How To Purchase “Truth and Lies:”
This CD is available for purchase by mail order.
Available from Mattie Lennon, Kylebeg, Lacken, Blessington, Co. Wicklow.
Price €12 or $15, including postage.
If interested, you can read more of Mattie’s ramblings on his website.
The Giveaway:
One lucky winner will win Mattie Lennon’s New CD “Truth and Lies.”
To enter just leave a comment on this blog post by noon on Saturday, July 15th, 2017.
Any comment will do. What you write does not affect your chance of winning, but if you need inspiration why not tell us if you have ever listened to an Irish story told by a seanachaí.
A winning comment will be chosen randomly. Remember to leave your e-mail so that I can contact you should you win. Your e-mail won’t be published, just used to contact our lucky contestant for mailing of the prize.
The winner will be announced on Saturday, July 15th 2017, at the bottom of this blog post.
You may check out Irish American Mom’s complete terms and conditions for sweepstakes’ entries by clicking here.
A big thank you to Mattie for sponsoring this prize, and wishing him every success as he shares his stories with the world
And thanks to all who support this giveaway by leaving a comment.
Winner Chosen:
Good news. Our winner has been chosen using the randomized “Pick Giveaway Winner” WordPress plug-in.
Congratulations to …..
Suzanne Kaperzinski
I’ll send our winner a quick e-mail to let her know about her lucky win.
Thanks to everyone who joined in and entered this little giveaway. And a big thank you to Mattie for sponsoring this prize.
Slán agus beannacht,
(Goodbye and blessings)
Irish American Mom
Here are some other posts you might enjoy ….
Visual Proof You Must See Sherkin Island
Sounds like an amazing cd. I miss my Momma’s stories now that she has passed on. Would love to win
Hi Sharon – So sorry to hear your mom has passed. So glad you have lovely memories of her story telling. It is a true art.
All the best,
Mairéad
Wonderful idea! Would love to hear Irish stories told by an Irishman!
Hi Carol – Irish stories with an Irish accent – the best way to hear a good tale.
All the best,
Mairéad
Great idea for a drawing. If we don’t win, maybe we’ll buy.
Thank you. Enjoy your blog.
So glad to hear you enjoy my blog. Thanks so much for stopping by and supporting this giveaway.
Take care,
Mairéad
I would love to listen to the stories. My grandpa was a true Irishman with the last name Welsh.
Hi Audrey – Welsh is a good Irish name. Lovely to connect with other Irish Americans and thanks for leaving a comment.
All the best,
Mairéad
I have ancestry from Ireland and made my first trip last fall. I instantly felt at home and fell in love with land and people of Ireland. I would love to hear some stories told by an Irishman with the “Gift of Gab”.
Hi Sharon – Lovely to hear you felt right at home in Ireland. So glad you got to make a trip to my homeland.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
What a great CD to have! The kids and I would enjoy this one!
Hi Anita – Mattie is a talented writer and story teller. I think this CD would be perfect for the car.
Take care,
Mairéad
No better way to pass the time than to listen to a gifted storyteller!
Hi Kristina – Good storytelling truly is a gift, and it’s only when you’ve listened to a true ‘seanachaí’ that you really understand what an art form it truly is. Thanks so much for checking out this post and entering the giveaway.
Take care,
Mairéad
To have a recording of a true seanachai would be amazing. I have read about the seanachai that use to travel, usually by foot, all over Ireland. To have one stop at your cottage and come by the peat fire to spin a yarn would be a honor and privilege. If I don’t win (hope hope hope) I will for sure try to purchase Mattie’s CD. Thank you for sharing a true art form.
Hi John – I am so grateful to Mattie for letting us know about his CD and for sponsoring this prize. This type of CD will never appear in large stores, so it is a privilege for me to help spread the word. Thanks so much for your ongoing support of my blog and giveaways.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
We were blessed recently to be able to visit Ireland. We were enchanted with the beauty of this magical county and equally enchanted with the wonderful people we met everywhere we turned.
Hi Sherry – I’m delighted to hear you had a wonderful trip to Ireland and felt truly welcome in my homeland.
Thanks for checking out this giveaway.
All the best,
Mairéad
May the luck of the Irish be with me on this giveaway! Sounds terrific!
Thank you for sharing.
Best of luck, Mary Ann. Thanks for stopping by.
Mairéad
I love reading books about Ireland. A cd with the voice of an Irish person telling the story must be magnificent.
Hi Mary – A lilting Irish accent is always perfect for story telling.
Take care,
Mairéad
My Dad would really love this cd he loves nothing more than a good story & is known as a bit of a seanachai himself!! I Would be delighted to win this cd for him.
Hi Caroline – Lovely to hear your dad is a bit of a story teller too. It’s a skill that I hope gets passed on from generation to generation.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
I would love to win this cd. I love stories like this and to hear them told with an Irish accent would make it all the better!
Hi Suzanne – Thanks for stopping by and supporting this giveaway. An Irish storytelling CD is a great prize, thanks to Mattie.
Take care,
Mairéad
Mairead, I have heard a few tall stories in my day, and nothing would please me more than to have Mattie’s CD! There is nothing like a true Irish Seanachai in full flight!! So good for the soul.
Maureen
Hi Maureen – We’ve got plenty of tall tales in Ireland, and it’s lovely to know that people like Mattie are recording them for posterity.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
I would love to win this CD. The 15th is my daughter’s birthday. I think she would love it as well. She wants to be an author.
Hi Lea Ann – I hope your daughter has a wonderful career ahead of her as an author, sharing stories through the written word. Thanks so much for checking out this post.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Would love to win
🙂 🙂 🙂
I am sorry that I missed this giveaway! I am going to have to scrap up some money to buy this!
Sorry you missed this giveaway. Thanks for checking out this post about Mattie’s storytelling.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
How wonderful that the world still has the likes of Mattie Lennon!
Thank you and God bless you, Mairead and Mattie!
Thanks so much Irishnannie.
Mairéad