Seán Ó Súilleabháin, a renowned folklorist and native Irish speaker, was born on November 30, 1903, in Derrylough, Co. Kerry, Ireland. After being introduced to folklore during his schooling in Beaufield, Co. Mayo, he developed a lifelong passion for the subject, which he started formally collecting in 1923. His training as a primary school teacher, work as an archivist for the newly formed Irish Folklore Commission, and eventual role as a lecturer in folklore at University College Dublin allowed him to delve deeply into the discipline. He authored a vast collection of works, including collections of poems, songs, folktales, and studies on Irish folk customs. Throughout his life, Ó Súilleabháin was a strong advocate for the Irish language and traditional music, serving on multiple commissions and receiving an honorary D.Litt. (Celt.) from the National University of Ireland in 1976. He was married to Maureen Sheehy and had two children. Ó Súilleabháin passed away on December 13, 1996, and is commemorated by a stone erected in his honor in Tuosist.

• IntroductionWakes at Present and Long AgoStorytelling; Singing; Music and Dancing; Card Playing; Riddles; Tongue Twisters; Versifying and repetition of Jingles.Contests in Strength; Agility; Dexterity; Accuracy of Aim; Endurance and Toughness; Hardihood and Athletics.Taunting and Mocking; Booby Traps; Mischief-making; Horse-Play, Rough Games; Fights at Wakes and Funerals.Imitative GamesCatch GamesGames of Hide, Seek and GuessingVarious Other GamesThe Keening of the DeadChurch Opposition to Wake AbusesThe Extent of Wake Abuses and Their DeclineThe Origin and Purpose of Wakes and Their AmusementsSourcesIndex

'Macabre but a fascinating exploration of the games, practical jokes and general revelry that accompanied wakes and which are now increasingly things of the past. Helpful background to Finnegans Wake, by James Joyce, which takes place at a wake and features many jokes, literary games and high-spirited hijinks.' - J. Geary

Seán Ó Súilleabháin, a renowned folklorist and native Irish speaker, was born on November 30, 1903, in Derrylough, Co. Kerry, Ireland. After being introduced to folklore during his schooling in Beaufield, Co. Mayo, he developed a lifelong passion for the subject, which he started formally collecting in 1923. His training as a primary school teacher, work as an archivist for the newly formed Irish Folklore Commission, and eventual role as a lecturer in folklore at University College Dublin allowed him to delve deeply into the discipline. He authored a vast collection of works, including collections of poems, songs, folktales, and studies on Irish folk customs. Throughout his life, Ó Súilleabháin was a strong advocate for the Irish language and traditional music, serving on multiple commissions and receiving an honorary D.Litt. (Celt.) from the National University of Ireland in 1976. He was married to Maureen Sheehy and had two children. Ó Súilleabháin passed away on December 13, 1996, and is commemorated by a stone erected in his honor in Tuosist.

• IntroductionWakes at Present and Long AgoStorytelling; Singing; Music and Dancing; Card Playing; Riddles; Tongue Twisters; Versifying and repetition of Jingles.Contests in Strength; Agility; Dexterity; Accuracy of Aim; Endurance and Toughness; Hardihood and Athletics.Taunting and Mocking; Booby Traps; Mischief-making; Horse-Play, Rough Games; Fights at Wakes and Funerals.Imitative GamesCatch GamesGames of Hide, Seek and GuessingVarious Other GamesThe Keening of the DeadChurch Opposition to Wake AbusesThe Extent of Wake Abuses and Their DeclineThe Origin and Purpose of Wakes and Their AmusementsSourcesIndex

'Macabre but a fascinating exploration of the games, practical jokes and general revelry that accompanied wakes and which are now increasingly things of the past. Helpful background to Finnegans Wake, by James Joyce, which takes place at a wake and features many jokes, literary games and high-spirited hijinks.' - J. Geary

Seán Ó Súilleabháin, a renowned folklorist and native Irish speaker, was born on November 30, 1903, in Derrylough, Co. Kerry, Ireland. After being introduced to folklore during his schooling in Beaufield, Co. Mayo, he developed a lifelong passion for the subject, which he started formally collecting in 1923. His training as a primary school teacher, work as an archivist for the newly formed Irish Folklore Commission, and eventual role as a lecturer in folklore at University College Dublin allowed him to delve deeply into the discipline. He authored a vast collection of works, including collections of poems, songs, folktales, and studies on Irish folk customs. Throughout his life, Ó Súilleabháin was a strong advocate for the Irish language and traditional music, serving on multiple commissions and receiving an honorary D.Litt. (Celt.) from the National University of Ireland in 1976. He was married to Maureen Sheehy and had two children. Ó Súilleabháin passed away on December 13, 1996, and is commemorated by a stone erected in his honor in Tuosist.

• IntroductionWakes at Present and Long AgoStorytelling; Singing; Music and Dancing; Card Playing; Riddles; Tongue Twisters; Versifying and repetition of Jingles.Contests in Strength; Agility; Dexterity; Accuracy of Aim; Endurance and Toughness; Hardihood and Athletics.Taunting and Mocking; Booby Traps; Mischief-making; Horse-Play, Rough Games; Fights at Wakes and Funerals.Imitative GamesCatch GamesGames of Hide, Seek and GuessingVarious Other GamesThe Keening of the DeadChurch Opposition to Wake AbusesThe Extent of Wake Abuses and Their DeclineThe Origin and Purpose of Wakes and Their AmusementsSourcesIndex

'Macabre but a fascinating exploration of the games, practical jokes and general revelry that accompanied wakes and which are now increasingly things of the past. Helpful background to Finnegans Wake, by James Joyce, which takes place at a wake and features many jokes, literary games and high-spirited hijinks.' - J. Geary