An Old Woman's Reflections by Peig Sayers
Translated by Séamus Ennis
These are the reminiscences of an old woman as dictated to and recorded by her son.
Peig became known as the “Queen of Gaelic Storytellers” for her great skill as a ‘seanchaí’. Translated from the Irish, her stories are
those of a natural born orator, rich in the use of language with proverb and verse throughout. Peig’s reflections detail events over her
lifetime, from her childhood in the Parish of Dunquin on the Dingle Peninsula to old age on the Great Blasket Island, where she spent
over 40 years of her life. The ordinariness of the lives of these simple people, such as gathering the turf, fishing, quarrels about hens
and matchmaking are recounted, as are the major events, such as trips to the mainland, pilgrimages, drownings and the arrival of
British soldiers on the Island. These stories detail the hardship and sorrow which were commonplace in Peig’s life, yet, the great
pleasure which she derived from simple things and her quiet submission to the will of God. The generosity, warmth and friendship
among these island people, despite the toughness of life, is evident in these reflections. Peig describes the changes that have taken
place over her lifetime and her pride in and love of the Irish language, which she describes as the “language of the superior men”. “An
Old Woman’s Reflections” provides an important record of the lives of ordinary island people in the first half of the 20th century.
Peig had a gift for deriving pleasure from the simple things, and this, along with her musical speech and great skill as a storyteller,
makes this book a most entertaining read.
Carrie Stafford,
Clare County Library.
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