Most prople today link fairy stories with folklore which is regarded as one of the three principal sources of information on the past. In this respect we, in this Sliabh Luachra area, are very lucky in that much of this information has survived. The richness and beauty of oral Irish tradition is in no small way linked to a native and a proud delight in the art and custom of story telling. Many aspects of European and indeed world tales, which have long since passed on, have thankfully lingered on in Ireland. Some people maintain that the Irish language was the main vehicle for this lore.