Patricia Lynch (1) (1894–1972)

Two young children have a series of magical adventures with some of the great figures of Irish folklore and mythology in this modern children's classic, penned by one of the great writers of 20th-century Irish children's literature. The son and daughter of a turf-cutter, Seamus and Eileen live in a small whitewashed cottage near an Irish bog. One day they meet Long Ears, a magical donkey that leads them into their first fantastical experience, taking them to the wishing pool said to exist at the top of the nearby hill. This is one of many extraordinary incidents, as they rescue the Tinker Chief, gain a long-lost teapot with gold sovereigns, find and lose a leprechaun, and visit the local Fair. Other encounters follow, including a trip across the Road of Dreams, in which the children meet the Fianna, and an episode in which they fall into a storybook and come across everything from the Salmon of Wisdom to the Cauldron of the Dagda...

A wonderfully entertaining, episodic work of fantasy for children, The Turf-Cutter's Donkey was first published in book form in 1934, although it was serialized in The Irish Press from 1931. Beautifully written and beautifully-illustrated - although the original serial publication contained the artwork of G. Altendorf, the illustrations in the book were done by celebrated Irish artist Jack B. Yeats - it was an absolute pleasure to read. The general storyline, in which two Irish children are led into magical adventures by a donkey, and encounter many of the characters of Irish myth, put me strongly in mind of Pat O'Shea's marvelous 1985 fantasy novel, The Hounds of the Morrigan. Lynch's book must surely have served as a template for O'Shea, and I was charmed to discover it, as the O'Shea is one of my favorite works of fantasy. Although long aware of this one, I eventually read it as part of my masters course in children's literature, and I am glad to have done so. At some point I'd like to reread it, and then proceed to the sequels, The Turf-Cutter's Donkey Goes Visiting and The Turf-Cutter's Donkey Kicks Up His Heels. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys myth-tinged fantasy fiction.… (more)

Last read when i was 8 (48 years ago) and I still recall bits of it. This is a beautiful magical tale, a cross between a fairy tale and an odyssey, and one which could only happen in Ireland.
Betsy, a runaway, adventurous goose encounters Sheila, a little Cinderella type, living with nasty Fat Maggie Fagan. When Sheila is sent off on a spurious errand to get butter from Bridgie Swallow (is there any such person or is it a ruse to get rid of the child?), the pair fall in with the Ballad Singer and his lad, and the good natured apple woman.
All manner of events occur, from the everyday (railways, horse races, fairs) to the magical - the Children of Lir pop up(Irish mythical children turned into swans), along with talking animals, a magic scarecrow and much more.
I guess the test of a book is that it still engrosses the reader as an adult. Read in one sitting - it's a delight!… (more)