FOLK OF ARAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 37, 13 February 1937, Page 14

FOLK OF ARAN.

■ . LIFE ON THE ISLANDS. . A visit to the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland is like stepping back a generation and entering an enchanted land where the people dress in the fashion of a century ago and still believe in fairies. There are three islands in the group— Inishmore, the largest, roughly nine miles long and one and three-quarter miles wide, with a population of nearly two thousand people; Inishmaan (Middle Island), and Inisheer (South Island), each with live hundred inhabitants. Wildly beautiful and unspoilt by modern civilisation, yet they are easily accessible as a holiday resort. These fairy isles of the west cater for all types of holiday maker, the archaeologist, the botanist, the fisherman and the ordinary tourist. They possess a wealth of antiquities which' include the ruins of numerous early churches the remains of massive etonc forts thousands of years old, and an almost perfect "beehive" hut built of stones, a very ancient relic of remote times. Many and various rock plants grow in the limestone fissures.

Superstitions. The natives are kind and friendly, although the majority of them can speak only in tho fiaelic tongue. They cling to the old manners and customs of bygone days, wearing homespun woollen garments, and on their feet, painpooties—rough cowhide shoes tied round with string—similar to those worn by their ancestors a thousand years ago. . They sail the seas in currnchs, primitive flatboats made of tarred canvas over a light wooden frame, rowed with almost bladders oars. On Inishmaan the small 'boys are dressed like little girls. The whole year round they wear thick woollen frocks reaching to the ankles, and cotton pinafores. The islanders have an important reason for clothing their sons in female attire, for they do it to fool the fairies. According to tradition, pixies. and leprechauns steal little boys, so the youngsters pretend they are girls until they are too big to be carried off by thieving sprites.

The natives are shy to speak of their fears and superstitions. Either they are afraid people will laugh at them or that the fairies will hear and punish, but wlien they can be persuaded to talk many are the old folk tales and quaint creepy stories they will tell.

There are no motor care or trains to disturb the quiet peace. If you will not walk you must go in a jaunting car, on a bicycle, or on the Ijack of a horse or donkey. But even on the Aran Islands you are not cut off completely from all modern culture. There is a resident doctor on Inishmore and a telegraph office connected with the mainland. The climate is warm and healthy. There are practically no trees, and in spite of tho wild rocky coast there are good bathing facilities.