Darby o'Gill and the Good People
The narrative follows Darby O'Gill, a man from Ireland who faces misfortune when the Good People, or fairies, begin to steal his livestock, including his beloved cow, Rosie. In desperation, Darby confronts the fairies at their mountain home, Sleive-na-mon, determined to retrieve his cow. He encounters Sheela Maguire, a fairy doctor, who advises him to wait until the moon rises to see a herd of cows, including Rosie, but warns him of the dangers of confronting the fairies. Darby’s anger leads him to the mountain, where he ultimately finds himself captured by the fairies. Inside their realm, he discovers a vibrant world filled with fairy folk engaged in various trades and merriment. He is brought before Brian Conners, the King of the Fairies, who is initially pleased to have Darby as a guest but later expresses regret that Darby cannot leave without revealing their secrets. As time passes, Darby becomes increasingly homesick for his wife, Bridget, and their children. He meets Maureen McGibney, his wife’s sister, who has also been taken by the fairies. Together, they devise a plan for Darby to escape. Maureen reveals that the fairies cannot harm anyone who possesses holly or is outside during daylight. She also learns a powerful word that can open the mountain's entrance. After several months, Darby manages to escape with the help of Maureen's plan, which involves creating a circle of holly around his home to trap the fairies. When the Good People come to retaliate, Darby successfully captures them between two rings of holly. He negotiates their release by demanding the return of his livestock and a sum of gold, while also ensuring that the fairies promise not to meddle with his family again. In the end, Darby returns to his family, enriched and relieved, while maintaining a respectful relationship with the Good People. The story concludes with Darby enjoying his life, often visited by the fairy king, who brings him gifts and companionship, illustrating a balance between the human and fairy worlds.
By Herminie Templeton Kavanagh · First published 1937 · Genre: Fantasy, Folklore, Adventure · 6,401 words
First lines
Although only one living man of his own free will ever went among them there, still, any well-learned person in Ireland can tell you that the abode of the Good People is in the hollow heart of the great mountain Sleive-na-mon. That same one man was Darby O'Gill, a cousin of my own mother.
Right and left, generation after generation, the fairies had stolen pigs, young childher, old women, young men, cows, churnings of butter from other people, but had never bothered any of our kith or kin until, for some mysterious rayson, they soured on Darby, and took the eldest of his three foine pigs.
What this Textopian page supports
Darby o'Gill and the Good People is listed on Textopian as a novel by Herminie Templeton Kavanagh, dated 1937 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Herminie Templeton Kavanagh
- Date: 1937 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Folklore, Adventure, Comedy, Children's Literature
- Length: 6,401 words
- Structure: 1 section, 130 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Darby o'Gill and the Good People by Herminie Templeton Kavanagh
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Darby o'Gill and the Good People?
- How does this novel by Herminie Templeton Kavanagh fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Darby Ogill And The Leprechaun by Herminie Templeton Kavanagh
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- The Laughing Prince The Story Of The Boy Who Could Talk Nonsense by Parker Fillmore
- The Man With The Pan Pipes by Mary Louisa Molesworth
- The Frost King And How The Fairies Conquered Him by Louisa May Alcott
Genres
- Fantasy — The story revolves around fairies and magical elements, central to the plot and themes.
- Folklore — The narrative draws heavily from Irish folklore, featuring traditional characters and cultural elements.
- Adventure — Darby's quest to retrieve his cow and navigate the fairy realm constitutes an adventurous journey.
- Comedy — The humorous interactions and situations involving Darby and the fairies provide comedic relief.
Tags
Fiction · Fantasy · Ireland · Mythology · Fairies · Magic · Adventure · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Family · Friendship