Storyteller. Born Máiréad Sayers in Vicarstown, Dún Chaoin, County Kerry, Ireland, the daughter of Margaret Ni Bhrosnachain (Brosnan) and Tomás Sayers. She went into service at twelve. In 1892, she married Pádraig Ó Guithín from Great Blasket Island where she then moved, and there raised her family. Living in a one room stone cottage, they produced eleven children, six would survive to adulthood. She developed a reputation as a seanachaí, an Irish word indicating a tale teller or oral historian. Sean O’Sullivan, author of "Folktales of Ireland," once said she was among the last great Irish storytellers. In the late 1920s Dr. Robin Flower, Keeper of Manuscripts at the British Museum, traveled to the island to record her tales. She dictated her biography in Gaelic to her son Micheál in 1936, the manuscript was published as 'Peig: The Autobiography of Peig Sayers of the Great Blasket Island' and was for many years required reading in Irish schools. Beginning in 1938, she related her store of tales to the Irish Folklore Commission. In 1942 she returned to Viacarstown, and in 1947 Radio Éireann's Travel Unit visited, recording over an hour of her stories. She was moved to a hospital in Dingle a few years later where Sean O’Sullivan recorded more of her repertoire. She died in hospital at age 85.
Storyteller. Born Máiréad Sayers in Vicarstown, Dún Chaoin, County Kerry, Ireland, the daughter of Margaret Ni Bhrosnachain (Brosnan) and Tomás Sayers. She went into service at twelve. In 1892, she married Pádraig Ó Guithín from Great Blasket Island where she then moved, and there raised her family. Living in a one room stone cottage, they produced eleven children, six would survive to adulthood. She developed a reputation as a seanachaí, an Irish word indicating a tale teller or oral historian. Sean O’Sullivan, author of "Folktales of Ireland," once said she was among the last great Irish storytellers. In the late 1920s Dr. Robin Flower, Keeper of Manuscripts at the British Museum, traveled to the island to record her tales. She dictated her biography in Gaelic to her son Micheál in 1936, the manuscript was published as 'Peig: The Autobiography of Peig Sayers of the Great Blasket Island' and was for many years required reading in Irish schools. Beginning in 1938, she related her store of tales to the Irish Folklore Commission. In 1942 she returned to Viacarstown, and in 1947 Radio Éireann's Travel Unit visited, recording over an hour of her stories. She was moved to a hospital in Dingle a few years later where Sean O’Sullivan recorded more of her repertoire. She died in hospital at age 85.
Bio by: Iola
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