Waysiders, Stories of Connacht

"Waysiders, Stories of Connacht" by Seumas O'Kelly is a collection of short stories set in early 20th-century rural Ireland, specifically in the Connacht province, where the lives and interactions of its inhabitants are brought to life. The opening story features Festus Clasby, a well-known shopkeeper, and Mac-an-Ward, a wandering tinker, highlighting themes of trade, community, and the enchanting world of Irish folklore; the story unfolds as Mac-an-Ward tries to sell Clasby an unusual tin can, which leads to a vivid exchange that defines their individual characters and foreshadows the interconnected tales of struggle, society, and commerce that follow.