Isn't it a great wonder—the fair green Emerald Isle?
And do you know why Ireland is so green? It is because the rain fairies love Ireland. They have made it the greenest spot on earth. They do be sprinkling it forever with the drops of their fairy rain.
Ireland is divided into four provinces. They are Ulster, Leinster, Munster, and Connaught.
In Connaught is the County of Galway. In the County of Galway is the District of Connemara.
In Connemara there is a village that looks out upon a lake. And in that village are wee houses covered with thatched roofs—roofs of straw.
WEE HOUSES COVERED WITH STRAW ROOFS
Inside one of these houses there lived a boy, Shaun O'Day. But I am not going to tell you now about Shaun O'Day, nor of the strange thing that befell him. Not now.
First, I shall tell you about his country. I shall tell you about his country because all children love to know the why and the wonder of things. And great is the wonder of Ireland.