The historical and cultural significance of the Irish Folklore Commission

Abstract

In order to understand and appreciate the cultural history of a population, it is crucial to both study and collect their folklore and traditions. In Ireland, folklore was the major form of history for thousands of years, passed down orally from generation to generation. However, as society began to modernize, old customs were slowly forgotten. In an attempt to preserve the folklore of the Irish people, The Irish Folklore Commission was founded in 1935. With the assistance of James Delargy and Sean O'Sullivan, this vast wealth of information was saved for future scholars and the general public. In this thesis I analyze the major factors that led to the need for a folklore program, the people who made it possible, what the Irish Folklore Commission accomplished, and why folklore is extremely important to Irish cultural heritage.