Beneath the Sea Spells Selkies & Sea Tales

Taught by Carly-Rae Oakley-Doran , @heyitscarlyrae

At the edge of the sea, selkie stories follow beings who move between seal and human form, carrying questions of belonging, freedom, and life between worlds. In this class, Carly-Rae explores Irish fairylore through the oral tales collected in Síscéalta Ó Thír Chonaill and Scéalta Chois Cladaigh.

Together, we’ll examine how these stories explore and challenge gender expectations for girls and young women in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. You’ll consider how the shape-shifting sea folk of folklore offer a way to read the expectations placed on women and the possibilities imagined beyond them.

Includes:

• A 60-minute class recording

You’ll leave with:

• An introduction to Irish selkie fairylore and the oral tale collections explored in class

• An understanding of how selkie stories engage with historical gender expectations

• Ways to consider themes of freedom, belonging, and transformation within these tales

Bring a pen and something to take notes in as we explore the stories.

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