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He went on to become an elementary school principal in the village of Sneem, but the stories never left him. So he decided to leave his life in education to become a seanachie -- a storyteller. He now travels between Ireland and the United States telling traditional Irish stories.
Burns will be performing at the Irish Festival Gala Party today at the Best Western on Bay Street.
The Beaufort Irish Festival continues Saturday with a parade at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park and the festival at the University of South Carolina Beaufort Performing Arts Center.
Burns describes life as a seanachie (pronounced "shawn-a-kee").
Question. What is it about Irish storytelling that you find compelling?
Answer. It's our oldest tradition, and it's our most neglected tradition. Music, song and dance are in great shape. Storytelling is neglected. We've slipped away from it. I'm committed to keep it alive on both sides of the Atlantic. There's a great interest over here (in America). I spend a lot of time here.
Q. Did people think you were crazy when you decided to become a professional storyteller?
A. Ah, yes. I went out for a year for a start but kept extending. I never really went back once I left in 1994.
Q. Is there a difference between American and Irish audiences?
A. There's a difference because the storytelling is rooted in remote, rural Ireland. You have to soften it a little bit. It's English we speak, but it's influenced by Gaelic. I'm conscious (in America) that audiences aren't as familiar with the tradition. Other than that, (I) slow down. The Irish tend to talk fast. I maybe made that mistake in the beginning. But (now I) slow down and give it a bit more background. Even the word "seanachie" itself you have to explain more.
Q. Aside from the location and language, are there many similarities between the Irish and African or other storytelling traditions?
A. There are many similarities. Another storyteller would quickly identify with the stories I tell. Stories like the selkies (creatures that shed their seal-like skin to become human) are common in other traditions. There was a movie, "The Secret of Roan Inish" (released in 1994), that involved the story of the selkie. So, yes, there are common themes throughout all these different stories.
Q. What type of research do you typically do for your stories?
A. I'm constantly broadening the repertoire. Not only Ireland but also to stories from other traditions. When I wrote (the children's book "The King With Horse's Ears and Other Irish Folktales") it took me back in the past, but some new tales came about inspired by the old world.
You're always fine-tuning some of the stories.
