The Old Grey Magician

Fionn Cycle: A loose collection of tales originating in Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man which surround hunter-warrior leader Fionn, his band of men and his poet son, Ossian.

Old Grey Magician: A mystical, morally ambivalent figure who appears throughout Celtic mythology; in Ireland he is the Dark Druid, and often he appears as a seabird. The shapeshifting sorcerer is a thorn in Fionn’s side, solving impossible problems but always asking too much in return.

George W Macpherson has been telling the traditional tales of Fionn and the Fianna for years, artfully drawing in audiences with his storytelling talent. Gathered from sources all over the country and occasionally beyond, and collected here for the first time, the Old Grey Magician’s exploits offer a fascinating insight into the traditions of Scotland and the development of oral storytelling. Introduced and situated in physical and literary history by Donald Smith, this collection reminds us of the importance of retaining the stories that shaped us.

George W. Macpherson

GEORGE W. MACPHERSON is from Skye and has collected traditional stories from the age of three. He has become one the best known traditional storytellers in Scotland. He has been previously published in several magazines and has appeared on TV and radio in the UK (BBC, STV, BSkyB), Australia, Germany (GDR), US History Channel, Japanese television, and has performed and lectured for many prestigious venues and institutions, including: Yale University and the Edinburgh Festival (first ever Scottish storyteller). In 1997/8 he provided the story that opened the Commonwealth Heads of State Convention in Edinburgh. He also appears at the Skye Storytelling Festival and is an annual participant in the Edinburgh Storytelling Festival.