Witch trials in the European or American sense were not common in Ireland although they did occur. In this book the stories of four remarkable court cases that took place from the fourteenth to the nineteenth century are told; other chapters chronicle the extraordinary lives of individuals deemed to be practitioners of the black arts - hedge witches, sorcerers and sinister characters. The book gives a unique insight into the fascinating overlap between witch belief and the vast range of fairy lore that held sway for many centuries throughout the land.

No one is sure where Bob Curran comes from. Tradition says that one moment he wasn't there and the next moment he was in County Down. He has, however, held various jobs - including gravedigger, hospital porter, civil servant and teacher - has studied History and Education at the New University of Ulster, and has received a Ph.D. in Educational Social Psychology. Bob has a strong interest in local history and folklore, and has both written and lectured on these subjects; he is a frequent contributor to radio, and has appeared on television co-presenting programmes on heritage and history. It is said that Bob currently lives somewhere in north Antrim, with his teacher wife and two small children; but it is difficult to be sure, as he is seen only 'between the lights' (at twilight), and then only by a fortunate few.