Irish music often includes aspects of old legends and in school students often learn the stories in an educational format.
In ancient times, storytellers were both bringers of education and entertainment. They were said to travel from one clan/kingdom to another, exchanging their knowledge for shelter and food. It used to be that most people didn't have the ability to read or write, so history was passed down through verbal storytelling. Passing on history and legends became an evening activity, one that brought entertainment after a long day of work. Perhaps its most important impact was its ability to preserve Irish culture even into more modern times.
This tradition is important in relation to the environment because the creatures in the stories are said to live in the very earth itself. Faeries and legendary figures inhabited forests and caves, and as such, people are often superstitious about certain areas or environments. Faeries and witches were often used as ways to scare children or demonstrate the dangers of the natural environment.
