Career
MacCool is the author of Ionan Tales, a series of twelve lengthy tales in verse inspired by the Canterbury Tales and which he has performed more than a thousand times in places from Brisbane to Chicago since their premiere at a Sunday Times–sponsored Literary Festival at the 2000 Millennium. His shows typically combine his singing of Irish or Scots folk ballads, such as The Belle of Belfast City or Whiskey in the Jar, a poetic recitation and a Celtic drum performance. On 13 November 2004, he presented two of his stories "The Boxer"s Tale" and the "Story of Sawney Bean" in Pember Heath Village Hall, along with his renditions of Irish and Scottish folk ballads.
During the May 2008 Malvern Fringe Festival he performed two shows in rotation 18 times each over a six-day period.
MacCool has also performed at the Buxton Fringe Festival and the Camden Fringe Festival, as well as at schools. Jim MacCool took part in the Buxton Fringe Festival in 2010 and 2008 see the web site for reviews.
