This is the first of two volumes, so rich are the story-mining seams taken from just the few Irish collections I have in my possession at the moment. These first stories have been taken from around one hundred and forty Irish tales, themselves taken from pretty well every tradition, including classic tales of Irish legend, fairy and folk beliefs, and tales in the vernacular, oral tradition.


For the most part these tales are as collected by Victorian and Edwardian enthusiasts, but there are one or two tales where I have amended the original to suit modern language tastes and norms.



There are also a few stories that clearly share a common root, and appear similar at first reading, but there always seem to be sufficient and interesting differences to keep the reader's attention.



I hope you enjoy this ever-growing collection from a grand British and Irish heritage. These Irish tales have taken a lot of work to collect and sift and prepare, but as ever, I've loved putting this collection together.

PREFACE



A LEGEND OF KNOCKMANY



ANDREW COFFEY



BEWITCHED BUTTER



CLOUGH NA CUDDY



CONALL YELLOWCLAW



CUCHULAIN OF MUIRTHEMNE



DIARMID BAWN, THE PIPER



DONALD AND HIS NEIGHBOURS



FAIR, BROWN AND TREMBLING



FAR DARRIG IN DONEGAL



FIOR USGA



GOLD AND SILVER TREE



GULEESH



HOOKEDY-CROOKEDY



JACK AND HIS MASTER



KING IUBDAN AND KING FERGUS



KING O'TOOLE AND ST KEVIN



LAWN DYARRIG AND THE KNIGHT OF TERRIBLE VALLEY



LEGEND OF BOTTLE HILL



LOUGH LEAGH



MASTER AND MAN



MORRAHA



MUNACHAR AND MANACHAR



NED SHEEHY'S EXCUSE



OWNEY AND OWNEY-NA-PEAK



RENT-DAY



TEIG O'KANE AND THE CORPSE



THE ADVENTURES OF CIAD, SON OF THE KING OF NORWAY



THE AMADAN OF THE DOUGH



THE BANSHEE OF THE MAC CARTHYS



THE BIRTH OF BRAN



THE BOYHOOD OF FION



THE BREWERY OF EGGSHELLS



THE CARVING OF MAC DATHO'S BOAR



THE COUNTESS KATHLEEN O'SHEA



THE DEMON CAT



THE ENCHANTED CAVE OF CESH CORRAN



THE ENCHANTMENT OF GEAROIDH IARLA



THE FAIRY GREYHOUND



THE FATE OF FRANK M'KENNA



THE FIELD OF BOLIAUNS



THE GOOD WOMAN



THE HAUGHTY PRINCESS



THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN



THE HILL-MAN AND THE HOUSEWIFE



THE HORNED WOMEN



THE JACKDAW



THE KING OF THE BLACK DESERT



THE LAD WITH THE GOAT-SKIN



THE LAZY BEAUTY AND HER AUNTS



THE LEGEND OF KNOCKFIERNA



THE LEGEND OF KNOCKSHEGOWNA



THE LEGEND OF O'DONOGHUE



THE LITTLE WEAVER OF DULEEK GATE



THE MAD PUDDING OF BALLYBOULTEEN



THE PLAISHAM



THE PURSUIT OF THE GILLA DACKER



THE QUEST OF THE SONS OF TURENN



THE RED PONY



THE SECRET OF LABRA



THE SNOW, THE CROW, AND THE BLOOD



THE SPIRIT HORSE



THE STORY OF DEIRDRE



THE STORY OF THE CHILDREN OF LIR



THE STORYTELLER AT FAULT



THE THREE CROWNS



THE THREE WISHES



THE VENGEANCE OF MESGEDRA



THE WITCHES' EXCURSION



THE WONDERFUL TUNE



THE WOOING OF BECFOLA



HISTORICAL NOTES



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