Myth, Legend and Romance - An Encyclopedia of the Irish Folk Tradition

Traditional stories, mythical narratives and long observed customs give a unique reflection of the psyche and cultural history of a people. Here is examined the folk tradition of Ireland and so opens a special window to the Irish - from the misty legends of the Tuatha De Danann, the martial glory of the Irish epics, to the greater realm of the island's saints and scholars. Although popular interest in the Irish folk tradition is long established, this is the first standard reference book compiled combining the related fields of folklore, myth, legend and roman literature in one volume. This substantial work covers in alphabetical order all of the stories concerning the characters in the narrative history of the selected tradition. It incorporates the mythological, Ulster, Fianna, and Kings cycles as well as the hagiography, folk tales and customs of Ireland. A full list of sources is given in abbreviated form as an adjunct to each entry which refer to a complete bibliography forming a separate part of the volume. Several indexes are employed as well as a short introduction to Gaelic and a pronunciation guide...