Ancient legends, Mystic Charms & Superstitions of Ireland / With sketches of the Irish past
Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. Variations in hyphenation and accents have been standardised but all other spelling and punctuation remains unchanged.
ANCIENT LEGENDS OF IRELAND
WITH SKETCHES OF THE IRISH PAST
BY LADY WILDE
A NEW EDITION
LONDON CHATTO & WINDUS 1919
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS ON ANCIENT LEGENDS OF IRELAND.
‘A work to be welcomed as a valuable addition to the literature of folk-lore and mythology; taken down, for the most part, from oral communications with the peasantry.’—Scotsman.
‘Few nations have a folk-lore so rich and imaginative as that of the Irish. Lady Wilde has studied it conscientiously, and is so well acquainted with the origins of her subject, that the perusal of her book is no less instructive than pleasing.’—Morning Post.
‘An important contribution to the literature of Ireland and the world’s stock of folk-lore.’—Evening Mail.
‘Lady Wilde’s book will be welcome either to the professed student of Irish antiquity or to the more general reader who finds delight in fascinating folk-tales delightfully recorded.’—Westminster Review.
‘Told with power as well as with simplicity ... a very interesting and readable collection of folk-lore.’—Graphic.
Lady Wilde
Transcriber’s Notes
PREFACE.
ANCIENT LEGENDS.
INTRODUCTION.
THE LEGEND OF BALLYTOWTAS CASTLE.
A WOLF STORY.
THE EVIL EYE.
THE STOLEN BRIDE.
FAIRY MUSIC.
THE FAIRY DANCE.
FAIRY JUSTICE.
THE PRIEST’S SOUL.
THE FAIRY RACE.
THE TRIAL BY FIRE.
THE LADY WITCH.
ETHNA THE BRIDE.
THE FAIRIES’ REVENGE.
THE FARMER PUNISHED.
THE FARMER’S WIFE.
LEGENDS OF THE WESTERN ISLANDS.
THE BRIDE’S DEATH-SONG.
THE CHILD’S DREAM.
THE FAIRY CHILD.
THE DOOM.
THE CLEARING FROM GUILT.
THE HOLY WELL AND THE MURDERER.
SUPERSTITIONS CONCERNING THE DEAD.
THE FATAL LOVE-CHARM.
RATHLIN ISLAND.
THE STRANGE GUESTS.
THE DEAD SOLDIER.
THE THREE GIFTS.
THE FAIRIES AS FALLEN ANGELS.
THE FAIRY CHANGELING.
FAIRY WILES.
THE CAVE FAIRIES.
EVIL SPELLS.
AN IRISH ADEPT OF THE ISLANDS.
THE MAY FESTIVAL.
MAY-DAY SUPERSTITIONS.
FESTIVALS.
NOVEMBER SPELLS.
NOVEMBER EVE.
MIDSUMMER.
MARRIAGE RITES.
THE DEAD.
THE WAKE ORGIES.
THE ANCIENT MYSTERIES.
THE POWER OF THE WORD.
THE POET AND THE KING.
THE SIDHE RACE.
MUSIC.
THE BANSHEE.
QUEEN MAEVE.
DEATH SIGNS.
SUPERSTITIONS.
THE FAIRY RATH.
FAIRY NATURE.
IRISH NATURE.
LEGENDS OF ANIMALS.
CONCERNING DOGS.
CONCERNING CATS.
THE BARDS.
KING ARTHUR AND THE CAT.
CONCERNING COWS.
THE DEAD HAND.
THE WICKED WIDOW.
THE BUTTER MYSTERY.
CONCERNING BIRDS
CONCERNING LIVING CREATURES.
VARIOUS SUPERSTITIONS AND CURES.
OMENS AND SUPERSTITIONS.
SUPERSTITIONS OF THE ISLANDS.
LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.
ST. PATRICK.
ST. CIARON.
ST. MARTIN.
ST. BRIDGET.
ST. KIERAN.
ST. KEVIN.
CHRISTIAN LEGENDS.
SWEARING STONES AND RELICS.
MYSTERIES OF FAIRY POWER.
THE EVIL STROKE.
THE CHANGELING.
THE FAIRY DOCTOR.
THE POET’S SPELL.
CHARM FOR THE FAIRY STROKE.
THE FARMER’S FATE.
THE FAIRY RATH.
THE HOLY WELLS
THE WHITE STONES.
THE SACRED TROUT.
ST. AUGUSTINE’S WELL.
THE GRILLED TROUT.
LEGEND OF NEAL-MOR.
ST. JOHN’S WELL.
THE WELL OF FIONN MA-COUL.
ST. SEENAN’S WELL.
KIL-NA-GREINA.
THE WELL OF WORSHIP.
THE BRIDE’S WELL.
THE IRISH FAKIR.
SACRED TREES.
TOBER-NA-DARA.
LOUGH NEAGH.
THE DOCTOR AND THE FAIRY PRINCESS.
A HOLY WELL.
A SACRED ISLAND.
THE LAKE OF REVENGE.
SCENES AT A HOLY WELL.
LOUGH FOYLE.
THE HEN’S CASTLE.
SLIABH-MISH, COUNTY KERRY.
THE SKELLIGS OF KERRY.
THE HURLING MATCH.
THE RIDE WITH THE FAIRIES.
THE FAIRY SPY.
THE DARK HORSEMAN.
SHEELA-NA-SKEAN.
CAPTAIN WEBB, THE ROBBER CHIEF.
THE BARDIC RACE.
THE ANCIENT RACE.
THE ANTIQUITIES OF IRELAND.
EARLY IRISH ART.
OUR ANCIENT CAPITAL.
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