JOYCE, Patrick Weston, M.A., LL.D. 1827-1914. B. at Ballyorgan, Co. Limerick. Ed. at private schools; graduated at T.C.D. In 1845 he entered the service of the Commissioners of National Education. He rose to be principal of the Marlborough Street Training Schools, Dublin. Elected M.R.I.A., 1863; President of Royal Society of Antiquaries. Wrote several histories of Ireland, of one of which 86,000 copies were sold. Publ. works on Irish place-names, Irish music, a grammar of the Irish language, a social history of Ancient Ireland, &c., &c. D. Jan., 1914. He was writing practically up to the day of his death.
⸺ OLD CELTIC ROMANCES. Pp. xx. + 474. (Longmans). [1879]. Third ed., revised and enlarged. 1907.
Thirteen tales, selected and translated from the manuscripts of Trinity College and of the Royal Irish Academy. Some had been already published, but in a form inaccessible to the public, and in literal translations made chiefly for linguistic purposes. The author justly claims that this is “the first collection of the old Gaelic prose romances that has ever been published in fair English translation.”—(Pref.). The translations are, as the Author says, in “simple, plain, homely English.” He has made little or no attempt to invest them with the glamour of poetry. The text is preceded by some particulars concerning these tales and their origin, and followed by notes and a list of proper names. The tales are: “The Fates of the Children of Lir, Tuireann and Usnach”; “The Voyages of Mailduin and of the Sons of O’Corra”; “The Pursuit of the Gilla Dacker and of Dermat and Grania”; “Connla of the Golden Hair”; “Oisin in Tir-na-nOge,” &c. “I would bring out,” said Dr. Richard Garnett, Librarian of the British Museum “Joyce’s Irish Romances in the cheapest possible form and place them in the hands of every boy and girl in the country.”
JOYCE, Robert Dwyer. Brother of the preceding. B. Glenosheen, Co. Limerick, 1830. Graduated in Queen’s Coll., Cork. Went to U.S.A. in 1866, where he was very successful as a doctor. Returned to Ireland, 1883, and died the same year. He is perhaps better known as a poet than as a prose writer.
⸺ LEGENDS OF THE WARS IN IRELAND. Pp. 352. (Boston: Campbell). 1868.
Thirteen historical and semi-historical legends, told by a thoroughly good story-teller, with plenty of colour and exciting incident and without clogging erudition. “A Batch of Legends” includes the story of the monks of Kilmacluth and the wonderful bird, a story of love in the ’45 (Culloden, &c.), a legend about Murrough of the Burnings, c. 1663, how Patrick saved the life of his servant Duan, Black Hugh Condon’s vengeance on the English, c. 1601; and another, “The Master of Lisfinry,” the takings and retakings of Youghal during the Desmond rebellion, story of a lost child found. “The Fair Maid of Killarney”—the taking of Ross Castle by Ludlow during Cromwellian wars. “An Eye for an Eye”—knightly combats during the Bruce invasion, 1315. “The Rose of Drimnagh”—abduction of Eleanora de Barneval of Drimnagh (near Inchicore) by the O’Byrnes. “The House of Lisbloom,” a legend of Sarsfield and the Rapparees, an exciting story. “The Whitethorn Tree,” a strange tale of Rapparees and Puritans, abductions and rescues and fights. “The First and Last Lords of Fermoy,” 1216 and 1660 (the faithless Charles II.) “The Little Battle of Bottle Hill” is another Rapparee story. “The Bridal Ring,” a story of Cahir Castle. “Rosaleen; or, the White Lady of Barna”—end of 18th century.
P.S.—Some of these Legends were publ. without the name of the Author in cheap paper ed. by Cameron & Ferguson, of Glasgow, under title, Galloping O’Hogan, and other tales, n.d.
⸺ IRISH FIRESIDE TALES. Pp. 376. (Boston). 1871.
Sixteen stories, some historical (or pseudo-historical), some legendary, some serious, some comic. The scenes are laid in various parts of Ireland, and at various periods. Told in very pleasant if somewhat old-fashioned style. Contents—“The Geraldine and his Bride Fair Ellen”; “The Pearl Necklace” (a love story of Kilmallock); “The Building of Mourne” (Cork—Legend); “A Little Bit of Sport” (four comic stories); “Madeline’s Vow” (modern); “The Golden Butterfly” (Co. Clare); “Creevan, the Brown Haired”; “Mun Carberry and the Phooka”; “a story of Dublin life in the days of Queen Ann,” &c. Very little dialect.