I have endeavoured to include in this volume the best and most typical stories told by the chief masters of the Celtic folk-tale, Campbell, Kennedy, Hyde, and Curtin, and to these I have added the best tales scattered elsewhere. By this means I hope I have put together a volume, containing both the best, and the best known folk-tales of the Celts. I have only been enabled to do this by the courtesy of those who owned the copyright of these stories. Lady Wilde has kindly granted me the use of her effective version of "The Horned Women;" and I have specially to thank Messrs. Macmillan for right to use Kennedy's "Legendary Fictions," and Messrs. Sampson Low & Co., for the use of Mr. Curtin's Tales.
In making my selection, and in all doubtful points of treatment, I have had resource to the wide knowledge of my friend Mr. Alfred Nutt in all branches of Celtic folk-lore. If this volume does anything to represent to English children the vision and colour, the magic and charm, of the Celtic folk-imagination, this is due in large measure to the care with which Mr. Nutt has watched its inception and progress. With him by my side I could venture into regions where the non-Celt wanders at his own risk.
Lastly, I have again to rejoice in the co-operation of my friend, Mr. J. D. Batten, in giving form to the creations of the folk-fancy. He has endeavoured in his illustrations to retain as much as possible of Celtic ornamentation; for all details of Celtic archaeology he has authority. Yet both he and I have striven to give Celtic things as they appear to, and attract, the English mind, rather than attempt the hopeless task of representing them as they are to Celts. The fate of the Celt in the British Empire bids fair to resemble that of the Greeks among the Romans. "They went forth to battle, but they always fell," yet the captive Celt has enslaved his captor in the realm of imagination. The present volume attempts to begin the pleasant captivity from the earliest years. If it could succeed in giving a common fund of imaginative wealth to the Celtic and the Saxon children of these isles, it might do more for a true union of hearts than all your politics.
JOSEPH JACOBS.
CONTENTS
I. CONNLA AND THE FAIRY MAIDEN II. GULEESH III. THE FIELD OF BOLIAUNS IV. THE HORNED WOMEN V. CONAL YELLOWCLAW VI. HUDDEN AND DUDDEN AND DONALD O'NEARY VII. THE SHEPHERD OF MYDDVAI VIII. THE SPRIGHTLY TAILOR IX. THE STORY OF DEIRDRE X. MUNACHAR AND MANACHAR XI. GOLD-TREE AND SILVER-TREE XII. KING O'TOOLE AND HIS GOOSE XIII. THE WOOING OF OLWEN XIV. JACK AND HIS COMRADES XV. THE SHEE AN GANNON AND THE GRUAGACH GAIRE XVI. THE STORY-TELLER AT FAULT XVII. THE SEA-MAIDEN XVIII. A LEGEND OF KNOCKMANY XIX. FAIR, BROWN, AND TREMBLING XX. JACK AND HIS MASTER XXI. BETH GELLERT XXII. THE TALE OF IVAN XXIII. ANDREW COFFEY XXIV. THE BATTLE OF THE BIRDS XXV. BREWERY OF EGGSHELLS XXVI. THE LAD WITH THE GOAT-SKIN
NOTES AND REFERENCES
CONNLA AND THE FAIRY MAIDEN
Connla of the Fiery Hair was son of Conn of the Hundred Fights. One day as he stood by the side of his father on the height of Usna, he saw a maiden clad in strange attire coming towards him.
"Whence comest thou, maiden?" said Connla.