A Reading Book in Irish History

As this little book is intended chiefly for children, the language is very simple. But to make matters still easier, all words and allusions presenting the smallest difficulty are explained either in footnotes or in the "Notes and Explanations" at the end.

Advantage has been taken of the descriptions under the several Illustrations to give a good deal of information on the customs and usages of the ancient Irish people.

Although the book has been written for children, it will be found, I hope, sufficiently interesting and instructive for the perusal of older persons.

The book, as will be seen, contains a mixture of Irish History, Biography, and Romance; and most of the pieces appear in their present form now for the first time. A knowledge of the History of the country is conveyed, partly in special Historical Sketches, partly in the Notes under the Illustrations, and partly through the Biography of important personages, who flourished at various periods from St. Brigit down to the Great Earl of Kildare. And besides this, the Stories, like those of all other ancient nations, teach History of another kind, very important in its own way.

Ancient Irish Manuscript books contain great numbers of Historical and Romantic Tales; and the specimens given here in translation will, I am confident, give the reader a very favourable impression of old Irish writings of this class.

* * * * *

I make the following acknowledgments of assistance, with pleasure and thanks:--

To the Council of the Royal Irish Academy I am indebted for the use of the blocks of many Illustrations in Wilde's "Catalogue of Irish Antiquities."

I owe to the Council of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland several Illustrations from their Journal.

Colonel Wood-Martin has given me the use of the blocks of several of the Illustrations in his "Pagan Ireland."

Lord Walter FitzGerald has given me permission to reproduce the drawing of the old Chapter House door in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, from the "Journal of the Kildare Archæological Society."

And lastly, Messrs. Macmillan & Co. have permitted me to print portions of Lord Tennyson's poem, "The Voyage of Maildune."

CONTENTS.

PAGE

I. Legends and Early History, 1

II. The Song of Inisfail, 7

III. Religion of the Pagan Irish, 8

IV. Customs and Modes of Life, 14

=The Fate of the Children of Lir.=

V. The Children of Lir turned to Swans, 22

VI. The Swans on Lake Darvra, 27

VII. The Swans on the Sea of Moyle, 32

VIII. Death of the Children of Lir, 39

IX. Religion and Learning in Ancient Ireland, 45

X. The Red Branch Knights, 50

=The Fate of the Sons of Usna.=

XI. The Flight to Alban, 55

XII. Concobar's guileful Message, 60

XIII. The Return to Emain, 66

XIV. Trouble Looming, 72

XV. The Attack on the Sons of Usna, 75

XVI. Death of the Sons of Usna, 80

XVII. Avenging and Bright, 84

XVIII. The Wrath of Fergus, 85

XIX. Ancient Irish Physicians: I. 87

XX. Ancient Irish Physicians: II. 89

XXI. The Fena of Erin, 92

XXII. The Chase of Slieve Cullin, 98

XXIII. Saint Brigit: I., 103

XXIV. Saint Brigit: II., 107

XXV. Saint Brigit: III., 111

XXVI. Irish Scribes and Books, 114

XXVII. The Gilla Dacker and his Horse, 120

XXVIII. The Fena carried off by the Horse, 123

XXIX. Dermot O'Dyna at the Well, 129

XXX. Dermot and the Wizard-Champion, 132

XXXI. Saint Columkille: I., 139

XXXII. Saint Columkille: II., 145

XXXIII. Prince Alfred in Ireland, 150

=The Voyage of Maildune.=

XXXIV. The Voyage of Maildune, 155