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 ArchA|ological 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