Beautifully designed new hardback edition of Lady Gregory's definitive collection of Irish myths and Legends, from the Tuatha Dé Danaan to the Fianna.

From the epic Irish legend of Cuchulain to tales of banshees, leprechauns and wizards, these short stories and fables cover a wide range of Ireland's mythology and legends, forming a companion volume to Michael Scott's Irish Folk and Fairy Tales.

With a preface by William Butler Yeats.

First written down in the eighth century AD, these early Irish stories depict a far older world - part myth, part legend and part history. Rich with magic and achingly beautiful, they speak of a land of heroic battles, intense love and warrior ideals, in which the otherworld is explored and men mingle freely with the gods. From the vivid adventures of the great Celtic hero Cu Chulaind, to the stunning 'Exile of the Sons of Uisliu' - a tale of treachery, honour and romance - these are masterpieces of passion and vitality, and form the foundation for the Irish literary tradition: a mythic legacy that was a powerful influence on the work of Yeats, Synge and Joyce.

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In this beautifully illustrated book readers are introduced to the greatest Irish stories of all time. From tales of the mighty Fianna and the great warrior Cúchulainn, to star-crossed lovers Diarmuid and Gráinne, and Deirdre and Naoise, these wonderful, classic stories are retold in a more modern style to appeal to today's youngsters. Stories include: The Children of Lir The Salmon of Knowledge How Setanta became Cúchulainn The Giant's Causeway Oisín and Niamh in Tír na nÓg Diarmuid and Gráinne Fionn and the Dragon Deirdre of the Sorrows The Cattle Raid of Cooley

"Journalist Marie Heaney skillfully revives the glory of ancient Irish storytelling in this comprehensive volume from the great pre-Christian sequences to the more recent tales of the three patron saints Patrick, Brigid, and Colmcille."--Publisher's description.