Myth, Legend and Romance: An Encyclopaedia of the Irish Folk Tradition

This encyclopaedic reference work brings together Irish folklore, mythology, legend and romance literature, placing traditional narratives alongside the beliefs and customs that shaped them. Its entries range across ancient and medieval material, later storytelling and the cultural memory attached to Ireland’s heroes, rulers and otherworldly beings.

Figures and cycles associated with the Tuatha Dé Danann, Cú Chulainn, Fionn mac Cumhaill and the Fianna appear alongside accounts connected with saints, scholars and Irish kingship. The book’s scope also includes fairies, legendary places, religious traditions and long-observed customs, making it a useful source for the stories and beliefs behind Ireland’s darker folklore.