The Hero in Irish Folk History

The Hero in Irish Folk History examines how heroic figures are remembered, shaped and interpreted within Irish folklore and folk history. Dáithí Ó hÓgáin considers legends associated with Irish heroes alongside the historical ideas, social memories and traditional narratives that helped preserve them.

The study places heroic tradition within the wider relationship between folklore and history, treating legendary material as evidence of changing cultural understandings rather than straightforward biography. Its discussion includes historic legend and the ways Irish communities connected celebrated figures with the past. A substantial bibliography and index support the book’s scholarly approach, making it useful for tracing the development and interpretation of heroic traditions in Ireland.