Foinsí

Sources

Where every tale, saying and fact on this site comes from.

How the tales survived

Almost everything we know of Ireland’s old gods was written down by Christian scholars, in monasteries and later in the schools of learned families, centuries after the island had converted. They copied, abridged, explained and sometimes rearranged what they received. We know very little about what anyone actually believed before them, and the honest word for much of it is “perhaps”.

The tales kept moving after that. Storytellers carried them from hearth to hearth; nineteenth-century writers like Carleton, Kennedy and Lady Gregory set them in print; the Irish Folklore Commission and the Schools’ Collection of 1937–39 recorded thousands more from people who still told them. This site tries to show which layer each thing comes from, because the layers are part of the story.

About this site

The site holds 30 tales told in full, 47 places, the 8 stations of the year, 149 Codex entries, 66 Irish words and 30 sayings. The retellings are new prose. Quotations come only from translations old enough to be in the public domain, and each is named.

The paintings on this site are made with AI.

The tales

Oidheadh Chloinne Lir: Irish text and translation · CELT, University College Cork
The "Trí thruaighe na scéalaigheachta" (the "Three most sorrowful tales") of Erinn · Eugene O'Curry, Atlantis 4 (1863), pp. 113–157
Old Celtic Romances · P. W. Joyce (London, 1879)
Gods and Fighting Men · Lady Gregory (London, 1904)
Irish Sagas Online: Oidheadh Chloinne Lir · University College Cork
Irish Melodies ("The Song of Fionnuala", 1808) · Thomas Moore
"A Legend of Knockmany", in Tales and Sketches Illustrating the Character of the Irish Peasantry · William Carleton (Dublin, 1845)
Celtic Fairy Tales · Joseph Jacobs (1892)
"The Giant's Causeway", Dublin Penny Journal 1:5 (28 July 1832) · Dublin Penny Journal
Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts · Patrick Kennedy (1866)
The Adventures of Nera · ed. and tr. Kuno Meyer, Revue Celtique 10 (1889), pp. 212–228
The Adventures of Nera · tr. Kuno Meyer (1889), reprinted by Mary Jones, Celtic Literature Collective
Aspects of Echtra Nerai · Patricia Ronan, Tionól 2000 (School of Celtic Studies, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies)
Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland: "The Bunworth Banshee" · T. Crofton Croker (London: John Murray, 1834; first published 1825)
Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms, and Superstitions of Ireland: "The Banshee" · Lady Wilde (London, 1887)
Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft, Letter X · Sir Walter Scott (London, 1830)
The Metrical Dindshenchas: "Boand II" · ed. and tr. Edward Gwynn, Part III (Todd Lecture Series X, Dublin, 1913), via CELT
The Prose Tales in the Rennes Dindshenchas: "Sinann" · ed. and tr. Whitley Stokes, Revue Celtique 15 (1894), tales 33 to 80, no. 59, p. 457, via the Thesaurus Linguae Hibernicae (UCD)
Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx, chapter VI: "The Folklore of the Wells" · John Rhys (Oxford, 1901), quoting Whitley Stokes's translation of the prose Dindshenchas of Boand
A Smaller Social History of Ancient Ireland: "Side-Nechtain, or the Hill of Carbury, County Kildare" · P. W. Joyce (1906), via Library Ireland
The Cattle-Raid of Cualnge (Tain Bo Cuailnge): An Old Irish Prose-Epic · tr. L. Winifred Faraday (London: David Nutt, 1904)
The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Táin Bó Cúalnge · tr. Joseph Dunn (London, 1914)
Cuchulain of Muirthemne · Lady Gregory (London, 1902)
The Cuchullin Saga in Irish Literature · ed. Eleanor Hull (London, 1898)
Táin Bó Cúalnge Recension 1: the manuscripts · CELT, University College Cork
The Metrical Dindshenchas: "Almu I" and "Almu II" · ed. and tr. Edward Gwynn, Part II (Dublin, 1906), via CELT
Fled Bricrend: The Feast of Bricriu · ed. and tr. George Henderson (Irish Texts Society 2, London: David Nutt, 1899)
Fled Bricrend: Irish text · CELT, University College Cork, from the edition of Ludwig Christian Stern, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 4 (1903), from the Leiden manuscript
Cuchulain of Muirthemne: "Bricriu's Feast, and the War of Words of the Women of Ulster" and "The Championship of Ulster" · Lady Gregory (London, 1902)
The Kiltartan Poetry Book: "The Hag of Beare" · Lady Gregory (New York: Putnam, 1919), via the University of Pennsylvania Digital Library
Aithbe dam bés mora: Irish text · CELT, University College Cork, from the edition of Gerard Murphy, Early Irish Lyrics (1956)
The Poem-Book of the Gael, Introduction · ed. Eleanor Hull (London: Chatto & Windus, 1913)
Oidhe Chloinne Tuireann: The Fate of the Children of Tuireann · ed. and tr. Richard J. O'Duffy (Society for the Preservation of the Irish Language, 1888; reissued 1901)
Gods and Fighting Men: "The Sons of Tuireann" · Lady Gregory (London, 1904)
Gods and Fighting Men: "Cael and Credhe" and "Credhe's Lament" · Lady Gregory (London, 1904)
Gods and Fighting Men: "The Best Men of the Fianna" and "The Last of the Great Men" · Lady Gregory (London, 1904)
Cath Muige Tuired Cunga: The First Battle of Moytura · ed. and tr. J. Fraser, Ériu 8 (1916), pp. 1–63, as reprinted in Mary Jones's Celtic Literature Collective
Gods and Fighting Men, Part I, Book I, "The Coming of the Tuatha de Danaan", chapter I: "The Fight with the Firbolgs" · Lady Gregory (London, 1904)
The Voyage of Bran, Son of Febal: Notes · Kuno Meyer (London, 1895)
Irish Sagas Online: Echtra Chondla · University College Cork; Irish text from Best and Bergin, Lebor na hUidre (Dublin, 1929)
Echtra Cormaic i Tír Tairngiri ocus Ceart Claidib Cormaic: Irish text · CELT, University College Cork
The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel · ed. and tr. Whitley Stokes, Revue Celtique 22 (1901), pp. 9–61, 165–215, 282–329 and 390–437, reprinted as a book (Paris, 1902); via CELT
The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel, in Epic and Saga (The Harvard Classics, vol. 49) · tr. Whitley Stokes, reprinted "with slight modification" (New York: P. F. Collier & Son, 1910), via sacred-texts
Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race, chapter IV: "The Early Milesian Kings" · T. W. Rolleston (London, 1911)
The Prose Tales in the Rennes Dindshenchas · ed. and tr. Whitley Stokes, Revue Celtique 16 (1895), tales 81 to 130, via the Thesaurus Linguae Hibernicae (UCD)
The Metrical Dindshenchas: "Ard Macha" · ed. and tr. Edward Gwynn, Part IV (Todd Lecture Series XI, Dublin, 1924), via CELT
Cuchulain of Muirthemne: "The War for the Bull of Cuailgne" · Lady Gregory (London, 1902)
Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race, chapter V: "Tales of the Ultonian Cycle" · T. W. Rolleston (London, 1911)
Irish Sagas Online: Noínden Ulad ocus Emuin Macha, sources · University College Cork
Tóruigheacht Dhiarmuda agus Ghráinne, or The Pursuit after Diarmuid O'Duibhne and Grainne · ed. and tr. Standish Hayes O'Grady, Transactions of the Ossianic Society 3 (Dublin, 1857)
Two Irish Tales: Aislinge Oengusso, The Dream of Oengus · Eduard Müller, Revue Celtique 3 (1878), pp. 342–350
Aislinge Óenguso: Irish text · CELT, University College Cork, from the edition of Francis Shaw (1934)
Irish Sagas Online: Aislinge Óenguso · University College Cork
A Social History of Ancient Ireland · P. W. Joyce (London, 1903)
"The Exile of the Sons of Usnach", in Heroic Romances of Ireland, vol. I · A. H. Leahy (London, 1905)
Longes mac n-Uislenn: Old Irish text · CELT, University College Cork, from the edition of Vernam Hull (1949)
"The Tragical Death of the Sons of Usnach", in The Cuchullin Saga in Irish Literature · ed. Eleanor Hull (London, 1898), from the translations of Whitley Stokes and O'Flanagan
"The Death of the Sons of Uisnech", from the Glenn Masáin manuscript, with a translation · Whitley Stokes, Irische Texte II.2 (Leipzig, 1887)
Cuchulain of Muirthemne: "The Fate of the Sons of Usnach" · Lady Gregory (London, 1902)
Acallamh na Senórach, ll. 1654–1761: "The story of Fiacha's spear and Find's defence of Tara" · Irish Sagas Online, University College Cork: the Irish of Whitley Stokes's edition (1900), with an English translation that follows Standish Hayes O'Grady's (1892)
Acallamh na Senórach I: the manuscripts and editions · CELT, University College Cork, for the edition of Whitley Stokes (Irische Texte IV.1, Leipzig, 1900)
Gods and Fighting Men: "The Coming of Finn" · Lady Gregory (London, 1904)
Gods and Fighting Men: "Illbrec of Ess Ruadh" · Lady Gregory (London, 1904)
Irish Fairy Tales: "The Boyhood of Fionn" · James Stephens (London, 1920)
Visions and Beliefs in the West of Ireland, Second Series: "Forths and Sheoguey Places" · collected and arranged by Lady Gregory, with two essays and notes by W. B. Yeats (New York and London: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1920)
Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms, and Superstitions of Ireland: "The Fairy Race", "The Fairies' Revenge", "The May Festival" and "Sacred Trees" · Lady Wilde (London, 1887)
The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries, chapter II: "Taking of Evidence: In Ireland" · W. Y. Evans-Wentz (London: Henry Frowde, Oxford University Press, 1911)
The Voyage of Mael Duin (Immram Curaig Maíle Dúin) · ed. and tr. Whitley Stokes, Revue Celtique 9 (1888), pp. 447–495, and 10 (1889), pp. 50–95; reprinted in Mary Jones's Celtic Literature Collective
The Book of Wonder Voyages: "The Voyage of Maelduin" · Joseph Jacobs, ed. (London, 1896), via Wikisource
Gods and Fighting Men: "The Great Battle of Magh Tuireadh" · Lady Gregory (London, 1904)
The Adventures of the Sons of Eochaid Muigmedón · ed. and tr. Whitley Stokes, Revue Celtique 24 (1903), pp. 190–203
Irish Sagas Online: Echtra mac nEchach Muigmedóin · University College Cork
Laoidh Oisín ar Thír na n-Óg: The Lay of Oisín on the Land of Youth · Mícheál Coimín, ed. and tr. Bryan O'Looney, Transactions of the Ossianic Society 4 (Dublin, 1859)
Laoi Oisín ar Thír na n-Óg: The Lay of Oisín in the Land of Youth · Mícheál Coimín, ed. with literal and verse translations by Tomás Ó Flannghaile (Dublin, 1896)
Gods and Fighting Men: "The Call of Oisin", "Oisin's Story", "Oisin in Patrick's House" and "The Arguments" · Lady Gregory (London, 1904)
Myths and Folk-lore of Ireland: "Oisin in Tir na n-Og" · Jeremiah Curtin (Boston, 1890)
Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race, chapter VI: "Tales of the Ossianic Cycle" · T. W. Rolleston (London, 1911)
Silva Gadelica, vol. 2: "The Colloquy with the Ancients" · ed. and tr. Standish Hayes O'Grady (London, 1892)
Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry · W. B. Yeats, ed. (London, 1888)
Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland · T. Crofton Croker (London: John Murray, 1834; first published 1825–28)
Foras Feasa ar Éirinn: The History of Ireland · Geoffrey Keating, ed. and tr. David Comyn and Patrick S. Dinneen (Irish Texts Society, 4 vols, London, 1902–1914)
Celtic Myth and Legend, chapter X: "The Conquest of the Gods by Mortals" · Charles Squire (London; first published in 1905 as The Mythology of the British Islands, and reissued in the Gresham series as Celtic Myth and Legend)
Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race, chapter III: "The Irish Invasion Myths" · T. W. Rolleston (London, 1911)
Gods and Fighting Men, Part I, Book III: "The Landing" and "The Battle of Tailltin"; Book IV: "Bodb Dearg" · Lady Gregory (London, 1904)
Bards of the Gael and Gall: "The Lays of Amergin" · George Sigerson (London, 1897)
The Mythology of All Races, vol. III: Celtic, chapter 2 · J. A. MacCulloch (Boston, 1918)
The Irish Mythological Cycle and Celtic Mythology · H. d'Arbois de Jubainville, tr. R. I. Best (Dublin, 1903)
Cuchulain of Muirthemne, chapter XI: "The War for the Bull of Cuailgne" · Lady Gregory (London, 1902)
Cuchulain of Muirthemne, chapter XIII: "The Two Bulls" · Lady Gregory (London, 1902)
Irish Sagas Online: Immram Brain · University College Cork
Heroic Romances of Ireland, vol. 1: "The Courtship of Etain" · A. H. Leahy (London, 1905)
Irische Texte I: "Tochmarc Étáine" (Irish text from Lebor na hUidre and Egerton 1782) · ed. Ernst Windisch (Leipzig, 1880), via Wikisource
The Metrical Dindshenchas: "Rath Esa" · ed. and tr. Edward Gwynn, Part II (Dublin, 1906), via CELT
The High Deeds of Finn and other Bardic Romances of Ancient Ireland: "The Story of Etain and Midir" · T. W. Rolleston (1910)
Irish Sagas Online: Tochmarc Étaíne, sources · University College Cork

Also consulted for the tales

Bunworth, Charles · Helen Andrews, Dictionary of Irish Biography (2009)
Buttevant · Wikipedia
River Boyne · Wikipedia
Carbury, County Kildare · Wikipedia
Fled Bricrenn: manuscripts and editions · CODECS: Online Database and e-Resources for Celtic Studies
Bricriu's Feast · Encyclopaedia Britannica
Fled Bricrenn · Wikipedia
Curadmír · Wikipedia
Beheading game · Wikipedia
Cú Roí · Wikipedia
Dundrum, County Down · Wikipedia
Dundrum Castle · Wikipedia
The Hag of Beara · Wikipedia
Cailleach · Wikipedia
Mise Éire · Wikipedia
Beara Peninsula · Wikipedia
Ventry · Wikipedia
Isle of Arran · Wikipedia
Lebor Gabála Érenn · Wikipedia
Cath Maige Tuired · Wikipedia
Cong, County Mayo · Wikipedia
Sliabh an Iarainn · Wikipedia
Echtra Condla · Wikipedia
Conn of the Hundred Battles · Wikipedia
A Compendium of Irish Biography: "Cairbre Lifeachair" · Alfred Webb (Dublin, 1878)
Bóthar na Bruíne/Bohernabreena · logainm.ie, Placenames Database of Ireland
Bohernabreena Townland, Co. Dublin · townlands.ie
Glenasmole · EastWest Mapping
Bruiden · Wikipedia, citing Gustamh Hamaltún, "Where was Bruiden Dá Derga?", Ériu 3 (1907), and Henry Morris (1935)
Longes mac nUislenn: manuscripts and editions · CODECS: Online Database and e-Resources for Celtic Studies
Deirdre (Derdriu) · Elva Johnston, Dictionary of Irish Biography
The Tragic Death of the Sons of Usnech · Encyclopaedia Britannica
Assaroe Falls · Wikipedia
"Maelduin, Voyage of" · Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th edition (1911), via Wikisource
Cath Maige Tuired: manuscripts and editions · CODECS: Online Database and e-Resources for Celtic Studies
Moytirra East Court Tomb · Wikipedia
Lough Arrow · Wikipedia
Heapstown Cairn · Wikipedia
Balor · Wikipedia
Corlea Iron Age Roadway and Visitor Centre · Heritage Ireland
Corlea Trackway · Wikipedia, citing Barry Raftery, Pagan Celtic Ireland (1994), ch. 5
Atlas and Cyclopedia of Ireland: County Longford · Atlas and Cyclopedia of Ireland (1900), via Library Ireland

Other texts quoted

The Triads of Ireland · Kuno Meyer (Todd Lecture Series XIII, 1906)
The Instructions of King Cormac mac Airt · Kuno Meyer (Todd Lecture Series XV, 1909)
The Voyage of Bran, Son of Febal · Kuno Meyer (London, 1895)
Selections from Ancient Irish Poetry · Kuno Meyer (1911)
"The Boyish Exploits of Finn", Ériu 1 (1904) · Kuno Meyer
"The Second Battle of Moytura", Revue Celtique 12 (1891) · Whitley Stokes
"Cormac's Adventure in the Land of Promise", Irische Texte III (1891) · Whitley Stokes
Duanaire Finn, Part I (Irish Texts Society 7) · Eoin MacNeill (1908)
The Metrical Dindshenchas: "Boand I" · ed. and tr. Edward Gwynn, Part III (Todd Lecture Series X, Dublin, 1913), via CELT
A Literary History of Ireland · Douglas Hyde (1899)
"Int én bec": Old Irish text · CELT, University College Cork
Sanas Chormaic: Cormac's Glossary · tr. John O'Donovan, ed. Whitley Stokes (1868)
Lebor Gabála Érenn: summaries and translation notes · CELT, University College Cork

Places and archaeology

The Winter Solstice at Newgrange · newgrange.com
Loughcrew Cairns · Heritage Ireland
Tlachtga excavations · UCD School of Archaeology
Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast · UNESCO World Heritage Centre
History of the Giant's Causeway · National Trust
Knockmany Passage Grave: Annia's Cove · Department for Communities, Northern Ireland
Inishglora Island · Our Irish Heritage
The mythical island of Hy-Brasil · Royal Irish Academy
St John's Eve, or Bonfire Night · Galway City Museum
Macha · Dictionary of Irish Biography

Language

Placenames Database of Ireland · logainm.ie
Northern Ireland Place-Name Project · Queen's University Belfast
New English–Irish Dictionary · focloir.ie
Irish entries (pronunciation) · Wiktionary
Seanfhocail · seanfhocail.ie
The Schools' Collection and the National Folklore Collection · dúchas.ie