The pursuit of the Giolla Deacair and his horse
This is an early modern tale, probably from the fifteenth century. It centres around a journey to the Otherworld accessed by a magic well, where mortals participate in local battles, and everyone gets home in the end. During the first half of every year Fionn and his men hunted each day with their dogs and […]
The Battle of the White Strand
This story possibly dates from the twelfth century, but is only available in a fifteenth century version. It is Ireland versus the rest and contains some extraordinary imagery. The themes are all battle related: single combat, cutting off heads, one conquering many, giant champions, magic weapons and boy warriors The King of the World, Dáire […]
Diarmaid and Gráinne
This tale is redolent of the sad story of Deirdre and Naoise and is probably the most travelled of the Irish romances. It became well-known in Europe and is thought to have been the source of the story of Tristan and Isolt. An older man’s love for a younger woman, elopement, love versus honour, a […]