Legendary Ireland : A Journey Through Celtic Places and Myths

Legendary Irelandis a vivid and original journey through the Celtic places and myths of ancient Ireland, an island of gods and warriors, their stories intrinsically linked with the countryside. Woven into the Irish landscape are tales of love and betrayal, greed and courage, passion and revenge. It features the famous personalities of Celtic lore, such as Cu Chulainn and Queen Maeve, Diarmuid and Grinne, the Children of Lir, Oisin and Fionn. The book also reveals some of the less well known, but equally captivating, stories such as the Hag of Beara and Li Ban the Mermaid of Lough Neagh. Eithne Massey explores the history, archaeology, and folklore of twenty-eight sites including Tara, Newgrange, the Giant's Causeway, the Beara Peninsula, Rathcroghan, Howth Head and the Grianan of Aileach. Haunting atmospheric photographs and elegant engravings celebrate the marriage of Irish myth and landscape and will enfold you in the Irish terrain and its ancient past. Legendary Irelandintroduces the reader to ancient stories covering the whole of the island of Irelandmore than a guide to the mythological sites and more than a collection of storiesgiving practical information on dozens of sites linked to the great legends and an imaginative retelling of the story associated with each one. Co-published with O'Brien Press, Dublin. The Wisconsin edition is for sale only in the U.S.A., Canada, and the Philippines.

Eithne Massey works as a librarian in Dublin. Her interest in mythology has been a lifelong one, and she is often found traveling to old and secret places around the country. Previous publications include short stories and a study of Prior Roger, Outlaw of Kilmainham, who played a key role in the Kilkenny Kyteler witchcraft case. Photographer Jacques Le Geoff was born in Paris but has lived in Ireland for the past twelve years. Special effects photographer Pip Sides lends a ghostly romantic effect to his studies of castles, stone circles, and natural landscapes.