Northern European Mythology
Celtic Folklore
Celtic Folklore Some of these books and texts are translations of Celtic legends and sagas; others are retellings of the material, folklore, or literary works based on Celtic themes. During the 19th and early 20th Century there was a resurgence of interest in the folklore of Ireland, Wales and Scotland. This was reflected in a huge amount of literature based on the rich Celtic mythopoetic heritage, most of it very faithful to the original material, some in a more modern voice. A good number of these files were originally scanned by Phillip Brown for his (now defunct) Celtic Folklore website. These are indicated by [PB]. Celtic Midi files Music to listen to while you read Celtic folklore. Ireland The Voyage of Bran by Meyer Kuno [1895] Old Irish saga of a voyage to the pagan Celtic otherworld, with parallel English and Gaelic. The Second Battle of Mag Tuired (Cath Maige Tuired) This Irish saga, from before the ninth Century A.D., is an account of the epic battle between the mythical Tuatha De Danann and Fomoire for Ireland. It has deep roots in Indo-European mythology, told with Homeric grace and bawdy humor. There are many allusions to ancient pre-Christian Celtic traditions. The Cattle Raid of Cualnge by L. Winifred Faraday [1904] The core text of the Ulster cycle: the epic tale of Cucchulain, the defender of Ireland. The Cattle-Raid of Cooley (Táin Bó Cúailnge) The central epic of the Ulster cycle: the great Irish hero, Cuchulain of Ulster, and his battle against the forces of Queen Medb of Connaught. The Destruction of Dá Derga's Hostel Translated by Whitely Stokes [1910] Heroic Romances of Ireland (2 Vols.) by A. H. Leahy [1905-6] The Courtship of Etain, the Boar of Mac Datho, the Sickbed of Cuchulain, and the five "Tains" or Cattle-Forays, including the bizarre Tain bo Regamna, The Apparition of The Great Queen to Cuchulain. This text was contributed to Project Gutenberg. Lady Augusta Gregory was a close collaborator with W.B. Yeats, the Irish poet and mystic. These three books are her retellings of Irish mythology and folklore, and are among the best of the genre. Cuchulain of Muirthemne by Lady Augusta Gregory [1902] [PB] Gods and Fighting Men by Lady Augusta Gregory [1904] [PB] A Book of Saints and Wonders by Lady Augusta Gregory [1906] [PB] Irish Christian folklore, including Brigit, Columcille, St. Patrick, and the Voyage of Brendan. Visions and Beliefs in the West of Ireland by Lady Augusta Gregory [1920] [PB] Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry Edited and Selected by W. B. Yeats [1888] The Celtic Twilight by W.B. Yeats [1893 and 1902] This short book of essays by Yeats is a must-read. In The Seven Woods by W. B. Yeats [1903] A short book of poetry and a play by Yeats on Irish mythological themes. Later Poems by W. B. Yeats [1922] Some of Yeats' best known poetry. Legends and Stories of Ireland by Samuel Lover [1831, 1834] [PB] An early 19th century collection of comic Irish short stories. The Irish Sketch-book by William Makepeace Thackeray [1845] [PB] A travelogue of Ireland of the 1840s, not much in the way of folklore, but good background information. The Ancient Irish Goddess of War by WM Hennessey [1870] Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms, and Superstitions of Ireland by Lady Francesca Speranza Wilde [1887] [PB] A volumnious collection of Irish folklore, including folk magic, not all of it authoritative. Myths and Folklore of Ireland by Jeremiah Curtin [1890] [PB] Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts by Patrick Kennedy [1891] [PB] A huge collection of Irish folklore and legends, up through Christian times. The Aran Islands by John M. Synge [1907] [PB] A travelogue of the Aran Islands with beautiful woodcut illustrations. Celtic Wonder Tales by Ella Young [1910] [PB] Beside the Fire by Douglas Hyde [1910] [PB] A scholarly collection of Irish folk stories. The Preface of this book reviews many of the books included on this page. The Crock of Gold by James Stephens [1912] [PB] A novel based on Irish folklore. In Wicklow and West Kerry by John M. Synge [1912] [PB] A travelogue of rural Ireland at the turn of the 19th Century. Irish Witchcraft and Demonology by St. John D. Seymour [1913]. This is a fascinating study of the witch-persecutions in Ireland, along with accounts of paranormal activity. True Irish Ghost Stories by St. John D. Seymour and Harry L. Neligan [1914] Bone-chilling tales of Irish ghosts, haunted houses, banshees, poltergeists, and more. The King of Ireland's Son by Padraic Colum [1916] [PB] The Druid Path by Marah Ellis Ryan [1917] A collection of short stories set in ancient and modern Ireland by an American author. The Candle of Vision by AE (George William Russell) [1918] Essays on Celtic mysticism. Irish Fairy Tales by James Stephens [1920] [PB] Irish lore retold by a master storyteller. The Book of Kells by Edward Sullivan [1920] A description of the famous manuscript with detailed color plates. Wales The Mabinogion Lady Charlotte Guest, tr. [1877] A group of Welsh tales from the Red Book of Hergest, a 14th Century manuscript maintained at Jesus College, Oxford. The Four Ancient Books of Wales by William F. Skene [1868] The only available translation of the complete corpus of Welsh Bardic poetry. Prolegomena to the Study of Old Welsh Poetry by Edward Anwyl [1903] The Gododdin Poems from The Four Ancient Books of Wales by William F. Skene [1868] British Goblins by Wirt Sikes [1881] [PB] Despite the title, this book is actually a study of Welsh fairy folklore. The Welsh Fairy Book by W. Jenkyn Thomas [1907] [PB] A collection of Welsh legends and folktales for young readers. Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx By John Rhys [1900] [PB] The Barddas of Iolo Morganweg A visionary reconstruction of the Druidic and Bardic tradition, which had a huge influence on the modern Celtic and neo-Pagan revival. Or a notorious forgery, you decide... The Barddas, Vol. I by Iolo Morganwg, edited by J. Williams Ab Ithel [1862] The Barddas, Vol. II by Iolo Morganwg, edited by J. Williams Ab Ithel [1874] Scotland Carmina Gadelica, by Alexander Carmicheal Prayers, invocations, blessings and charms, in English and Gaelic, from the Western Isles of Scotland. Carmina Gadelica, Vol. I by Alexander Carmicheal [1900]. Carmina Gadelica, Vol. II by Alexander Carmicheal [1900]. Popular Tales of the West Highlands, by J. F. Campbell A four-volume comprehensive sourcebook of Scottish folklore. Popular Tales of the West Highlands, Vol. I [1890] Popular Tales of the West Highlands, Vol. II [1890] Popular Tales of the West Highlands, Vol. III [1890] Popular Tales of the West Highlands, Vol. IV [1890] by Alexander MacGregor [1907] The epic feuds of the Scottish Highlands. The Celtic Dragon Myth by J. F. Campbell and George Henderson [1911] The ur-myth of the struggle with the dragon, told in fine Celtic form with giants, mermaids and sidhe. (English and Gaelic) The English and Scottish Popular Ballads by Francis James Child [1882-1898]. The motherlode of ballad collections, including many variations on each ballad. The Poems of Ossian by James Macpherson [1773] Scottish Fairy and Folk Tales by Sir George Douglas [1773] Wonder Tales from Scottish Myth and Legend by Donald Alexander Mackenzie [1917] Notes on the Folk-Lore of the North-East of Scotland by Walter Gregor [1881] The Prophecies of the Brahan Seer by Alexander Mackenzie, intro. by Andrew Lang [1899] The tale of the famed Scottish clarivoyant and his amazing, and very specific, predictions. Brittany Legends and Romances of Brittany by Lewis Spence [1917] Folk Tales of Brittany by Elsie Masson [1929] Cornwall Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall, (Volume 1) by William Bottrell [1870] Tales of Cornish Giants, Mermaids, Witches and Fairies; an essential source for the folklore of Cornwall. Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall, (Volume 2) by William Bottrell [1873] The second volume in Bottrell's collection of Cornish lore and legend. Manx The Phynodderree and Other Legends of the Isle of Man by Edward Callow [1882] The Folk-Lore of the Isle of Man by A.W. Moore [1891] Classic Manx folklore Traces of the Norse Mythology in the Isle of Man by P.M.C. Kermode [1904] Celtic Fairies These are texts and studies about Celtic fairies, elves, and other supernatural creatures (as opposed to fairytales, which are a different matter altogether). Some of the books listed here are listed elsewhere on this page. The Secret Common-Wealth of Elves, Fauns and Fairies By Robert Kirk, 'Comment' by Andrew Lang [1893] This monograph, originally written in 1691, is a classic of Scottish fairy folklore. This etext was scanned from a very rare first printing of the Lang edition. Fairy Legends and Traditions by Thomas Crofton Croker [1825] [PB] A Peep at the Pixies by Anna Eliza Bray; Illustrations by Hablot K. Browne [1854]. [PB] The Fairy Mythology by Thomas Keightley [1870]. [PB] British Goblins by Wirt Sikes [1881] [PB] Despite the title, this book is actually a study of Welsh fairy folklore. The Phynodderree and Other Legends of the Isle of Man by Edward Callow [1882] Tales of the Dartmoor Pixies by William Crossing [1890]. [PB] The Science of Fairy Tales by Edwin Sidney Hartland [1891]. [PB] Tales of Fairies and of the Ghost World by Jeremiah Curtin [1895] [PB] The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries by W.Y. Evans-Wentz [1911] [PB] A serious study of Fairy folklore and mythology, with an ethnographic approach. The first book by Evans-Wentz, who later went on to translate many of the books of Tibetean Buddhism. Fairies by Gertrude M. Faulding [1913]. [PB] The Coming of the Fairies by Arthur Conan Doyle [1922] A study of the famous Cottingley fairy photographs, by the creator of Sherlock Holmes. General Studies Survivals in Belief Among the Celts by George Henderson [1911] An extensive review of evidence of pre-Christian beliefs in Celtic culture. Celtic Myth and Legend by Charles Squire [1905] A comprehensive treatment of Irish, Welsh, and British mythology, from the ancient pagan pantheons up to the Arthurian legends. The Religion of the Ancient Celts by J. A. MacCulloch [1911] An in-depth study of the pre-Christian Celtic religion. Celtic Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs [1892] [PB] More Celtic Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs [1894] [PB] Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race by Thomas Rolleston [1911] [PB] A recounting of the Irish Mythological Chronicles On the Study of Celtic Literature by Matthew Arnold [1867] [PB] A Book of Folklore by Sabine Baring-Gould [1913] [PB] Tom Tit Tot, An Essay on Savage Philosophy in Folk-Tale by Edward Clodd [1898] [PB] Links CELT, the Corpus of Electronic Texts [External Site] is a scholarly and very comprehensive archive of Celtic texts.