MYTHOLOGICAL TALES | FAIRY TALES | FOLKTALES

MYTHOLOGICAL CYCLE | ULSTER CYCLE | FENIAN CYCLE | CYCLE OF KINGS

The primary sources from which we have acquired our understanding of the Mythological Cycle are primarily the Lebor Gabala Èrenn, or “The Book of the Invasions of Ireland” and the Dindshenchas, or “The Lore of Places”, a book that is comprised of 176 poems that provide a very thorough catalog of the major place names in Ireland, and their significance to Irish history. There are also a number of secondary sources that have provided more details into the ancient “Invasions” period of Irish history that we have not examined yet, the most prominent of which include Cath Maige Tuireadh, (“The Battle of Moy Tura”), The Dream of Aenghus, The Tragedy of the Children of Lir and The Wooing Of Étain.

Tuan: The Coming of Nemed” © 1992, Jim Fitzpatrick.

he Lebor Gabala Erenn — "The Book of Invasions of Ireland", is the core text of the mythological cycle of Irish literature, and the earliest known written history of Ireland. Early Irish Christian monks, fearful of losing the ancient history of Ireland, took pains to write down as many of the oral traditions of the druids who preceded them. The version we have today, which is taken from the Book of Leinster and the Book of Fermoy, tells the most ancient history of Ireland all the way to the period immediately before the Flood of Noah, as described in Genesis 6-9. (Learn More...)

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