PAGEIntroduction1The Horned Women10The Legend of Ballytowtas Castle12A Wolf Story17The Evil Eye20The Stolen Bride27Fairy Music29The Fairy Dance30Fairy Justice32The Priest’s Soul33The Fairy Race37The Trial by Fire39The Lady Witch41Ethna the Bride42The Fairies’ Revenge46Fairy Help—the Phouka48The Farmer Punished49The Farmer’s Wife52The Midnight Ride53The Leprehaun56The Legends of the Western Islands59The Bride’s Death-Song60The Child’s Dream62The Fairy Child64The Doom67The Clearing from Guilt69The Holy Well and the Murderer70Legends of Innis-Sark—a Woman’s Curse71Legends of the Dead in the Western Islands75The Death Sign75Kathleen76November Eve78The Dance of the Dead80Superstitions concerning the Dead81The Fatal Love-Charm83The Fenian Knights84Rathlin Island86The Strange Guests86The Dead Soldier87The Three Gifts88The Fairies as Fallen Angels89The Fairy Changeling89Fairy Wiles91Shaun-Mor91The Cave Fairies—The Tuatha-de-Danann93Edain the Queen94The Royal Steed96Evil Spells—Cathal the King97The Poet’s Malediction99Drimial Agus Thorial100An Irish Adept of the Islands100The May Festival101May-Day Superstitions106Festivals—Candlemas107Whitsuntide108Whitsuntide Legend of the Fairy Horses108November Spells109November Eve110A Terrible Revenge112Midsummer—The Baal Fires and Dances113The Fairy Doctress114Marriage Rites115The Dead117The Wake Orgies119The Ancient Mysteries123The Power of The Word129The Poet and the King130The Sidhe Race132Music133Poet Inspiration—Eodain the Poetess134The Banshee135Queen Maeve137Death Signs138The Hartpole Doom139Superstitions140The Fairy Rath142Fairy Nature142Irish Nature144LEGENDS OF ANIMALS.Concerning Dogs146Concerning Cats151The King of the Cats153The Demon Cat154Cat Nature156Seanchan the Bard and the King of the Cats159The Bards163King Arthur and the Cat166Concerning Cows168Fairy Wiles170The Dead Hand172The Wicked Widow173The Butter Mystery175Concerning Birds—The Magpie177The Wren177The Raven and Water Wagtail177The Cuckoo and Robin Redbreast177Concerning Living Creatures—The Cricket178The Beetle178The Hare179The Weasel179The Properties of Herbs and their Use in Medicine181A Love Potion185Love Dreams185To Cause Love185Medical Superstitions and Ancient Charms186Against Sorrow188To Win Love189For the Night Fire (the Fever)189For a Pain in the Side189For the Measles190For the Mad Fever190Against Enemies190To Extract a Thorn190To Cause Hatred between Lovers191For Love191How to have Money Always191For the Great Worm191For Sore Eyes191For Pains in the Body192Against Drowning192In Time of Battle192For the Red Rash193To Tame a Horse193A very Ancient Charm against Wounds or Poisons193For a Sore Breast193For a Wound194For the Evil Eye194For St. Anthony’s Fire194How to go Invisible194For Pains194For a Sprain195To Cause Love195For the Bite of a Mad Dog195For Toothache196For Freckles196For a Burn197For the Memory197For the Falling Sickness197For Chin-Cough197For Rheumatism198For a Stye on the Eyelid198To Cure Warts198For a Stitch in the Side198For Weak Eyes198For Water on the Brain199For Hip Disease199For the Mumps199For Epilepsy199For Depression of Heart200For the Fairy Dart200Various Superstitions and Cures200To find Stolen Goods207A Prayer against the Plague207A Blessing207A Cure for Cattle207A Charm for Safety208An Elixir of Potency208For the Bite of a Mad Dog208Dreams208Fairy Doctors209Charms by Crystals209Alectromantia210Fairy Power210Omens and Superstitions211That Forbode Evil211To Attract Bees213Superstitions of the Islands—Concerning the Dead213The Coastguard’s Fate214Relics214LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS.St. Patrick215The Well of the Book216St. Patrick and the Serpent216St. Patrick and the Princesses217The Poison Cup217Divination217The Blind Poet218The Story of Breccan218Bardic Privileges219St. Ciaron220St. Martin220St. Bridget222St. Kieran223St. Kevin223Christian Legends224Swearing Stones and Relics—The Cremave225Relics for clearing from Guilt226Innis-Murry227MYSTERIES OF FAIRY POWER.The Evil Stroke228The Changeling229The Fairy Doctor231The Poet’s Spell233Charm for the Fairy Stroke233The Farmer’s Fate234The Fairy Rath235THE HOLY WELLS.The Holy Wells236The White Stones237The Sacred Trout237St. Augustine’s Well238The Grilled Trout238Legend of Neal-mor239St. John’s Well240The Well of Fionn Ma-Coul240St. Seenan’s Well241Kid-na-Greina241The Well of Worship243The Bride’s Well243The Irish Fakir244Sacred Trees246Tober-na-Dara247Lough Neagh247The Doctor and the Fairy Princess248A Holy Well250A Sacred Island251The Lake of Revenge251Scenes at a Holy Well252Lough Foyle252The Hen’s Castle253Sliabh-Mish, County Kerry254The Skelligs of Kerry254POPULAR NOTIONS CONCERNING THE SIDHE RACE.The Sidhe Race256The Hurling Match259The Ride with the Fairies260The Fairy Spy263The Dark Horseman264Sheela-na-Skean267Captain Webb, the Robber Chief270The Mayo Captain and Feenish the Mare271SKETCHES OF THE IRISH PAST.The Bardic Race274The Ancient Race276The Antiquities of Ireland278Early Irish Art287Our Ancient Capital295SIR WILLIAM WILDE ON “THE ANCIENT RACES OF IRELAND”329