Heroic Romances of Ireland

What It's About

This two-volume collection brings together some of the finest tales from early Irish heroic literature, translated into English prose and verse by A. H. Leahy. Drawing on medieval manuscripts — including the Leabhar na h-Uidhri, the Book of Leinster, and the Yellow Book of Lecan — the tales centre on the Ulster Cycle, the body of myth surrounding the warrior-king Conchobar mac Nessa and the great hero Cúchulainn. Readers will encounter warrior-kings, fairy queens, tragic lovers, and supernatural battles, all rendered in language that reflects the bardic character of the originals. Key stories include the wooing of Étaín, the exile of the sons of Uisneach, and various adventures involving the otherworld and the gods of ancient Ireland. Leahy pairs his prose translations with verse renderings of poetic passages, aiming to capture something of the dual nature of the original texts. The approach has been praised for its literary sensitivity, though some scholars have noted that Leahy occasionally lets aesthetic considerations soften the blunter, more archaic qualities of the originals.

About the Author

Arthur Henry Leahy (1857–1928) was a British scholar and barrister with a deep interest in Celtic languages and literature. He studied Old and Middle Irish and produced his translations at a time when Irish mythology was attracting serious scholarly and popular attention, partly under the influence of the Celtic Revival.

About This Edition

This is a 1906 translation by A. H. Leahy.