Irish Fairy Tales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Irish Fairy Tales

Cover of the first edition, 1920
Author	James Stephens
Illustrator	Arthur Rackham
Cover artist	Arthur Rackham
Country	United Kingdom
Genre	Folktale
Publisher	Macmillan & Co.
Publication date	1920
Media type	Print (hardcover)
OCLC	6835250
LC Class	PZ8.S58 Ir
Preceded by	Reincarnations (1918)
Followed by	Dierdre (1923)

Irish Fairy Tales is a book of ten amazing Irish folktales. It was written by an Irish author named James Stephens. A talented English artist, Arthur Rackham, drew many beautiful pictures for the book. There are black and white drawings and sixteen colorful paintings.

These stories take you back to old Ireland, a land of forests and castles. You'll meet brave hunters, strong warriors, wise kings, and magical fairies. Many tales are about the Fianna, a famous group of warriors, and their leader, Fionn mac Uail. These stories come from the Fenian Cycle, a big collection of Irish myths. The book first came out in 1920. It's one of James Stephens' most famous books.

Stories in the Book

The Story of Tuan mac Cairill

This story is about Tuan mac Cairill, a very old man. A religious leader named Finnian visits Tuan's home. Finnian convinces Tuan to share his past. Tuan tells him that he is hundreds of years old. He was one of the first people to live in Ireland.

Tuan explains that he once lost consciousness in a big storm. When he woke up, he had turned into a strong stag (a male deer). Tuan then lived many different lives. He was a stag, a wild boar, a hawk, and finally, a salmon. As a salmon, he was caught and eaten by the queen of Ireland. After that, he was reborn as her son.

The Boyhood of Fionn

Fionn is the son of Uail mac Baiscne. Uail was the captain of the Fianna warriors. But Uail was killed by a group called clann-Morna. They wanted to lead the Fianna instead. To keep Fionn safe, his mother sent him away. He was raised in the forest by two wise women, Bovmall and Lia Luachra. They taught Fionn how to run, jump, and swim.

When Fionn was older, clann-Morna found out where he was. He escaped by hiding in a tree. Since his hiding spot was known, Fionn joined a group of poets. A robber attacked them and killed the poets. The robber then realized who Fionn was. He was Fiacuil mac Cona, one of Fionn's father's old friends. Fiacuil took Fionn in. Fionn lived with the robber for years.

Eventually, clann-Morna found Fionn again. So, Fionn decided to go out on his own. He worked for two different kings. But he left each time he felt his identity was in danger. Fionn then spent years with a wise poet named Finegas. Finegas taught Fionn many things. He even gave Fionn the magical Salmon of Knowledge to eat. By this time, Fionn was a strong and smart young man.

Fionn left the poet and went to a big feast at Tara. This was where the High King of Ireland lived. Fionn announced who he was and was given a special seat. Every year at Samhain (an ancient festival), a fairy named Aillen mac Midna attacked the city. Fionn offered to protect Tara from Aillen. As he got close to the fairy, Fiacuil appeared. He gave Fionn a magic spear. This spear would help Fionn fight Aillen's magic. Fionn used the spear to defend himself. He chased Aillen and killed him just before Aillen could escape into the fairy world. Fionn returned to Tara. The High King offered him any reward. Fionn asked to become the captain of the Fianna. The High King agreed. All the warriors, even clann-Morna, promised to serve Fionn.

The Birth of Bran

Tuiren was Fionn's mother's younger sister. She was known for her great beauty. She married a gentleman from Ulster named Iollan Eachtach. Iollan used to have a fairy girlfriend named Uct Dealv. Uct Dealv was very angry that Tuiren had taken Iollan from her.

Uct Dealv changed herself into a messenger. She went to Iollan's castle. She said she had a message for Tuiren from Fionn. When Tuiren came out, Uct Dealv turned her into a dog. Uct Dealv then took the dog to Fergus Fionnliath. Fergus was known for hating dogs. She told Fergus that Fionn had ordered him to care for the dog. He had to keep it until Fionn asked for it back. Fergus agreed, even though he didn't want to. Tuiren, as a dog, managed to win Fergus over. He stopped hating dogs.

Later, Fionn found out that Tuiren was not with Iollan anymore. He demanded her return. Iollan went to Uct Dealv. He begged her to tell him what she had done with Tuiren. Uct Dealv made Iollan promise to be loyal to her forever. Then, she went with him to Fergus's home. She changed Tuiren back into a human. Tuiren returned to Fionn. She brought two puppies she had given birth to: Bran and Sceólan. These two dogs became Fionn's favorites. Fergus was sad to lose his dog. So, Fionn sent him a new puppy, which made him happy again.

Oisin's Mother

One day, Fionn was hunting with his dogs, Bran and Sceólan. They found a fawn (a young deer) that seemed very tame. The dogs would not attack it. Fionn decided to take the fawn back to his camp. That night, a fairy woman named Saeve came into Fionn's room. She asked for his protection from a bad magician named Doirche. She also offered to marry Fionn. Fionn happily agreed and promised to protect Saeve.

Later, Fionn led the Fianna to fight against invaders from Lochlann. After the battle, he returned home. He found Saeve gone and his home in a mess. His butler explained that someone who looked like Fionn had come to the castle. Saeve had run out to meet him. The man then turned Saeve into a deer, and they both disappeared. Fionn spent years searching Ireland for this deer. But he could not find her. After seven years, he found a young boy in the forest. Fionn realized it was his and Saeve's son. The boy told Fionn about his years in the fairy world. Doirche had kept him and his mother (still a deer) in a cave. Finally, Doirche had kicked the boy out. Fionn named the boy Oisin.

The Wooing of Becfola

The High King and his son, Prince Crimthann, were hunting. They met a beautiful woman driving a chariot. The High King asked her name and where she was from. The woman refused to tell him anything. The High King then asked her to marry him. She agreed, even though she had fallen in love with Crimthann. She would have preferred to marry him. The king named the woman Becfola.

Much later, Becfola was living in Tara with the High King. She told Crimthann how she felt. They made a plan to run away from Tara. When Becfola tried to meet Crimthann, fairies led her the wrong way. She ended up lost in the forest. She escaped from hungry wolves. She then met a traveler. She went with him to a small island. There, he fought seven men to become the island's leader. After that, he took Becfola back to Tara. She realized that no time had passed since she left. She decided not to go through with her plan to meet Crimthann.

The next day, at a feast, a religious leader was there. He had seen the fight for the island. He had seen Becfola there. He accused her of being unfaithful. Becfola admitted what she had done. She then left Tara forever.

The Little Brawl at Allen

Goll mac Morna was a very famous warrior from clann-Morna. He went to a feast with the other Fianna warriors. He insulted his captain, Fionn. He gave more expensive gifts to the bards and entertainers than Fionn did. Fionn asked where he got so much money. Goll said he got it while fighting in Lochlann. He said he killed not only the men of Lochlann but also Fionn's father.

The talk quickly turned into bragging and threats. Then, a big fight broke out. In the end, 1100 of Fionn's people were killed. Clann-Morna only lost 61 men. Fionn said he would not make peace with clann-Morna. He wanted the High King to decide what was fair.

They traveled to Tara and told their stories to the High King, his son, and his daughter. It was decided that clann-Morna was attacked first. So, they did not have to pay for damages. Fionn's heavy losses counted as his damages. So, neither side had to pay the other. Even with this family feud, Fionn and Goll remained personal friends.

The Carl of the Drab Coat

Cael of the Iron, the son of the King of Thessaly, arrived in Ireland by ship. He challenged the Fianna. He said they had to find a champion who could out-fight, out-wrestle, or out-race him. If they couldn't, he said Ireland would have to pay him tribute and let him rule. Fionn decided the contest would be a race. He looked for Caelta mac Ronán, the fastest Fianna warrior.

On the way, Fionn met a huge, messy-looking man. The man called himself The Carl of the Drab Coat. Carl insisted that only he could outrun Cael. Fionn believed The Carl. He chose him as the Fianna's champion.

Cael of the Iron demanded a sixty-mile race. He was insulted that Fionn chose someone who looked like a common person or a beggar. Cael and Carl went to the starting point. The Fianna waited at the finish line. The Carl wanted to sleep late. So, he gave Cael a one-hour head start. After waking up, The Carl passed Cael. But then Carl stopped to eat blackberries, and Cael passed him. As The Carl passed Cael a second time, Cael pointed out something. The Carl's two coattails had been torn off thirty miles back. They had gotten caught on plants. The Carl ran back to get his coattails. Then, he passed Cael again and won the race.

When he reached the finish line, Cael pulled out his sword. He charged at The Carl. The Carl hit Cael with a handful of blackberries. He then tossed Cael onto his ship and sent him back to Thessaly. The Carl then revealed that he was actually a powerful lord from the Sidhe (the fairy world).

The Enchanted Cave of Cesh Corran

A fairy king was angry with Fionn. This king had four very ugly daughters. While the Fianna were hunting, he sent three of his daughters to a cave. This cave was near Fionn and his friend, Conán. Fionn and Conán noticed the women and went to the cave. Inside, fairy magic made them weak. The sisters tied them up and hid them in the cave.

As the Fianna returned in groups, they were drawn to the cave and captured. Finally, only Goll mac Morna was left free. The sisters tried to kill him. But Goll killed two of them, and the third gave up. The fourth daughter of the fairy king then appeared. She was a very strong warrior. Goll barely managed to defeat her in battle. As a reward, Fionn offered Goll the hand of his daughter in marriage.

Becuma of the White Skin

Becuma was a woman from a magical land beyond the fairy world. She was sent away to Ireland because she ran away from her husband. Conn, an important king, saw Becuma arrive by boat. Becuma admitted that Conn's son, Art, was famous in her land. She had fallen in love with Art. Conn asked Becuma to marry him, not his son. Becuma agreed. But she had one condition. Conn had to send his son away for a year. This would give her time to learn to love Conn without distractions.

When Art returned, Ireland was suffering from a terrible famine (a time of not enough food). Conn heard a prophecy. It said he had to sacrifice the son of a sinless couple to end the famine. After a long journey, he found such a boy. He was the son of a king and queen on a faraway island. Conn said he needed to borrow their son. He said the boy had to bathe in Ireland's waters to break the famine. The parents did not want to let him go. But the boy insisted on going with Conn back to Ireland.

When Conn arrived, it was revealed that the boy was to be sacrificed, not bathed. The boy objected to this change of plan. A big debate broke out in Ireland about what to do. Eventually, the boy was convinced to be a sacrifice. Just as the boy was about to be killed, his mother appeared. She revealed that sacrificing her son would not end the famine. The famine would only end when Becuma was gone.

Becuma challenged Art to a game of chess and lost. As a penalty, Art told her to leave Ireland. She had to stay away until she found the wand of Curoi. Art hoped this task would be impossible. But Becuma used her contacts in the fairy world. She found it quickly and brought it back. Becuma challenged Art to a second game of chess and won. Becuma told Art to leave Ireland. He had to stay away until he found Delvcaem, the daughter of the magician Morgan. Art went on a long journey. He faced many challenges and dangers. He finally found Delvcaem imprisoned by her parents. Art killed Morgan and his wife. He married Delvcaem and returned with her to Ireland.

When they reached Ireland, Delvcaem ordered Becuma to leave and never return. Becuma left Ireland. She became a queen in a faraway country.

Mongan's Frenzy

A storyteller tells a tale about Mongan, the king of Ulster. Mongan, his wife, his storyteller, and some guards went to a tournament. It started to hail. As they ran from the hail, they wandered into the fairy world. They came to a small palace. There, they had a feast. Mongan agreed to tell a story about his past.

Eolgarg Mor, the king of Lochlann, was sick. A doctor said only a white cow with red ears could save him. Fiachna Finn, the prince of Ulster, found such a cow. It belonged to the Black Hag. She only agreed to give it up if Fiachna promised to replace it with four other cows. As Fiachna delivered the white cow, he learned that his father had died. He was now the new king of Ulster. He forgot his promise and went back to Ireland.

A year later, the Black Hag appeared in Fiachna's court. She demanded that Fiachna repay her. She wanted him to go to war against Eolgarg Mor. Fiachna reluctantly agreed. He led an army to Lochlann. But they were defeated by Eolgarg Mor's poisonous sheep. Manannán, the son of Lir, offered to save the survivors. He would also help them defeat Eolgarg Mor. In return, he wanted all the rights to Fiachna's crown and household for one day. Fiachna agreed. He defeated Eolgarg Mor. He became king of Lochlann and repaid the Black Hag.

Manannán had a child, Mongan, with Fiachna's wife. Mongan was raised by Manannán until he was 16. During this time, a neighboring king killed Fiachna. This king was then crowned king of Ulster. When Mongan returned, he killed this king. He married the king's daughter, Duv Laca. Mongan was now king of Ulster.

One day, Mongan visited Branduv, the King of Leinster. Branduv owned a herd of amazing white cows with red ears. Branduv offered to trade his cows for Mongan's wife, Duv Laca. Mongan agreed and took the cows home. Branduv soon visited to claim his prize. He took Duv Laca and her maid back to Leinster. Mongan's servant, mac an Dáv, pointed out that Duv Laca's maid was his wife. So, he too had lost his wife because of Mongan's quick deal. The two men tried three times to get their wives back. First, they pretended to be religious leaders. Then, they tried to sneak in when Branduv was away. Both attempts failed. Finally, Mongan used magic. He made an old, ugly woman look like a beautiful young woman. Branduv unknowingly traded Duv Laca and her maid for the ugly woman.