A Reading Book in Irish HistoryThe Fate of the Children of Lir[6]; or, The Four White Swans.Reading editionChapter navigation56 reading sectionsGo to chapterChoose a chapter…Front matterA READING BOOK IN IRISH HISTORY BY P. W. JOYCE, LL.D.PREFACE.I. LEGENDS AND EARLY HISTORY.[1]II. THE SONG OF INISFAIL.III. THE RELIGION OF THE PAGAN IRISH.IV. CUSTOMS AND MODES OF LIFE.The Fate of the Children of Lir[6]; or, The Four White Swans.V. HOW THE CHILDREN OF LIR WERE TURNED INTO SWANS.VI. THE FOUR WHITE SWANS ON LAKE DARVRA.VII. THE FOUR WHITE SWANS ON THE SEA OF MOYLE.VIII. HOW THE CHILDREN OF LIR REGAINED THEIR HUMAN SHAPE AND DIED.IX. HOW RELIGION AND LEARNING FLOURISHED IN IRELAND.X. THE RED BRANCH KNIGHTS.Deirdre; or, The Fate of the Sons of Usna.[19]XI. THE FLIGHT TO ALBAN.XII. CONCOBAR'S GUILEFUL MESSAGE.XIII. THE RETURN TO EMAIN.XIV. TROUBLE LOOMING.XV. THE ATTACK ON THE SONS OF USNA.XVI. DEATH OF THE SONS OF USNA.XVII. AVENGING AND BRIGHT.XVIII. THE WRATH OF FERGUS MAC ROY.XIX. ANCIENT IRISH PHYSICIANS: Part I.XX. ANCIENT IRISH PHYSICIANS: Part II.XXI. THE FENA OF ERIN.XXII. THE CHASE OF SLIEVE CULLINN.XXIII. SAINT BRIGIT: Part I.XXIV. SAINT BRIGIT: Part II.XXV. SAINT BRIGIT: Part III.XXVI. IRISH SCRIBES AND BOOKS.XXVII. THE GILLA DACKER AND HIS HORSE. [34]XXVIII. THE FENA CARRIED OFF BY THE GILLA DACKER'S HORSE.XXIX. DERMOT O'DYNA AT THE WELL.XXX. DERMOT O'DYNA FIGHTS THE WIZARD-CHAMPION, AND AFTER A TIME RESCUES HIS COMRADES.XXXI. SAINT COLUMKILLE: Part I.XXXII. SAINT COLUMKILLE: Part II.XXXIII. PRINCE ALFRED IN IRELAND.XXXIV. THE VOYAGE OF MAILDUNE.XXXV. AN EXTRAORDINARY MONSTER.XXXVI. MAILDUNE MEETS HIS ENEMY, IS RECONCILED TO HIM, AND ARRIVES HOME.XXXVII. TENNYSON'S "VOYAGE OF MAILDUNE."XXXVIII. ST. DONATUS, BISHOP OF FIESOLE. [53]XXXIX. ST. DONATUS, BISHOP OF FIESOLE:XL. HOW IRELAND WAS INVADED BY DANES AND ANGLO-NORMANS.XLI. THE WATCH-FIRE OF BARNALEE.XLII. CAHAL O'CONOR OF THE RED HAND: KING OF CONNAUGHT.XLIII. "CAHAL-MORE OF THE WINE-RED HAND."XLIV. SIR JOHN DE COURCY.XLV. HOW SIR JOHN DE COURCY WAS CAPTURED AND THROWN INTO PRISON.XLVI. SIR JOHN DE COURCY ACCEPTS A CHALLENGE.XLVII. SIR JOHN DE COURCY AND THE FRENCH CHAMPION.XLVIII. THE GREAT EARL OF KILDARE AND THE EARL OF ORMOND.XLIX. ANCIENT IRISH MUSIC.NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS.Transcriber's Notes:Previous chapter ←IV. CUSTOMS AND MODES OF LIFE.Next chapter →V. HOW THE CHILDREN OF LIR WERE TURNED INTO SWANS.All chapters and sections (56)Opening pagesFront matterOther sectionsA READING BOOK IN IRISH HISTORY BY P. W. JOYCE, LL.D.PREFACE.I. LEGENDS AND EARLY HISTORY.[1]II. THE SONG OF INISFAIL.III. THE RELIGION OF THE PAGAN IRISH.IV. CUSTOMS AND MODES OF LIFE.The Fate of the Children of Lir[6]; or, The Four White Swans.V. HOW THE CHILDREN OF LIR WERE TURNED INTO SWANS.VI. THE FOUR WHITE SWANS ON LAKE DARVRA.VII. THE FOUR WHITE SWANS ON THE SEA OF MOYLE.VIII. HOW THE CHILDREN OF LIR REGAINED THEIR HUMAN SHAPE AND DIED.IX. HOW RELIGION AND LEARNING FLOURISHED IN IRELAND.X. THE RED BRANCH KNIGHTS.Deirdre; or, The Fate of the Sons of Usna.[19]XI. THE FLIGHT TO ALBAN.XII. CONCOBAR'S GUILEFUL MESSAGE.XIII. THE RETURN TO EMAIN.XIV. TROUBLE LOOMING.XV. THE ATTACK ON THE SONS OF USNA.XVI. DEATH OF THE SONS OF USNA.XVII. AVENGING AND BRIGHT.XVIII. THE WRATH OF FERGUS MAC ROY.Parts12Part 2 · Other sectionsXXI. THE FENA OF ERIN.XXII. THE CHASE OF SLIEVE CULLINN.Part 1 · Parts1Part 2 · Parts2Parts3Part 3 · Other sectionsXXVI. IRISH SCRIBES AND BOOKS.XXVII. THE GILLA DACKER AND HIS HORSE. [34]XXVIII. THE FENA CARRIED OFF BY THE GILLA DACKER'S HORSE.XXIX. DERMOT O'DYNA AT THE WELL.XXX. DERMOT O'DYNA FIGHTS THE WIZARD-CHAMPION, AND AFTER A TIME RESCUES HIS COMRADES.Part 1 · Parts1Part 2 · Parts2Part 2 · Other sectionsXXXIII. PRINCE ALFRED IN IRELAND.XXXIV. THE VOYAGE OF MAILDUNE.XXXV. AN EXTRAORDINARY MONSTER.XXXVI. MAILDUNE MEETS HIS ENEMY, IS RECONCILED TO HIM, AND ARRIVES HOME.XXXVII. TENNYSON'S "VOYAGE OF MAILDUNE."XXXVIII. ST. DONATUS, BISHOP OF FIESOLE. [53]XXXIX. ST. DONATUS, BISHOP OF FIESOLE:XL. HOW IRELAND WAS INVADED BY DANES AND ANGLO-NORMANS.XLI. THE WATCH-FIRE OF BARNALEE.XLII. CAHAL O'CONOR OF THE RED HAND: KING OF CONNAUGHT.XLIII. "CAHAL-MORE OF THE WINE-RED HAND."XLIV. SIR JOHN DE COURCY.XLV. HOW SIR JOHN DE COURCY WAS CAPTURED AND THROWN INTO PRISON.XLVI. SIR JOHN DE COURCY ACCEPTS A CHALLENGE.XLVII. SIR JOHN DE COURCY AND THE FRENCH CHAMPION.XLVIII. THE GREAT EARL OF KILDARE AND THE EARL OF ORMOND.XLIX. ANCIENT IRISH MUSIC.NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS.Transcriber's Notes:The Fate of the Children of Lir[6]; or, The Four White Swans.Notes in this chapterNote 1 · Among the ancient Irish Romantic Tales, three are specially known as "The Three Sorrowful Stories of Erin," viz. "The Fate of the Children o← IV. CUSTOMS AND MODES OF LIFE.V. HOW THE CHILDREN OF LIR WERE TURNED INTO SWANS. →