Lord Walter FitzGerald has given me permission to reproduce the drawing of the old Chapter House door in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, from the "Journal of the Kildare Archæological Society." And lastly, Messrs. Macmillan & Co. have permitted me to print portions of Lord Tennyson's poem, "The Voyage of Maildune." CONTENTS. PAGE I. Legends and Early History, 1 II. The Song of Inisfail, 7 III. Religion of the Pagan Irish, 8 IV. Customs and Modes of Life, 14 =The Fate of the Children of Lir.= V. The Children of Lir turned to Swans, 22 VI. The Swans on Lake Darvra, 27 VII. The Swans on the Sea of Moyle, 32 VIII. Death of the Children of Lir, 39 IX. Religion and Learning in Ancient Ireland, 45 X. The Red Branch Knights, 50 =The Fate of the Sons of Usna.= XI. The Flight to Alban, 55 XII. Concobar's guileful Message, 60 XIII. The Return to Emain, 66 XIV. Trouble Looming, 72 XV. The Attack on the Sons of Usna, 75 XVI. Death of the Sons of Usna, 80 XVII. Avenging and Bright, 84 XVIII. The Wrath of Fergus, 85 XIX. Ancient Irish Physicians: I. 87 XX. Ancient Irish Physicians: II. 89 XXI. The Fena of Erin, 92 XXII. The Chase of Slieve Cullin, 98 XXIII. Saint Brigit: I., 103 XXIV. Saint Brigit: II., 107 XXV. Saint Brigit: III., 111 XXVI. Irish Scribes and Books, 114 XXVII. The Gilla Dacker and his Horse, 120 XXVIII. The Fena carried off by the Horse, 123 XXIX. Dermot O'Dyna at the Well, 129 XXX. Dermot and the Wizard-Champion, 132 XXXI. Saint Columkille: I., 139 XXXII. Saint Columkille: II., 145 XXXIII. Prince Alfred in Ireland, 150 =The Voyage of Maildune.= XXXIV. The Voyage of Maildune, 155 The First Island, 157 XXXV. An Extraordinary Monster, 160 The Silver Pillar of the Sea 160 XXXVI. Maildune forgives his enemy, 162 XXXVII. Tennyson's "Voyage of Maildune," 164 XXXVIII. Saint Donatus: I., 167 XXXIX. Saint Donatus: II., 170 XL. Danish and Anglo-Norman Invasions, 173 XLI. The Watchfire of Barnalee, 179 XLII. Cahal O'Conor of the Red Hand, 181 XLIII. Cahal-More of the Wine-red hand, 186 XLIV. Sir John de Courcy, 190