Celtic Tales

Celtic Tales

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Celtic Tales, by Louey Chisholm
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Title: Celtic Tales Told to the Children
Author: Louey Chisholm
Release Date: February, 2005 [EBook #7488] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on May 10,
2003]

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Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CELTIC
TALES ***

Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Clare Elliott, Brendan Lane, and the
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CELTIC TALES TOLD TO THE CHILDREN
BY LOUEY CHISHOLM
WITH PICTURES BY KATHARINE CAMERON

TO CHRISTOPHER

NOTE
This little book was written after several variants of the Tales had been
read:--'Old Celtic Romances,' by Dr. Joyce; 'Reliquae Celticae,' by Dr.
Cameron; 'The Pursuit after Diarmud O'Duibhne and Grainne the
daughter of Cormac Mac Airt,' by Standish Hayes O'Grady; 'The Three
Sorrows of Story-telling,' by Dr. Douglas Hyde; 'The Laughter of
Peterkin,' by Fiona Macleod, and other translations and retellings.
L.C.

ABOUT THIS BOOK

One of my friends tells me that you, little reader, will not like these old,
old tales; another says they are too sad for you, and yet another asks
what the stories are meant to teach.
Now I, for my part, think you will like these Celtic Tales very much
indeed. It is true they are sad, but you do not always want to be amused.
And I have not told the stories for the sake of anything they may teach,
but because of their sheer beauty, and I expect you to enjoy them as
hundreds and hundreds of Irish and Scottish children have already
enjoyed them--without knowing or wondering why.
LOUEY CHISHOLM.

LIST OF STORIES
The Star-Eyed Deirdre
The Four White Swans
Dermat and Grania

LIST OF PICTURES
THE STAR-EYED DEIRDRE
'Art thou indeed Deirdre?'
Thence ofttimes in the young summer would they sail southward
The Hedge of Spears
THE FOUR WHITE SWANS
As she touched Aed, Fiacra, and Conn, the three brothers were as the
maid

They would swim far out into a dim grey wilderness of waters
It was Saint Kemoc
DERMAT AND GRANIA
Dermat
Grania

THE STAR-EYED DEIRDRE
In olden days, when many Kings reigned throughout the Green Island
of Erin, none was greater than the great Concobar. So fair was his
realm that poets sang its beauty, and such the wonder of his palace that
the sweetest songs of Erin were of its loveliness.
In a castle of this fair realm dwelt Felim, a warrior and harper dear unto
the King. And it was told him that Concobar with his chief lords would
visit the castle.
Then Felim made a feast, and there was great rejoicing, and all men
were glad.
But in the midst of the feast an old magician, who was of those that had
come with the King, stood up before the great gathering. Long and
white was the hair that fell upon his bent shoulders, black were the eyes
that gazed into space from beneath his shaggy eyebrows.
'Speak,' said the King to the old man, 'speak, and tell us that thou seest,
for well we know thou piercest the veil that hideth from us the secrets
of the morrow.'
Silently and with great awe did all the company look at the wise old
man, for those things that he had already foretold had they not come to
pass? The magician, also silent, looked from the face of one to the face
of another, but when his eyes fell on Concobar, the King, long did they

dwell there, and when he lifted them, on Felim did they rest.
Then the Wise Man spake:
'This night, O Felim the Harper, shall a girl-babe be born to thee within
these castle walls. Loveliest among the lovely shall thy star-eyed
daughter be; no harp-strings shall yield such music as her voice, no
fairy strains pour forth such wonder-stirring sound. Yet, O Felim, in
days