Question about Irish Mythology Books

[tophathaiku]

Hi folks,

I am looking for advice on what Irish mythology books to purchase.  There are a lot of options on Amazon, but none look too promising.  I know that Miranda Green is a reliable author, but would anyone like to recommend a few more authors?  I'm really looking for something scholarly, yet approachable--meaning I don't want a headache while reading, nor do I wish to read a bedtime story.

I am specifically looking for Irish myths, but I will consider the Celtic perspective as well.

[Caroline]

I am specifically looking for Irish myths, but I will consider the Celtic perspective as well.

 
I'd recommend Proinsias Mac Cana & Daithi O Hogan.

[Cabal]

I'd recommend Proinsias Mac Cana & Daithi O Hogan.

 
Celtic Mythology by Proinsias MacCana is a great book to start with. Covers most topics, and has a great section on Irish Mythology.

[Aster Breo]

I am specifically looking for Irish myths, but I will consider the Celtic perspective as well.

If you haven't already, check out the CR FAQ reading list, which is categorized:  http://www.paganachd.com/faq/.  I have many (most?) of the books on that list.  Most of them are with the read.

~ Aster

[Oíche]

Celtic Mythology by Proinsias MacCana is a great book to start with. Covers most topics, and has a great section on Irish Mythology.

 
Seconded! It's a great book.
If you are interested in the Ulster Cycle I would recommend you get hold of a copy the The Táin edited by Thomas Kinsella. It looks a little daunting at first with all the lists of names but it's quite an easy read once you get into it
A good scholarly book, but that has a lot of readable information (and includes a translation of the Book of Invasions) if you are interested, is the Celtic Heroic Age by Carey and Koch.
Irish Myths and Sagas by Jeffrey Gantz is another good book! It's written in a slightly old fashioned way but it's excellent!
A book I find very useful and interesting is Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin's 'An Introduction to Early Irish Literature'. It gives a great overview of several topics and she writes in a nice clear style.

[tophathaiku]

The Táin edited by Thomas Kinsella
The Celtic Heroic Age by Carey and Koch
Irish Myths and Sagas by Jeffrey Gantz is another good book! Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin's 'An Introduction to Early Irish Literature'. .

 
I have the first two on my shelf (currently collecting dust!) and I definitely want to check out the second two.

I have had McCana on my wishlist for awhile.  I think I'll go ahead and get that one soon.

Thanks for all of the great suggestions!

[Oíche]

I have the first two on my shelf (currently collecting dust!) and I definitely want to check out the second two.

I have had McCana on my wishlist for awhile.  I think I'll go ahead and get that one soon.

Thanks for all of the great suggestions!

Definitely pick up the Introduction book, it's a lovely read.
Whenever I read anything in the Celtic Heroic Age I hear John Carey's voice XD (He's a lecturer of mine and a really nice man too- man does he know so much! *_* Haha!)

[The Irish In Stories]

I am specifically looking for Irish myths, but I will consider the Celtic perspective as well.

 
Hi Tophathaiku, we're just about to release an iBook based on Irish Mythology. It centres around what we consider the 3 main cycles in Irish History, The Mythology Cycle, The Ulster Cycle and the Finn/Fenian Cycle.

We have recreated some great myths through local Irish storytellers and got some great historical evidence from a well known Irish Historian!

All in all it's not too heavy but there is a chapter that helps make sense of the Táin Bó Cúailnge.

If you want any more info please visit our website http://www.theirishinstories.com. Our blog is a mix of factual posts and some fun ones! If you want to join our mailing list you could win a free copy on release.

Glad your interested in Irish Mythology as I've been working our project I've become more and more fascinated, happy reading!

[RandallS]

Hi Tophathaiku, we're just about to release an iBook based on Irish Mythology.

Stupid question time. I've heard of ebooks (as one might expect as I own a Nook), but what the heck is an iBook? An ebook than can only be read on an Apple phone or tablet? An "Internet book" (whatever that would be)?

[The Irish In Stories]

Stupid question time. I've heard of ebooks (as one might expect as I own a Nook), but what the heck is an iBook? An ebook than can only be read on an Apple phone or tablet? An "Internet book" (whatever that would be)?

 
You got it! It's an eBook that is only available on iPad's. However depending on the success of the iBook we may look to publish across other platforms.

We choose iBooks because of the functionality, we've got some cool widgets plugged in that allow you to look around Emain Macha (Navan Fort), some timelines and interactive galleries that work really well.

[Oíche]

Hi Tophathaiku, we're just about to release an iBook based on Irish Mythology. It centres around what we consider the 3 main cycles in Irish History, The Mythology Cycle, The Ulster Cycle and the Finn/Fenian Cycle.

We have recreated some great myths through local Irish storytellers and got some great historical evidence from a well known Irish Historian!

All in all it's not too heavy but there is a chapter that helps make sense of the Táin Bó Cúailnge.

If you want any more info please visit our website http://www.theirishinstories.com. Our blog is a mix of factual posts and some fun ones! If you want to join our mailing list you could win a free copy on release.

Glad your interested in Irish Mythology as I've been working our project I've become more and more fascinated, happy reading!

 
This sounds very interesting!
Do you mind me asking who the historian is?
Will you be doing any work with the Cycle of the Kings by any chance in the future?

[Rhyshadow]

You got it! It's an eBook that is only available on iPad's. However depending on the success of the iBook we may look to publish across other platforms.

We choose iBooks because of the functionality, we've got some cool widgets plugged in that allow you to look around Emain Macha (Navan Fort), some timelines and interactive galleries that work really well.

 
Depends on whether you use the proprietary IBA format or the still iBook supported ePub format - the ePub is what the Nook uses, and a piece of freeware called Calibre can convert ePub to Mobi, which is what the Kindle uses

[The Irish In Stories]

This sounds very interesting!
Do you mind me asking who the historian is?
Will you be doing any work with the Cycle of the Kings by any chance in the future?

 
Our historian is Dr Bob Curran, you can read more about him here - http://drbobcurran.blogspot.co.uk/

We have no plans set in stone for our next publication, it will depend on the success and feedback we get on this project. Although the Cycle of Kings would certainly make for great subject matter!

[The Irish In Stories]

Depends on whether you use the proprietary IBA format or the still iBook supported ePub format - the ePub is what the Nook uses, and a piece of freeware called Calibre can convert ePub to Mobi, which is what the Kindle uses

 
Thanks for this! We are using the IBA format basically because we found it very easy to use and has really good functionality for what we are trying to achieve.

[Oíche]

Our historian is Dr Bob Curran, you can read more about him here - http://drbobcurran.blogspot.co.uk/

We have no plans set in stone for our next publication, it will depend on the success and feedback we get on this project. Although the Cycle of Kings would certainly make for great subject matter!

 
I've subscribed to your mailing list and look forward very much to seeing your work