| The main editions: |
- Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland, Part II [floral design] (London: John Murray MDCCCXXVIII [1828]), v-x [Preface], 327pp. (See details, infra.)
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| —being Part II of the 1st Series; |
- Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland [3 vols. in 1 - i.e., Vols. 1 & 2 of orig. 3-vol. ser.] (London: John Murray MDCCCXXXIV [1834]), [iii]-iv, 344pp. (See details, infra.)
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| —being the 1st edition in 1 vol. |
- Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland / Second Edition (London: John Murray, Albemerle Street; and Thomas Tegg & Son, Cheapside. MDCCCXXXVIII [1838]), [iii]-iv [Preface], 344pp. (See details, infra.)
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Bibliographical Remarks: According to J. F. D. Croker, in his “Memoir” prefixed to the 1859 “new edition”, the first volume of the work appeared anonymously in 1825 and produced the complimentary letter from Sir Walter Scott afterwards attached to subsequent editions. A second edition in the following year [1826] occasioned by the success of the first, appeared with additional engravings after sketches by Daniel Maclise. This was followed by a 2nd and 3rd series (i.e., Parts 2 & 3) in 1827 [sic JFDC, but recte 1828]. Of the third part, he says: ‘though it appeared under the same title, namely “Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland” [it] may be considered as forming a separate work, inasmuch as it comprised the fairy superstitions of Wales and other countries, in addition to those current in Ireland.’ [1]
In so saying, he merely reiterates the author’s own remarks in a first edition of the full series (Pts. I, 2 & 3) which was also issued in 1828. In the Preface to Part II of this two-volume publication - of which Parts II & III occupy the second volume - Croker speaks of Part III as a being ‘separate work’ which concerned itself not with Irish fairy lore but with the ‘fairy superstitions [...] of Wales and other countries’, which he hoped would be considered ‘illustrative’ of the species found in Ireland. In the preface of the 1826 reprint edition, he had already heralded the third series with remark to the effect that the Welsh material would be included under the same title (i.e., Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland) as ‘affording additional proof that the fairy creed must have been a completed and connected system’.
In 1834 John Murray issued a new edition of Croker’s Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland in one volume, abbreviating the 3-part series by reducing the number of Irish stories from fifty stories to forty - as Croker explains in a 2-page preface - and by eliminating the contents of the third series entirely, a self-evident fact that Croker does not mention in his preface. Therein he also tells us that he has shortened the original by eliminating ‘all superfluous annotations’ while substituted ‘a brief summary [...] explanatory of the classification adopted’ at the end of each section. In all of this, he asserts, ‘nothing which illustrates in the slightest degree the popular Fairy Creed of Ireland has been sacrificed.’ (Preface, p.2.) [On Croker’s annotations, see note, infra.]
It follows that the national integrity of the Irish stories proved to be their selling point with Murray, leaving the more ambitious scope of the third volume as a testimony to Croker’s belief in a wider folklore ‘system’ and his relations with such international folklore scholars as, most notably, the Brothers Grimm with whom he corresponded (and whose “Essay” affixed to their 1826 translation of his first series as Irische Elfenmärchen (1826). The volume contains a letter from Sir Walter to the author in response to the first volume (i.e., 1825) which was earlier prefixed to the 2nd edition of 1826 and here printed as an appendix. In it Scott confirms the similarity of Irish and Scottish folklore though owning the Banshee to be uniquely Irish.
1] T. F. D. Croker, “Memoir”, in Fairy Legends and Traditions ... &c., by T. C. Croker, 1859 Edn., p.vii; available online; accessed 22.12.2011) Note also that T. F. D. Croker expressly states that “Barney Mahoney” and “Our Village” are not by T. C. Croker but by Mrs. [Marianne] Croker, contrary to the prevalent idea - then and afterwards. See, for instance, Henry Morley’s introduction to Popular Songs of Ireland (1886 Edn.) where he writes: ‘In 1832 followed “Barney Mahoney” and “Our Village” [...]’ (p.6.) In view of its special interest as an example of Anglo-Irish literary transactions, the full text of Barney Mahoney (2nd edn. 1832) has been copied on this website. (See RICORSO Library, “Irish Classics” > Croker > Barney Mahoney - via index or direct.
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Bibliographical details
Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland, Part II (London: John Murray MDCCCXXVIII [1828]), v-x [Preface], 327pp.; ded.: “To Sir Walter Scott, Bart., This Volume is Inscribed, in Admiration of his Genius, and Gratitude for his Kindness, by T. Crofton Croker.” Printed in London by Thomas Davison, Whitefrairs [t.p. verso]. The Etchings by, and Wood engravings after the drawings of W. H. Brooke, F.S.A. [ded. verso.] CONTENTS:
[Sections:] The Merrow; The Dullahan; The Fir Darrig; Treasure Legends; Rocks and Stones [i.e., Pt. II, continuing on from Pt. I - with constituent stories in each thus-named section]. Full-page plates incl. facing t.p.: ‘What’s your name, my darling,” says Dick.’ (Note: the sprig on t.p. of this edn. appears at the end of “The Brewery of the Egg-Shells” in Fairy Legends, ... &c., Murray 1834 Edn., p.32.) ;Notes: Each title-section, signifying a class of narrative, has its own t.p. with blank verso and corresponding page-count - i.e., “The Merrow” [Pt. II, Sect 1; Fairy Legends, 1828, p.1], of which the first story is “The Lady of Gollerus” (pp.3-20) - as given in Table of Contents, infra. The text includes verse passages in Gaelic fonts, especially for songs, and Greek fonts occasional used in the annotations at the end of stories where comparable narratives or motifs in other literatures are cited. See also full-page plate facing the title-page and and another between pp.206-07 [facing p.207], &c.
| Fairy Legends [... &c.], Pt. II (1828) - Contents |
The Merrow
The Lady of Gollerus [3]
Flory Cantillon’s Funeral [21]
The Soul Cages [30]
The Lord of Dunkerron [59]
The Wonderful Tune [196]
The Dullahan
The Good Woman [85]
Hanlon’s Mill [103]
The Harvest Coach [112]
The Death Coach (Ballad) [133]
The Headless Horseman [138]
The Fir Darrig
Diarmid Bawn, the Piper [156]
Teigue of the Lee [164]
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Ned Sheehy’s Excuse [178]
The Lucky Guest [203]
Treasure Legends
Dreaming Tim Jarvis [287]
Rent Day [298]
Scath-a-Legaune [244]
Linna-na-Payshtha [303]
Rocks and Stones
The Legend of Cairn Thierna [275]
The Rock of the Candle [280]
Clough-na-Cuddy [286]
Barney of Carn Thierna [303]
The Giant’s Stairs [315] |
| Epigraphs |
| T.p. [none] |
Fairy Legends / The Merrow: “The mysterious depths and wild and wond’rous forms of ocean old.” The Conchologist. (p.1.)
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Fairy Legends / The Dullahan: - “Men whose heads do grow beneath their shoulders.” Shakespeare. / “Says the Frair, ‘tis strange headless horses should trot” Old Song. (p.83)
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Fairy Legends / The Fir Darrig: ‘When’er such wanderers I meete, / As from their night-sports they trudge home, / With counterfeiting voices I greete, / And call them on, with me to roame / Through woods, through lakes, / Through bogs, through brakes; / Or else, unseene, with them I go, / All the nicke, / To play some tricke, / And frolicke it, with ho! ho! ho!’ Old Song
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Fairy Legends / Treasure Legends: ‘Bell, book, and candle shall not drive me back / When gold and silver becks me to come on.’ King John. ‘This is fairy gold, boy, and ‘twill prove so.’ The Winter’s Tale.
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Fairy Legends / Rocks and Stones: “Forms in silence frown’d, / shapeless and nameless; and to mine eye / Sometimes they rolled off cloudily, / Wedding themselves with gloom - or grew / Gigantic to my troubled view, / And seemed to gather round me.” Banim’s Celt’s Paradise.
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| See Preface under Quotations, infra. |
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Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland [3 vols. in 1 - i.e., Vols. 1 & 2 of orig. 3-vol. ser.] (London: John Murray MDCCCXXXIV [1834]), [iii]-iv [Preface], 344pp.; Epigraph [t.p.]: ‘Come l’araba Fenice / Che si cia, ognun lo dice; / Dove sia, nessun lo-sa.’ - Metastasio [see note, infra]. The wood engravings after Designs by Mr. Brooke, R.H.A., Mr. M’Clise, and the AUTHOR. Ded. verses to Dowager Lady Chatterton [of] Castle Mahon [as infra], signed in engraved autograph-style: T. Crofton Croker; printed by A[ndrew] Spottiswoode, London.] Given on printed cover as The Family Library, No. XLVII/47 Price Five Shillings. (See Contents and extracts, attached.)
| Contents [v-vi] |
The Shefro
I. The legend of Knocksheogowna [3]
II. The Legend of Knockfierna [9]
III. The Legend of Knockgrafton [14]
IV. The Priest’s Supper [22]
V. The Brewery of Egg-shells [38]
VI. Legend of Bottle Hill [33]
VII. The Confessions of Tom Bourke [46]
VIII. Fairies or No Fairies [65]
Notes on the section [72]
The Cluricaune
IX. The Haunted Cellar [75]
X. Master and Man [85]
XI. The Little Shoe [94]
Notes on the section [96]
The Banshee
XII. The Bunworth Banshee [99]
XIII. The M’Carthy Banshee [105]
Notes on the section [126]
The Phooka
XIV. The Spirit Horse [129]
XV. Daniel O’Rourke [134]
XVI The Crookened Back [145]
Notes on the section [153]
Thierna na Oge
XVII. Fior Usga [155]
XVIII. Cormac and Mary (Ballad) [16]
XIX The Legend of Lough Gur [163]
XX. The Enchanted Lake [166]
XXI. The Legend of O’Donoghue [171];
Notes on the section [174]
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The Merrow
XXII. The Lady of Gollerus [177]
XXIII. Flory Cantillon’s Funeral [186]
XXIV. The Lord of Dunkerron (Ballad) [193]
XXV. The Wonderful Tune [196]
Notes on the section [206]
The Dullahan
XXVI. The Good Woman [209]
XXVII. Hanlon’s Mill [220]
XXVIII. The Death Coach (Ballad) [226]
XXIX. The Headless Horseman [229]
Notes on the section [240]
The Fir Darrig
XXX. Diarmid Bawn, the Piper [243]
XXXI. Teigue of the Lee [249]
XXXII. Ned Sheehy’s Excuse [258]
XXXIII. The Lucky Guest [274
Notes on the section [284]
Treasure Legends
XXXIV. Dreaming Tim Jarvis [287]
XXXV. Rent Day [298]
XXXVI. Linna-na-Payshtha [303]
Notes on the section [310]
Rocks and Stones
XXXVII. The Legend of Cairn Thierna [313]
XXXVIII. The Rock of the Candle [317]
XXXIX. Clough-na-Cuddy [321]
XL. The Giant’s Stairs [333]
[No Section Notes] |
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| [Dedication, p.vi:] |
| “To the Dowager Lady Chatterton / Castle Mahon” |
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Thee, Lady, would I lead through Fairy-land
(When cold and doubting reasoners are exiled),
A land of dreams, with air-built castles piled;
The moonlight SHEFROS there, in merry band
With artful CLURICAUNE, should ready stand
To welcome thee - Imagination’s child!
Till on thy ear would burst so sadly wild
The BANSHEE’s shriek, who points her wither’d hand.
In the dim twilight the PHOOKA come,
Whose dusky form fades in the sunny light,
That opens clear calm LAKES upon they sight,
Where blessed spirits dwell in endless bloom.
I know thee, Lady - thou wilt not deride
Such Fairy Scenes. - Then onward with they Guide.
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| [signed:] T. Crofton Croker |
| [See note on the recipient of the Dedication - as infra.] |
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| Preface: |
The erudite Lessing styles a preface “the history of a book.” Now, though there can be no necessity for a preface in that sense of the word to the reprint of a work of mere whim, which has been nearly ten years before the public, yet a few words are requisite to prevent the present condensed and revised edition from being considered an abridgement. However compact may be the mode of printing adopted, the act of compressing into one volume the three in which the “Fairy Legends” originally appeared, involved to a certain extent the necessity of selection, perhaps the most difficult of all tasks judiciously to perform; but the following statement will show the system proceeded on. Forty tales descriptive of Irish superstitions now appear instead of fifty. All superfluous annotations [see note] have been struck out, and a brief summary at the end of each section substituted, explanatory [iii] of the classification adopted, and which a few additional notes have been introduced, as well as upon the text. It is therefore hoped that this curtailment will be regarded as an essential improvement; some useless repetition in the tales being thereby avoided, and much irrelevant matter in the notes dispensed with, although nothing which illustrates in the slightest degree the popular Fairy Creed of Ireland has been sacrificed. At the same time, the omission of a portion of the ten immaterial tales will sufficiently answer donhts idly raised as to the question of authorship.’ (pp.[iii]-iv; end.] (Note: This preface is printed in both the 1834 and 1838 editions.)
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Note: The Shefro is prefaced with an epigraph from Milton: “Fairy elves / Whose midnight revels, by a forest side / Or fountain, some belated peasant sees, / Or dreams he sees, while over-head the Moon, / Sits arbitress, and nearer to the earth, / Wheels her pale course” -
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| Concluding verses (1834, 1838 Edns., p.341.) |
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And now farewell! the fairy dream is o’er;
The tales my infancy had loved tohear,
Like blissful visions, fade and disappear.
Such tales Momonia’s peasants tell no more!
Vanished are MERMAIDS from her sea-beat shore;
Check’d is the HEADLESS HORSEMAN’S strange career;
FIR DARRIG’S voice no longer mocks the ear,
Nor ROCKS bear wondrous imprints as of yore!
Such is “the march of mind.” But did the fays
(Creatures of whim - the gossamer of will)
In Ireland work such sorrow and such ill
As stormier spirits of our modern days?
Oh land beloved! no angry voice I raise;
My constant prayer - “May peace be with the still!”
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| Appendix - Letter from Sir Walter Scott [dated 27th April 1825 / Abbotsford, Melrose (pp.342-44) |
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Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland / Second Edition (London: John Murray, Albemerle Street; and Thomas Tegg & Son, Cheapside. MDCCCXXXVIII [1838]), [iii]-iv [Preface], 344pp.; ‘Come l’araba Fenice / Che si cia, ognun lo dice; / Dove sia, nessun lo-sa.’ - Metastasio, and with ded. verses to Dowager Lady Chatterton [of] Castle Mahon. signed in autograph-style: T. Crofton Croker; concluding verses [p.341], with a letter from Sir Walter Scott as Appendix, pp.342-44; printed by Bradbury & Evans, Whiteside; final page.] (Contents identical to those of 1834 edition as supra.)
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