Legendary Fictions of The Irish Celts. Collected and Narrated by Patrick Kennedy. London: Macmillan, 1866. First Edition. Pp xiv, 35o, [1]. Early half calf, marbles boards. Covers lightly scuffed, contents in nice condition.

Frontispiece plate & title page illustration by W. Small.

Among the first important collections of Irish Fairy, Ghost and Witch tales, with dedication to Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu.

Patrick Kennedy (1801-1873) was one of the pioneers in uncovering Irish folkloric material, with a lasting impact on William Butler Yeats and the Celtic Revival movement. A native of Wexford, his stories, some of which he sent to Sheridan Le Fanu, appeared as “Leinster Folk Lore” in the Dublin University Magazine from 1861 till 1869.

Later, at Le Fanu’s encouragement, a full collection was published in this book as Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts (1866).