This book gives an overview of the Irish myths and legends and the existing problems in the study of this field. O'Grady proposes the creation of a book that will cover both epic and annalistic/genealogical literature. He claims that although bardic literature constitutes the glory of early Irish history, it is also the stumbling block in its appreciation.
There is a short introduction to bardic history as well as an overview of the five ages that should make up his proposed book. He also gives an account of the evolution of the pantheon and how important it is to include the cycles in the proposed book. A section on the deification of heroes and kings is informative.
The mythological record of the bards according to O'Grady is as follows:
Age of Keasair
Age of Partholan and the Earliest Fomorian Gods
Age of the Nemedian Gods and Second Cycle of the Fomorians
Firbolgs and Third Cycle of the Fomoroh
Last Cycle: Tuatha de Danan
I don't recommend this as a complete source of the five cycles but only as an overview of bardic literature. Although it provides a lot of information most are summaries and the author focuses more on the problem of recording, classifying, and analyzing the myths.
Rating: 7 out of 10.
