This volume presents a new introduction to the early Irish king-tales together with ten original essays on selected topics and suggestions for future research. Contents: Dan M. Wiley (Hastings College), An introduction to the early Irish king-tales; S. Elizabeth Passmore (U Southern Indiana), Prophecy and counsel in the tales of N all No g allach; Kevin Murray (UCC), Baile Binnb rlach mac B ain in Irish tradition; Jacqueline Borsje (UU), Kings and supernatural threats; Thomas Owen Clancy (U Glasgow), Tradition and history in the evolution of some early Irish king-tales; William Sayers (Cornell), Kings, fools, herdsmen and the occasional saint; Clodagh Downey (DIAS), Women, the world and three wise men; Morgan T. Davies (Colgate U), A somewhat heroic biography of Brandub mac Echach; Michael Byrnes, A new edition of Esnada Tige Buchet; Mark Zumbuhl (NUIG), The 11th and 12th-century historical sagas; and Joseph Falaky Nagy (UCLA), Fenians and kings.