Murphy, Gerard. The Ossianic Lore and Romantic Tales of Medieval Ireland, 1955. First Edition. In English.

Murphy, Gerard.
The Ossianic Lore and Romantic Tales of Medieval Ireland.
Dublin : Published for the Cultural Relations Committee of Ireland by Colm O Lochlainn, 1955.
69 pp. ; 19 cm. Original paper softcover. First Edition. In English.

This 1955 first edition is a concise yet magisterial study of one of the most vibrant branches of Gaelic literature, written by the eminent Celtic scholar Gerard Murphy. The text provides a deep dive into the internal logic of the Ossianic (or Fenian) Cycle, including the arrangement of the heroic sagas and the lyrical poetry attributed to Oisín, the son of the legendary Fionn mac Cumhaill. Murphy traces the evolution of these tales from their early medieval origins in the 8th century through to their peak as "romantic" narratives in the 15th century, illustrating how they became the quintessential expression of the Irish oral and written imagination. The work is particularly noted for its clarity in distinguishing between the older Ulster Cycle and the more folklore-rich, nature-oriented Fenian tradition.
The physical book is a notable product of mid-century Irish fine printing, produced by Colm O Lochlainn at the renowned Sign of the Three Candles press in Dublin. Known for their high typographic standards and commitment to Irish cultural heritage, the press produced this volume as part of a series intended to introduce Irish literature to a wider international audience. Spanning 69 pages in a portable 19 cm format, the book serves as both a scholarly introduction and a bibliographical artifact of the Irish cultural revival of the 1950s. For bibliophiles, medievalists, and collectors of Celtic studies, this 1955 Dublin imprint is a vital primary source, documenting the systematic academic recovery of Ireland's romantic and heroic literary past.