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Patrick, a 5th-century Roman Briton, was captured by Irish raiders and taken into slavery in Ulster. Escaping to France, he became a priest and returned to Ireland to help convert the Irish. Extraordinary tales about him abound – he cured the sick, raised the dead, and rid Ireland of snakes by ringing his bell (see Christianity Comes to Ireland).

The greatest of the Tuatha de Danann , or fairy folk, was the sea-god Lir. His four beloved children were turned into swans by their jealous stepmother Aoife, who condemned them to live forever in the waters off the Ulster coast. Some 900 years later, St Patrick broke the spell, baptizing them as they died.

For murdering his father, the sun god Lugh demanded that the three sons of Tuireann give him magical objects and perform difficult feats. Their last task was to make three shouts from the Hill of Miochaoin; these shouts summoned supernatural warriors who killed them.

The boy Setanta had miraculous strength and loved the game of hurling. Invited to a feast by the legendary blacksmith Culain, Setanta arrived late and was met by the smith’s ferocious guard dog. He killed the hound with his hurley stick and offered himself as a guard instead. He was renamed Cuchulainn, “hound of Culain”.

Finn’s son Oisin and Niamh, daughter of sea-god Manannan, went together to Tir na n’Og, paradise of eternal youth. After 300 years, homesick Oisin borrowed Niamh’s magic horse to revisit Ireland. His feet were not to touch the ground, but he fell from the horse, instantly aged 300 years, and died.

King Conchubar loved Deirdre, his harpist’s beautiful daughter. The Druid Cathbad foretold she would bring disaster, so Conchubar kept her in solitude. But Deirdre loved young Naoise, son of Usnach, who, with his brothers, took her to Scotland. After persuading them to return, Conchubar killed Usnach’s sons. Deirdre, grief-stricken, killed herself.

Connacht’s Queen Medb (Maeve) raided Ulster to seize the chief Daire’s famous bull. All the men of Ulster being under a spell, the boy Cuchulainn fought alone, killing all Medb’s warriors. Medb retreated.

Finn MacCoul asked King Cormac for the hand of his daughter Grainne, but she eloped with Finn’s nephew Diarmait. For a year and a day Diarmait and Grainne fled as enraged Finn pursued them around Ireland.

The first person to taste the Salmon of Knowledge would gain prophetic powers. When the young Finn MacCoul – hero of countless legends – visited Finnegas, the old druid caught the fish. While it cooked, Finn’s thumb touched the salmon. Putting the thumb to his lips, he tasted the fish before Finnegas.

King Leary’s brother Covac murdered Leary and his son at Dinn Rig, then forced the grandson to eat their hearts. Struck dumb until cured by Princess Moriatha’s love, the grandson – renamed Labraidh (“Speaks”) – grew up and reconquered Leary’s kingdom. He then invited Covac to stay in an iron house on Dinn Rig. The door locked and a fire lit, all inside were roasted alive.