The Druid Path

Description

“The Druid Path” by Marah Ellis Ryan is a collection of Celtic mythic tales written in the early 20th century. It interlaces romance, legend, and spirituality in stories set in ancient and early medieval Ireland, where druidic lore and the Tuatha Dé Danann meet Christian monastic life. The opening centers first on Phadraig, a dream-led seeker who moves between the mortal world and the Otherworld, and then on Ruadan of Ardsolais and the golden-haired Doirenn amid Viking turmoil. The focus is on love, fate, enchantment, and the cost of choosing between earthly duty and the call of the unseen. The opening of the work follows Phadraig, son of the singer Nihil, who dreams on Beltain of white birds and a veiled maiden, hears an old charm against “Danaan,” and learns from the wise Roiseen that his blood is tied to the Ancient People. Drawn by music and omen, he vanishes on Samhain into a storm-borne currach, is borne by sea birds to the Summer Land, finds Una/Danaan by a tide-pulsing lake, seals a bond by carving a star and circle in the rock, and tries to bring her home; she cannot live in his world, and he returns changed, soon called to kingship. With a holy man he later seeks proof, finds the weathered mark of his vow on a desolate western isle, accepts his duty, rules, and in age dies gently as white birds circle. The narrative then shifts to Meath: Ruadan is fined over a woman, scorned by devout Doirenn—who takes the veil at Clonmacnoise—and, hearing a mysterious call from her, rides west only to find Queen Ota’s Danes have sacked the great monastery. He infiltrates Ota’s camp by feigning allegiance; the queen, intrigued, promises him favor and leads him toward the tower of plunder, where a captive golden-haired girl clutches a jeweled Gospel he once illuminated—there the excerpt breaks. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Subjects

• Short stories, American
• Ireland -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
• PS