The Druid Path by Marah Ellis Ryan
The Druid Path by Marah Ellis Ryan is a collection of Irish mythic romances written in the early 20th century. It interweaves Celtic legend with early Christian Ireland, moving through dream-led quests, love, and encounters with the Tuatha Dé Danann amid the tensions of faith and folklore. The opening tale follows Phadraig of the Ua Dinan, drawn by white sea-birds and music into the Otherworld, while later episodes shift to figures like
Ruadan and Doirenn against the backdrop of Norse incursions. Expect lush, lyrical storytelling steeped in enchantment, destiny, and the pull between pagan memory and Christian duty. The opening of the book presents Phadraig, son of the singer Nihil, who dreams on Beltain of white birds and a haunting song that leads him to seek the truth of Danaan despite clerical censure. Guided by Roiseen of the Glen and his father’s legacy, he ventures into the wilds, sails out on Samhain, and reaches the Summer Land of the Long Day, where the priestess-like Danaan (Una) reveals a bond between worlds; he carves a star and circle as their pledge, tries to bring her back, and returns alone, later becoming king yet forever marked by the vision. With a monk he seeks proof, finds his carving on a desolate island that vanishes after their prayer, then rules wisely, marries Yva, and dies serenely as white birds circle, still calling to Danaan. The next story opens with Ruadan of Ardsolais—bold, wayward, and branded “God’s Dastard”—clashing with kin over fines for a liaison, while the learned Doirenn, devoted to the pious Geroid, spurns him and takes the veil at Clonmacnoise; when Queen Ota’s Danes sack the place, Ruadan answers a mysterious call, infiltrates Ota’s camp with a lover’s ring, and is led to a tower where a captive golden-haired girl clutches a jeweled Gospel he once illuminated. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Ryan, Marah Ellis, 1866-1934 |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Vreeland, Will |
| LoC No. | 17004311 |
| Title | The Druid Path |
| Original Publication | Chicago: A. C. McClurg & Co., 1917. |
| Contents | The Druid Path -- The enchanting of Doirenn -- Liadan and Kurithir -- Dervail nan Ciar -- Randuff of Cumanac -- The Dark Rose. |
| Credits | Andrew Scott, Emmanuel Ackerman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Short stories, American |
| Subject | Ireland -- Social life and customs -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 77880 |
| Release Date | Feb 7, 2026 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 379 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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