A sprightly tailor was employed by the great Macdonald, in his castle at Saddell, in order to make the laird a pair of trews, used in olden time.

There was once upon a time two farmers, and their names were Hudden and Dudden.

Long ago, a poor widow woman lived down near the iron forge, by Enniscorth, and she was so poor she had no clothes to put on her son;

In Treneglwys there is a certain shepherd's cot known by the name of Twt y Cymrws because of the strange strife that occurred there.

I will tell you a story about the wren. There was once a farmer who was seeking a servant, and the wren met him and said: "What are you seeking?"

My grandfather, Andrew Coffey, was known to the whole barony as a quiet, decent man.

There were formerly a man and a woman living in the parish of Llanlavan, in the place which is called Hwrdh.

Print Llewelyn had a favourite greyhound named Gellert that had been given to him by his father-in-law, King John.

A poor woman had three sons. The eldest and second eldest were cunning clever fellows, but they called the youngest Jack the Fool, because they thought he was no better than a simpleton.

King Hugh Curucha lived in Tir Conal, and he had three daughters, whose names were Fair, Brown, and Trembling.

What Irish man, woman, or child has not heard of our renowned Hibernian Hercules, the great and glorious Fin M'Coul?

There was once a poor old fisherman, and one year he was not getting much fish.

At the time when the Tuatha De Dannan held the sovereignty of Ireland, there reigned in Leinster a king, who was remarkably fond of hearing stories.

The Shee an Gannon was born in the morning, named at noon, and went in the evening to ask his daughter of the king of Erin.

Once there was a poor widow, as often there has been, and she had one son.

Shortly after the birth of Kilhuch, the son of King Kilyth, his mother died.

Och, I thought all the world, far and near, had heerd o' King O'Toole - well, well, but the darkness of mankind is untellible!

Once upon a time there was a king who had a wife, whose name was Silver-tree, and a daughter, whose name was Gold-tree.

There once lived a Munachar and a Manachar, a long time ago, and it is a long time since it was, and if they were alive now they would not be alive then.

There was a man in Ireland once who was called Malcolm Harper.

Up in the Black Mountains in Caermarthenshire lies the lake known as Lyn y Van Vach.

Conall Yellowclaw was a sturdy tenant in Erin: he had three sons.

A rich woman sat up late one night carding and preparing wool, while all the family and servants were asleep.

One fine day in harvest - it was indeed Lady-day in harvest, that everybody knows to be one of the greatest holidays in the year - Tom Fitzpatrick was taking a ramble through the ground, and went along the sunny side of a hedge;

There was once a boy in the County Mayo; Guleesh was his name. There was the finest rath a little way off from the gable of the house, and he was often in the habit of seating himself on the fine grass bank that was running round it.

Connla of the Fiery Hair was son of Conn of the Hundred Fights. One day as he stood by the side of his father on the height of Usna, he saw a maiden clad in strange attire coming towards him.