The Triads of Ireland

This book is a collection of the Irish Triad. It is but a small portion of the large number of triads scattered throughout early Irish literature that has been brought together under the title of Trecheng breth Féne, i.e., literally 'a triadic arrangement of the sayings of Irishmen.' I first drew attention to the existence of Irish triads in a note on Irish proverbs in my edition of the Battle of Ventry, where a few will be found quoted. A complete collection of them would fill a small volume, especially if it were to include those still current among the people of Ireland, both among Gaelic and English speakers. I must content myself here with giving a few specimens taken at random from my own collections.