Were the legends of King Arthur influenced by the Irish tales of the hero Mac Erca? After four years of research and the translation of ancient Irish manuscripts, the forgotten story of the Irish Arthur can now be introduced and revealed for the first time in hundreds of years. From long forgotten manuscripts this book has pieced together a tale that will astound those seeking the further research on the origins of King Arthur. Most of this material has never been seen or read before, with much of it newly translated into English for the first time, both narrative prose and ancient poetry.
The main sources are discussed first and then the implications of the ancestry, name and background of this fascinating character of Irish history and myth are examined. What then unfolds is a tale of astounding similarities to that of the Arthur of the Welsh. It is a story of heroic deeds, conquests, romance, enslavement and magic. This King fought numerous battles, was in his early years a murderous tyrant, exacted tribute, was in possession of the Lia Fáil, conquered Ireland and Gaul, assumed the sovereignty of Britain, Scotland, the Saxons, Denmark and the Orkneys; is fostered by a Druid, and is finally given the ultimate accolade of a famous hero - the triple death. Not only did he accomplish all this, but did so at exactly the same time as King Arthur of the Britons is said to have done! With over two hundred footnotes and references there is plenty of information for those seeking further clues and answers to the enigma of King Arthur. So were some of the legends of King Arthur based on Mac Erca's exploits? Read this compelling introduction and decide for yourself!

Notes to the second edition

This work has remained popular since it was first published in 2011, and so a decision was made to update and improve it. This current edition has been re-edited, and re-formatted, correcting the typography, punctuation and layout that was lacking in the first edition.
Extra discussions, analysis and research has been included to reflect and reference works published in the intervening years since 2011. Some large expansion and discussion to the text occurs in the chapters dealing with the material in the Lebor Bretnach, Ballymote version, concerning the 'Miracles of Cairnech', including more background material on Cairnech himself, and in the chapter on Aided Muirchertaig Meic Erca where further discussions on the threefold death and dating of the work occur.
A major improvement is in the addition of the Irish language texts of both the above stories which are laid alongside the translations. This has meant that those translations have been improved, corrected and missing parts restored. Minor additions, editing and corrections occur in all the other chapters.
Also included is a map of Ireland and extra images to supplement the work. This edition therefore contains nearly fifty extra pages compared to the first edition, with reference to several more academic works, and a brand-new cover design.