INTRODUCTION.
The story here given in modern Irish and in a slightly extended form, under the title of Eshirt, is contained in the first part of Aidedh Fergusa, “The death of Fergus,” as it appears in the Silva Gadelica of Standish Hayes O’Grady; that part, namely, which deals with Eachtra ríg thuaithe luchra is lupracán go hEamhain, and recounts the adventures, both of the little people at the court of Fergus, and of Fergus’ dwarf in the country of the little people, among whom he is reckoned a giant.
As regards the spelling it should be noted that in the speech the n of the definite article singular is not pronounced, as a rule, when the article occurs between consonants. When it occurs in that position in this text it is omitted, except in cases where the omission might cause confusion to learners. In the group of words in which t follows l, lt or lh may be used as dálta dálha, fáilti fáilhi. Either is correct according to usage. Usage also varies in the pronunciation of some individual words such as gahéngi or gach éngi, “everyone,” gahärod or gach än rod, “everything,” ärod or än rod, “anything.”
