In early Ireland, there were many names for what scholars have dubbed the ‘Otherworld’: the Plain of Delights, the Land of Youth, the Land of Promise, and more. Many of the myths and legends from this period involve an encounter between a hero and a woman from this Otherworld, with sufficient frequency to form a distinct theme within the literature. This book examines the particularities and consequences of these otherworldly encounters, attending in particular to the question of gender and the social dynamics at work. Five stories purportedly from the lost book Cín Dromma Snechta receive detailed analysis, alongside material from other sources, in order to reconstruct the mindset of the early Irish who told these stories about the Otherworld and their views about women in general.

Dr. Heather C. Key is a scholar of early medieval Ireland and its literature. Her writings have appeared in Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies, Oenach, and Cosmos.

''Key’s study is essential reading for scholars of early Irish literature. Her thorough research and careful examination of the intersection between gender and mythology provide a fresh perspective on the representation of women in early Irish sagas. The book’s interdisciplinary approach enriches our understanding of both literature and the cultural role of women in ancient Ireland."
- Lynette Olson, Journal of the Australian Early Medieval Association, issue 224, 2023

Table of Abbreviations
Preface
Part I: Introduction
Chapter One: Women in Early Ireland
Chapter Two: The “Otherworld” of Early Ireland
Part II: The Texts
Chapter Three: Echtrae Chonnlai and Immram Brain
Chapter Four: Serglige Con Culainn
Chapter Five: The Eponymous Goddesses of Lebor Gabála Érenn
Chapter Six: Echtrae Nerai
Chapter Seven: A Fair Shake: Otherworld Men as Intermediaries
Conclusion
Appendix: An Edition of Lebor Gabála Érenn’s Summaries of the Eponymous Goddess Sections Purportedly from the Cín Dromma Snechtai
Bibliography