More Myths and Folklore

     February 1st was the festival of Imbolc and the first day of Spring, when the Celt's celebrated the goddess Brigid. Ruling over spring, fertility, and healing, as well as poetry and smithcraft, she would walk through the land bestowing the seasons bounty on those who left her tribute. If the day was bright, however, winter was still at hand. Something starting to sound familiar hear?

     With Christianity, the feast became Candlemass and the goddess was replaced by St. Brigid, but the custom of First Day continued. If St. Brigid's Day was bright, spring would still be a ways off.

The Coming of Bride by John Duncan (1917)

     There are quite a few tales about Aengus, but the main one I want to talk about here is the one about his love of Caer Ibormeith, the goddess of sleep and dreams, because Ciaran refers to them in "The Book of Carraig".

     As the god of love, Aengus could woo anyone he met, but he was also susceptible to the lure of love. He began to dream about a beautiful woman who would come to him in his sleep, but each time he'd reach out to her, she would disappear. Unable to find her, he grew heartsick, so much so that his father Dagda, the chief of the Tuatha De Danann went to look himself. 

     Finally, the girl was found, but was held captive and a curse put upon her whereby every other year she would turn into a swan for a year. Her captor told Aengus, he would release her if he could identify her in the form of a swan. Aengus was a shape shifter, and so turned into a swan himself, calling to his love, and thus winning her release.

     They flew off together and sang such sweet songs that all who listen fall to sleep for three days and nights.  

     A little background - the story is about a love triangle between an aging Fiannian warrior, Fionn mac Cumhaill, a widower, his intended bride, the young and beautiful Grainne, and her lover, Diarmuid Ua Dubhne. 

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     Diarmuid ua Duibhne was the son of Donn, and a brave and handsome member of the Fianna, the skilled warriors who guarded and protected all the lands of Erui. Like many warriors of the time, Diarmuid had a geis or two placed upon him, one of which stated that he was never to pierce the skin of a pig. Easy enough to avoid. Just no boar hunting. 

     There came a time, when Fionn mac Cumhaill, the leader of the Fianna, and  a great warrior in his own right, was grieving over the loss of his wife. His men set about finding him another and discovered that the princess Grainne, daughter of Cormac mac Airt,was the most beautiful woman in the land. The wedding arrangements were made, and all the Fianna were invited to the betrothal celebration. Of course, Diarmuid went along, happy to celebrate Fionn's good fortune. 

     By this time, however, Fionn was an old man, and Grainne was not at all happy with the arrangement. She thought she would be marrying his son Oisin (yes, the one from the previous tale) or his grandson, Oscar. On seeing Diarmuid, however, she is attracted to the handsome warrior, possibly because of the magical love spot on his forehead that makes him irresistible, but that's another story. Regardless of the reason, an idea came to her about how she could avoid marrying Fionn. 

     She made a potion and passed it to all in attendance, except herself and Diarmuid of course. When everyone was asleep, she approached Diarmuid and told him she loved him, and that they should run away together. Loyal to his friend and leader, Fionn, Diarmuid was reluctant at first, but Grainne finally persuaded him, threatening to put a geis on him forcing him to comply, and the two ran away together. When Fionn awoke, he was furious to find his future bride had taken off with the very man he had entrusted her safety to, Together with his men, Fionn took off in after the couple, and so began the pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne.. 

     Diarmuid and Grainne managed to keep one step ahead of Fionn,  enlisting the aid of Diarmuid's foster father, Aengus (yes the same one from the previous story)., as well as some of his fellow warriiors from the Fianna.  At last, Aengus was able to convince Fionn that he should forgive the couple and let them live in peace. And so the couple lived happily enough and Grainne bore Diarmuid four sons.

     Alas, the story didn't end there. Years later, Dearmuid woke one night to the baying of a hound, and determined to protect his family, he went in search of the creature, eventhough Grainne begged him not to. The only one he found, however, was Fionn MacCuhaill. Suspecting the man had finally come to kill him, he confronted his one time friend, but Fionn looked at him as thought he'd lost his mind, saying that he was there searching for one of the Fianna's lost hounds. Fionn went on to add that Diarmuid should probably head home since a wild boar was said to be in the vicinity as well.  

    Now at first, you might think it was kind of Fionn to warn Diarmuid, since he knew of the geis set upon Dearmuid, but was it? Or did he figure the man would react just as he did,  Letting his pride get in the way of his good judgment, Diarmuid refused to leave, saying he wouldn't run from a mere pig.

     By and by, he did run across the creature, of course, and piercing him with his spear, killed the animal, but not before the boar had gored him with his tusk. Near death, Diarmuid begged Fionn to cure him. Fionn had the power to do so if he would but pour some water from his hands upon the wound. (Ever since he had burned his fingers on a fish from the Well of Knowledge many years before, Fionn has had magical hands - a tale for another time.)

     Though Fionn says he would surely do so, but he does not know where to find any water, his grandson, Oscar, the son of Oisin, reminds him there was a stream a short distance away, and that he was certain to know of it.    

    Fionn agreed that so he did, but as he went to get the water, the old jealousy and anger surfaced, and he let the water slip through his fingers before he could get back to Diarmuid. He went back a second time, but on returning, he stewed over Diarmuid's betrayal once more, and allowed the water to slip away once more.

     Finally, on the urging of his grandson, Oscar, who threatened him with bodily harm, Fionn relented, remembering how Diarmuid had once been his friend. He went to retrieve the water a third time, hurrying back to Diarmuid's side, but he was too late. Diarmuid had already passed away, for he had broken the geis that had been placed upon him and pierced the boar's skin.  

The story has vaires endings. Some say that Grainne is so distraught she takes her own life, while others say she charges her children with hunting down Fionn. Still, others say she ultimately relents, and makes peace with Fionn, even going so far in some cases to finally marry Fionn. What ending do you like? 

     Fionn did not want to see Oisín go, for he feared he would never see him again, but her voice was so soft and sweet as she spoke that a dream-like stillness settled over them all. Oisín mounted the snow white mare behind his love, wrapping his arms around her, and before anyone could stir, they rode across the forest glade and disappeared from sight. That was the last Fionn or any of the Fianna saw of him. 

     Now it seems as if that might be the end of the story, and as far as the Fianna was concerned, it was. Not so for Oisín, however. Niamh took him to Tír na nÓg, just as she had promised, and he beheld the Land of Youth with his own eyes, a sight not many mortal men have beheld and lived to tell. It was just as wonderful as Niamh had foretold. Lush green forests and sparkling brooks covered the land. The sky was bluer than any he had ever seen, and animals romped within the woods, having no fear of capture. Men and women passed them, all young and hearty, filled with joy and happiness. Not one old crone could he find amongst them. 

     Niamh led him to a large gate of red and white marble, and there her father welcomed him. "Welcome, Oisín, son of Fionn. Thou art come to the Land of Youth, where sorrow and weariness and death shall never touch thee. This thou hast won by thy faithfulness and valour and by the songs that thou hast made for the men of Ériu, whereof the fame is come to us, for we have here indeed all things that are delightful and joyous, but poesy alone we had not. But now we have the chief poet of the race of men to live with us, immortal among immortals, and the fair and cloudless life that we lead here shall be praised in verses as fair; even as thou, Oisín, did'st praise and adorn the short and toilsome and chequered life that men live in the world thou hast left forever. And Niamh, my daughter, shall be thy bride, and thou shalt be in all things even as myself in the Land of Youth. 

     Oisín gazed into Niamh's eyes and saw the love within them, and so they were married that very day, and for many years, they ruled happily. Niamh bore him three children: two sons, Oscar and Fionn, and a daughter, Plor na mBan, which means Flower of Women.  But as time passed, Oisín began to miss his family and Ireland. One day he asked Niamh if he could return, if only for a short time, to see them again and tell them of all the wonderful adventures he had experienced.

     As his name signifies Manannan or Mananndan mac Lir was the son of the sea god, Lir and a deity of the Tuatha de Danann. According to legend, he was  the first ruler of the Isle of Man, and it appears eventually took over the duties of his father, Lir. As ruler of the Otherworld, he was said to live there on the island of Emain Ablach or Tir Tairngire, the Land of Promicse, and appears in all four cycles of Irish mythology. 

     In his role as guardian of the Tuatha de Danann after the coming of the Milesians, the humans, he uses the feth fada, the magical mist to cloak the Otherworld and the homes of the aos sidhe from detection. He is the owner of a number of magical items, which he gifts to the heroes of the Irish myths at various times. Along with the Wave-Sweeper, a self-navigating boat the skmis across the water without the use of oar or sale, he possesses a horse called Aoabharr, which can gallop across both land and sea. His sword, the Fragrach, the Answerer or Retaliator, served a dual purpose. No man could tell a lie if it were held against their throat, nor could they survive a blow from its blade. 

     He also listed the Goblet of Truth among the magical items in his custody, The goblet was reported to break in three if three lies were told over it, but repair itself when three truths were told. Another of his items was a cloak of forgetfulness. When his wife, Fand, has an affair with the hero Cuchulainn, Manandan uses it to make the two lovers forget each other. The corrbolg or Crane Bag, is another of his possessions. The tales say that it was full of treasures, but its contents could uld only be seen at high tide. It was said that any pig that was killed for dinner would magically appear alive in that bag the next day.

     One legend referring specifically to the county of Mayo, speaks of a treasure, buried in Manann's woods that is guarded by a serpeant.