The aos sidhe

        Originally, Ireland was ruled by a small dark-haired race of people known as the Firbolg. Then, about 4000 years ago, they were attacked by a tall fair-haired tribe known as the Tuatha Dé Danann or the "tribe of the goddess Danu". Now this is where the story becomes clouded by the mists of time and mythology.

Who they were or where they came from ranged from fallen angels or supernatural beings to sailors from the north. You can read more about that in the Ancient Tribes of Ireland section. At any rate, they are said to have been cultured and talented with metal work, as well as poets and sorcerers. Their tales tell of magical items such as the Stone of Fal, Lugh's spear, Nuada's sword, and the Cauldron of Daghda, but more about them later.   

What does seem clear is that the Tuatha Dé Danaan defeated the Firbolg, though out of respect for their bravery, the Tuatha De Danann continued to let the defeated people live in the Connacht region. And so they lived happily ever after, right? Wrong.

The Tuatha Dé Danann's king, Nuada, had lost his hand in battle. Since the law forbade a king to rule if he had been disfigured in any way, Nuada had to step down, and the crown went to Breas, a man whose mother was from the Tuatha Dé Danann, but whose father was Formorian. As it turned out, he was a tyrant and ultimately deposed.

Fortunately for his people, Nuada had his lost hand magically replaced with a silver one. Early prosthetics, perhaps? At any rate, he reclaimed his kingship. Needless to say, Breas was not happy. Being half-Fomorian himself, he made an alliance with Balor, king of the Fomorians. They attacked the Tuatha Dé Danann, but were defeated and their power crushed forever.  Alas, Nuada was killed in this battle, felled by Balor's evil eye. Though he could not save his king, Lugh, a hero of the Tuatha   Dé Danann, retaliated by using his sling shot and knocking out Balor's eye. Without a leader once more, the Tuatha De Danann named Lugh their new king.  

The Tuatha Dé Danann ruled peacefully for the next few generations until they were attacked by the Milesians, who possibly came from Spain or Portugal, though other tales say they were actually from somewhere in the east.  Led by Mil, the invaders headed for Tara, home of the High Kings, but were intercepted by three goddesses, Banba, Fodla, and Eriu, who asked Mil if he would name the land after them if he won. He agreed, and after three days of fighting, the goddess's husbands, all kings of the Tuatha Dé Danann, asked for a truce. The Milesians agreed, anchoring their ships offshore, but the Tuatha Dé Danann conjured up a storm, intending to destroy the enemy ships. It might have worked except the Milesians cast their own spell to calm the storm, after which they returned to shore and defeated the Tuatha Dé Danann. 

Though the victors agreed to split the island with the Tuatha Dé Danann, they pulled a fast one. Instead of splitting it North to South or East to West, the Milesians took their half from the part above ground, thus sending the Tuatha Dé Danannunderground, where, legend says, they remain even today. And by the way, Mil was true to his word and named the land after the three goddesses, though the only one that really stuck was Eriu, which is where the name Eire comes from today. 

This version of the tale came from Thomas Buchanan Read's "The Harp of Erin" 1897

        Tír na nÓg  is the Land of Youth and the home of the Tuatha De Danaan and all the aos sidhe. It's and place filled with happiness and abundance, where no one ever grows old or gets ill. Mortals can only visit the land if they are invited or stumble on it by accident. But whatever gifts are received there come with a price, or so the myths say.  

Though it is part of the Otherworld, it is not the only part. There are other lands as well. Tir na mBan is the Land of Women, said to be inhabited by beautiful women, which is often visited by heroes of the myths. In some traditions the aos sidhe are said to live in Tir na nOg, while the Tuatha De Danann live in Tir na mBeo, or the Land of the Living.  Another place is named for Donn, who is reported to be an ancestor of the Irish. It is called Teach Duinne, the house of Donn, and it's where one goes when they die. And still another is Tir Tairngire, the Land of Promise, ruled by Manandan. To find out more about the different worlds that make up the Celtic Otherworld, go to the section entitled The Otherworld.

In The Cross of Ciarán, he sometimes uses the terms Otherworld and Tír na nÓg interchangeably. At certain times of the year, like Samhain, the veil between this world and the Otherworld, including Tír na nÓg, thins and mortals can cross over. Of course, that means spirits can come this way as well. The aos sidhe, however, seem to be able to travel back and forth at will no matter what time of the year it is, and they usually have their own agenda.

Go over to the the section on More Folktale to find the tale of the Irish hero Oisin, who is invited to Tir na nOg by the beautiful Niamh, as well as some other stories. Enjoy!