The farther back in time that we seek knowledge, at present, the less we actually have that says what was 'real' and what was the imaginative fancies of a storyteller. History becomes Legend, Legend becomes Myth, and all that we claim to 'know' is based on murky and incomplete reconstructions derived from scraps of parchment, papyrus, and chiseled stone markings that may or may not have been correctly translated. Can we really say we know with certainty that the Fae are only a fragment of imagination? Or do we accept that every tale from days long gone just might have a kernel of truth?

I intend to share what I have uncovered in my own searches through dusty tomes and electronic transmissions through the Internet, starting with the origins of the Fae of Ireland, the Tuatha de'Danaan. One author, Micha F. Lindemans writes:

"In Irish-Celtic mythology, the Tuatha Dé Danann ("People of the goddess Danu") is the Irish race of gods, founded by the goddess Danu. These gods, who originally lived on 'the islands in the west', had perfected the use of magic. They traveled on a big cloud to the land that later would be called Ireland and settled there.

Shortly after their arrival they defeated the Firbolg at the first battle of Mag Tuireadh. In the second battle of Mag Tuireadh they fought and conquered the Fomorians, a race of giants who were the primordial inhabitants of Ireland. The Tuatha Dé dealt more subtly with the Fomorians than with the Firbolg, and gave them the province of Connacht. There was also some marrying between the two races.

The Tuatha Dé themselves were later driven to the underworld by the Milesians, the people of the fabulous Spanish king Milesius. There they still live as invisible beings and are known as the Aes sidhe. In a just battle, they will fight beside mortals. When they fight, they go armed with lances of blue flame and shields of pure white.

Important members are of the Tuatha Dé are: Dagda, Brigid, Nuada, Lugh, Dian Cecht, Ogma, and Lir."

Another source, citing a translation from the Book of Leinster, conjectures:

The Goddess Danu was the mother Goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann.  She is particularly associated with the province of Munster with its fertile soil and was known as Anu in those parts.  The Tuatha Dé Danann were all descended from her.

Some scholars believe that Anu was the primary Earth Goddess and Danu was only the name given to her by the nineteenth century writers.  However the nineteenth century writers were so popular that now most people would know of the Tuatha De Danann and the Goddess Danu.

There is a school of thought that believes that her name is Danand and she slept with Delbhaeth (Turenn) her own father to produce Brian, Iuchar and Iucharba.  This is just an example of the confusions existing within Irish Mythology.

Different stories, but both claiming the same root knowledge. Which is correct, or is either? We don't really know for certain. But let us judge for ourselves -- here is a current translation of the pertinent passages direct from the Book of Leinster:

 

The Story of the Tuatha De Danann

from the Book of Leinster 1150 A.D.

 

Thereafter the progeny of Bethach s. Iarbonel the Soothsayer s. Nemed were in the northern islands of the world, learning druidry and knowledge, prophecy and magic, till they were expert in the arts of pagan cunning.

So that they were the Tuatha De Danann who came to Ireland. In this wise they came, in dark clouds. They landed on the mountains of Conmaicne Rein in Connachta; and they brought a darkness over the sun for three days and three nights.

They demanded battle of kingship of the Fir Bolg. A battle was fought between them, to wit the first battle of Mag Tuired, in which a hundred thousand of the Fir Bolg fell. Thereafter they [the TDD] took the kingship of Ireland. Those are the Tuatha Dea - gods were their men of arts, non-gods their husbandmen. They knew the incantations of druids and charioteers, and trappers, and cupbearers.

It is the Tuatha De Danann who brought with them the Great Fal, [that is, the Stone of Knowledge], which was in Temair, whence Ireland bears the name of "The Plain of Fal." He under whom it should utter a cry was King of Ireland; until Cu Chulainn smote it, for it uttered no cry under him nor under his fosterling, Lugaid, son of the three Finds of Emain. And from that out the stone uttered no cry save under Conn of Temair. Then its heart flew out from it [from Temair] to Tailltin, so that is the Heart of Fal, which is there.

Now Nuadu Airgetlam was king over the Tuatha De Danann for seven years before their coming into Ireland, until his arm was hewn from him in the first battle of Mag Tuired. Eidleo s. Alldai, he was the first man of the Tuatha De Danann who fell in Ireland, by the hand of Nercon ua Semeoin, in the first battle of Mag Tuired. Ernmas and Echtach and Etargal and Fiachra, and Tuirill Piccreo fell in the same battle. Bress s. Elada took the kingship of Ireland post, to the end of seven years, till the arm of Nuadu was healed: a silver arm with activity in every finger and every joint which Dian Cecht put upon him, Credne helping him.

Tailltiu daughter of Mag Mor king of Spain, queen of the Fir Bolg, came after the slaughter was inflicted upon the Fir Bolg in that first battle of Mag Tuired to Coill Cuan: and the wood was cut down by her, so it was a plain under clover-flower before the end of a year. This is that Tailtiu who was wife of Eochu son of Erc king of Ireland till the Tuatha De Danann slew him, ut praediximus: it is he who took her from her father, from Spain; and it is she who slept with Eochu Garb son of Dui Dall of the Tuatha De Danann; and Cian son of Dian Cecht, whose other name was Scal Balb, gave her his son in fosterage, namely Lug, whose mother was Eithne daughter of Balar. So Tailltiu died in Tailltiu, and her name clave thereto and her grave is from the Seat of Tailltiu northeastward. Her games were performed every year and her song of lamentation, by Lug. With gessa and feats of arms were they performed, a fortnight before Lugnasad and a fortnight after: under dicitur Lugnasad, that is, the celebration or the festival of Lug.

Unde Oengus post multum tempus dicebat, "the nasad of Lug, or the nasad of Beoan [son] of Mellan." 

To return to the Tuatha De Danann. Nuadu Airgatlam fell in the last battle of Mag Tuired, and Macha daughter of Ernmas, at the hands of Balar the Strong-smiter. In that battle there fell Ogma s. Elada at the

hands of Indech son of the De Domnann, king of the Fomhoire. Bruidne and Casmael fell at the hands of Ochtriallach s. Indech. After the death of Nuadu and of those men, Lug took the kingship of Ireland, and his grandfather Balar the Strong-smiter fell at his hands, with a stone from his sling. Lug was forty years in the kingship of Ireland after the last battle of Mag Tuired, and there were twenty-seven years between the battles.

Then Eochu Ollathair, the great Dagda, son of Elada, was eighty years in the kingship of Ireland. His three sons were Oengus and Aed and Cermat Coem; the three sons of Dian Cecht, Cu and Cethen and Cian.

Dian Cecht had three sons, Cu, Cehten and Cian. Miach was the fourth son though many do not reckon him. His daughter was Etan the Poetess, and Airmed the she-leech was the other daughter: and Coirpre, son of Etan was the poet. Crichinbel and Bruidne and Casmael were the three satirists. Be Chuille and Dianann were the two she-farmers.

The three sons of Cermad son of The Dagda were Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht, Mac Greine: Sethor and Tethor and Cethor were their names. Fotla and Banba and Eriu were their three wives.

Fea and Nemaind were the two wives of Net, a quo Ailech Neit. Flidais, of whom is the "Cattle of Flidais"; her four daughters were Argoen and Be Chuille and Dinand and Be Theite.

The two royal oxen were Fea and Femen, of whom are the Plain of Fea and the Plain of Femen. Those were two faithful oxen.

Torc Triath was king of the boars, from whom is Mag Treitherne. Cirba was king of the wethers, from whom is Mag Cirba. Math son of Umor was the druid.

Badb and Macha and Anand, of whom are the Paps of Anu in Luachar were the three daughters of Ernmas the she-farmer.

Goibniu the smith, Luicne the carpenter, Creidne the wright, Dian Cecht the leech.

Delbaeth after The Dagda, ten years in the kingship of Ireland, till he fell, with his son Ollom, at the hands of Caicher s. Nama, frater of Nechtan.  Fiacha s. Delbaeth took the kingship of Ireland after his father, another ten years, till he fell, along with Ai s. Ollom, at the hands of Eogan Inbir. Twenty-nine years had the grandsons of The Dagda in the kingship of Ireland, to wit Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht, and Mac Gréine: they divided Ireland into three parts. To them came the Gaedil to Ireland, so that they fell by the hands of three sons of Mil, avenging Ith, Cuailnge, and Fust, of the three sons of Breogan.

Nuadu Airgetlam s. Echtach s. Etarlam s. Ordam s. Aldui s. Tat s. Tavarn s. Enda s. Baath s. Ebath s. Bethach s. Iarbonel s. Nemed s. Agnomain s. Pamp s. Tat s. Sera s. Sru s. Esru s. Braimend s. Rathacht s.

Magoth s. Iafeth s. Noe.

Neit s. Indui s. Alldui s. Tat

Fiachna s. Delbaeth s. Ogma s. Elada s. Delbaeth s. Net

Ai s. Ollam s. Delbaeth s. Ogma s. Elada.

Lug s. Cian s. Dian Cecht s. Esarg s. Net s. Indui s. Alldui, he is the first who brought chess-play and ball-play and horseracing and assembling into Ireland, unde quidam cecinit

Lug son of Ethliu, a cliff without a wrinkle, with him there first came a lofty assembly: after the coming of Christ, it is no idle proclamation Conchobar the wise and violent died.

Caicher and Nechtan, the two sons of Nama s. Eochu Garb s. Dui Temen s. Bres s. Delbaeth s. Net.

Siugmall s. Corpre Crom s. Eremair s. Delbaeth s. Ogma. Oengus mac Oc and Aed Caem and Cermait Milbel, those are the three sons of the Dagda.

Corpre the poet s. Tuar s. Tuirell s. Cait Conaichend s. Orda s. Alldui s. Tat

Galia s. Oirbsen s. Elloth s. Elada s. Delbaeth s. Net

Orbsen was the name of Manannan at first, and from him is named Loch Orbsen in Connachta. When Manannan was being buried, it is then the lake burst over the land, [through the burial].

The six sons of Delbaeth s. Ogma s. Elada s. Delbaeth s. Net, were Fiachra, Ollam, Indui, Brian, Iucharba, Iuchar. Donann the daughter of the same Delbaeth was mother of the three last, Brian, Iucharba and

Iuchar. These were the three gods of Danu, from whom is named the Mountain of the Three gods. And that Delbaeth had the name Tuirell Bicreo.

Tuirill s. Cait moreover was the grandfather of Corpre the poet, and Etan d. Dian Cecht was mother of that Tuirill.

The three sons of Cermait, moreover, ut diximus; Mac Cuill - Sethor, the hazel his god; Mac Cecht - Tethor, the ploughshare his god; Mac Greine - Cethor, the sun his god. Fotla was wife of Mac Cecht, Banba of Mac Cuill, Eriu of Mac Greine. Those were the three daughters of Fiachna son of Delbaeth.

Ernmas daughter of Etarlam s. Nuada Airgetlam was mother of those three women, and mother of Fiachna and Ollom.

Ernmas had other three daughters, Badb and Macha and Morrigu, whose name was Anand. Her three sons were Glon and Gaim and Coscar.

Boind daughter of Delbaeth s. Elada.

Fea and Neman, the two wives of Net s. Indiu, two daughters of Elcmar of the Brug.

Uillend s. Caicher s. Nuadu Airgetlam.

Bodb of the Mound of Femen, s. Eochu Garb s. Dui Temen s. Bres s. Elada s. Delbaeth s. Net.

Abean s. Bec-Felmas s. Cu s. Dian Cecht, the poet of Lug. En s. Bec-En s. Satharn s. Edleo s. Alda s. Tat s. Taburn. At Tat s. Tabourn the choice of the Tuatha De Danann unite. Of that the historian sang -

Ireland with pride, with weapons, hosts spread over her ancient plain, westward to the sunset were they plunderers, her chieftains of destruction around Temair.

Thirty years after Genann goblin hosts took the fertile land; a blow to the vanquished People of Bags was the visit of the Tuatha De Danann.

 It is God who suffered them, though He restrained them - they landed with horror, with lofty deed, in their cloud of mighty combat of spectres, upon a mountain of Conmaicne of Connacht.

Without distinction to discerning Ireland, without ships, a ruthless course the truth was not known beneath the sky of stars, whether they were of heaven or of earth.

If it were diabolic demons the black-cloaked agitating expedition, it was sound with ranks, with hosts: if of men, it was the progeny of Bethach.

 Of men belonging to law (is) the freeborn who has the strong seed: Bethach, a swift warrior-island (?) son of Iarbonel son of Nemed.

 They cast no assembly or justice about the place of Fal to the sunset: there was fire and fighting at last in Mag Tuired.

The Tuatha De, it was the bed of a mighty one, around the People of Bags fought for the kingship: in their battle with abundance of pride, troops of hundreds of thousands died.

The sons of Elada, glory of weapons, a wolf of division against a man of plunder: Bres from the Brug of Banba of wise utterance, Dagda, Delbaeth, and Ogma.

Eriu, though it should reach a road-end, Banba, Fotla, and Fea, Neman of ingenious versicles, Danann, mother of the gods.

Badb and Macha, greatness of wealth, Morrigu - springs of craftiness, sources of bitter fighting were the three daughters of Ernmas.

Goibniu who was not impotent in smelting, Luichtne, the free wright Creidne, Dian Cecht, for going roads of great healing, Mac ind Oc, Lug son of Ethliu.

Cridenbel, famous Bruinde, Be Chuille, shapely Danand, Casmael with bardism of perfection, Coirpre son of Etan, and Etan.

The grandsons of the Dagda, who had a triple division (?) divided Banba of the bugle-horns; let us tell of the princes of excellence of hospitality, the three sons of Cermat of Cualu.

Though Ireland was multitudes of thousands they divided her land into thirds: great chieftains of deeds of pride, Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht, Mac Greine.

Please note that the Book of Leinster was written more than 1200 years after the events and people it describes, so yes, we must take what it relates with a grain of salt. Many names listed, indeed, from what is now legend and myth -- but also honoured as History in Eire. Decide for yourselves...

Until next time, Brightest Blessings!

By RdeHywll

On Faith and Faeries

RdeHwyll is a semi-retired gentleman (?) living a Pagan’s life in North-Eastern Pennsylvania, USA, near the Poconos Mountains region of the Appalachians.

He has been following his personal Pagan path in life for more than forty years, and has yet to truly find his way -- there are always new paths that intersect, join, and cross, so the way is always filled with new beginnings. He currently lives alone, except for frequent visits from unseen Fae.

Comments and Questions about what he writes are always welcome.

“I do believe in Faeries, I do, I do! Peter Pan, from the play of the same name by James M. Barrie --That pretty much sums up how I feel, too!"

(Photo by J. Corsentino: RdeHwyll at convention with Donny Ha and Ailynari of Enchanted Folk and Faezine - "Proof that he is, in reality, a Half-Giant!") 

RdeHwyll has been a member of Enchanted Folk since November 2007

members.enchantedfolk.com/www.geocities.comrdehwyllthe_fair_folk_welcome