The Legend Begins ~ Tir na nÓg
In Irish legends there is talk of a mysterious island that lies
beyond the western sea of Europe, appearing from time to time through
the parting of mist and clouds, startling mariners with glimpses of
emerald hills and crystal streams. The Gaelic name of this land is Tir na nÓg,
and translates into “the land of youth” or “Land of the Young” and
identifies one of the great “other worlds” of Celtic myths. In this
place, time passes quite differently to that of the world we know, it is
a place where people stay eternally youthful, where sorrow, decay and
death are unknown.
Long, long ago in the land of Ireland, in the
second century after Christ, there was a band of warriors known as the
Fianna, who defended Ireland against invasion. Their leader was Fionn mc
Cumhail and his son was Oisin the poet.
It was Oisin who with Fionn and the Fianna were out hunting in Kerry
when they stopped on a hill overlooking the ocean. Then to their
amazement they spied a majestic white horse striding across the top of
the waves and upon the horse was a beautiful young woman with long
golden hair that flowed down past her waist and streamed out behind her
in the wind. The women rode up the hill and stopped in front of Fionn
and Oisin and in conversation introduced herself as Niamh Chinn
Óir from Tir na nÓg,
and my father is Manannán mac Lir, who is
lord in that land. Niamh means "brightness" and she was Niamh of the
Golden Hair, from the land of Youth, where no-one ever grows old.
When
questioned about no mention of a husband, Niamh replied that she had not
given her love to any man in Tir na nÓg,
because she had fallen in love with a man of Ireland, and had come here
to ask him to marry her and return with her to Tir na nÓg.
Oisin realising that she was referring to
himself and totally smitten by Niamh, immediately accepted her
offer. Farewelling his father and companions, Oisin leaps onto the majestic white horse behind Niamh,
and together they
galloped off across the waves to Tir na nÓg.
But the tale does not end there, for after what
seems to be only a short time, Oisin yearns to revisit his family
and companions back in Ireland, little realising that three hundreds
years have passed. Niamh pleads with him not to go, but Oisin is
determined. So Niamh gives him a white steed that will carry him
back to Ireland, and with it she warns him never to leave the horse,
for if his foot touches the ground he will never be able to return.
On reaching Ireland, Oisin wanders for many
miles, not recognising any landmark, nor seeing any familiar faces.
He then comes upon a man struggling with a heavy stone. Oisin
suddenly recognised the stone as the water trough, once belonging to
his father, Fionn, except now, it was overgrown with moss and had
cracks and stains that could only be formed over time. In his
confusion and disbelief, Oisin dismounts and when his feet touch the
ground, he suddenly ages into a shrivelled old man.
Source: FreeBSB.org.uk -
Oisin in Tir na nÓg
and Greg the Piper
Tir
Na nOg Website
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