Some believe they were the mighty builders and magicians of a prehistoric age who left behind treasures of druidic lore and curious megalithic monuments whose cryptic markings still puzzle all but the few initiated into their hidden significance. Ireland's sagas describe them as handsome and delightful, wise, brave, and by far the most gifted in mind and disposition who ever set foot on the island of Erin. Their title adds more: Tuatha De Danann is translated as "the people of the goddess Danu," and as "men of science who were gods," dan here meaning knowledge.

These Tuatha De Danann, a people of high esoteric knowledge, are said to have incarnated among mankind, enkindling the fires of rational thought and the latent "hidden" abilities of their higher intelligence, abilities referred to in Celtic fairy tale as second sight, enchantments, illusions, shape-shiftings, bodily transformations, restoring life to the dead, raising winds, mists, tempests, and the like.

The Tuatha De Danann, came among mortals to teach and uplift. Their instructions and example raised the child race "up on their shoulders," extending its vision and inspiring it with wonder and a reverence for life at all levels. In addition, the Tuatha De Danann gave men "tools" with which they could prosper: their actions, exemplifying morality and justice, set patterns of conduct; their skills, ranging from the domestic to the creative, encouraged the peoples of Erin to develop their potential, and gave them the means of achieving wealth and contentment.

The Tuatha Dé Danann were finally defeated by the Milesians, the first human ancestors of the Irish people, led by the Sons of Mil. The Lebor Gabála gives no further details of the Tuatha Dé Danann except to say that an agreement was reached, between the Milesians and the Tuatha Dé Danann. The account states that the gaelic people were given the upper realms of the earth in which to dwell, and the Tuatha Dé Danann were banished to the ancient burrows and cairns underground - the Fairy Forts and Hills, otherwise known as Sídhe. Here, they have gradualy dwindled in the imagination of modern celtic peoples, becoming known at last as the faerie folk.




The Fairie Folk


Who are the fairy folk of Irish Legend and popular belief? Some believe they are fallen angels, thrown out of heaven, who weren't quite bad enough to be banished to hell. Some believe they are the ancient gods of the earth, the Tuatha Dé Danann, who when no longer worshipped and fed with sacrifices, shrank to a diminutive size. Irish historians say that the names of their leaders are the same as the names of the old Danan chiefs, and their favorite gathering places are the old Danan burial grounds. They are called 'The Gentry" or "The good people" by the Irish, who are careful not to offend or anger them. It is said that they are perilous to cross, but also easily pacified by leaving a saucer of milk out at night. Fairies can take many forms... there are fairies of the woodland, of the water, of the meadows... dryads, leprechauns, pookas, banchees... the list is extensive. When they are angry, they can paralyze men and cattle with their fairy darts. When they are happy, they can sing so beautifully, that they bewitch anyone who hears them. It is said that the most beautiful songs of Ireland were fairy songs, overheard by human eavesdroppers. Sometimes the fairies will steal away a beautiful mortal child and leave an ugly, wizened little creature in its place. These fairy changelings grow up malicious and wicked, and have voracious appetites. The unhappy parents often perform a 'test of fire' on the child to determine if it is a changling. They lay the child in the very center of the house, light a fire all around him, and watch to see if he changes into a sod of turf. If the child survives this ordeal it is accepted as one of the family, although grudgingly; and he is generally hated by the neighbors for his impish ways. The children of the Sidhe and a mortal mother are always clever and beautiful, and excel in music and dancing. They are passionate and willful, have strange, moody fits, and desire solitude above all things, often seeming to converse with unseen spiritual beings. A young peasant woman is occasionally carried off by the fairies to nurse their fairy children. But the woman is allowed to come back to her own infant after sunset. To break the fairies' enchantment, her husband must immediately throw holy water over her in the name of God. This will restore her to her own shape. Sometimes she will return with a hissing noise like a serpent, and appear black and shrouded like one who has returned from the dead. In her own shape, she will nurse her baby by the fire. Her husband must ask no questions, but give her food in silence. If she falls asleep the third night, all will be well - at this point the husband can tie a red thread across the doorway to prevent the fairies from entering the house to retrieve her, and if the third night passes safely, the fairies have lost their power over her for evermore. Some types of fairies live in communities, in the hollow hills, or fairy mounds. Others are more solitary in nature. These are the wizened, withered unsociable fairies - homely, jeering, mischievous, and just plain crafty. They are the greatest practical jokers among the little people. The Leprechaun is the most industrious of the fairy folk, known as a shoe-maker. He is believed to be quite rich from his industry, and thus buries large pots of gold here and there, which he jealously guards. In the early part of this century, according to Croker, a newspaper office in Tipperary used to display a tiny shoe, believed to have been left behind by a Leprechaun. The Cluricaun gets drunk in rich gentlemen's cellars. The Far Darrig, otherwise known as the Red Man, (because he wears a red cap and coat,) spends all of his time playing nasty practical jokes on unsuspecting passersby. The Banshee is an attendant fairy that follows the old Irish families, and wails terribly before a family death. She clasps her hands and moans in a high keening wail, said to be the model for the funeral cry of the peasantry. When several banshee wail together in chorus, it is believed to herald the death of a very great leader or saint. The fairy folk celebrate three festivals every year: May Eve, Midsummer Eve, and November Eve. On Midsummer Eve they are the happiest, and sometimes steal away beautiful maidens to be their brides. On November Eve they are the gloomiest, but still dance with the ghosts that walk the earth. The Pooka, a large animal-like fairy, is abroad on November Eve. After this night, it is said that the blackberries are no longer good to eat, for the Pooka has spoiled them.

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