At the dawn of time was formed Tír na nÓg. Indeed, time stops in Tír na nÓg, for it is the land of eternal youth... a place of beauty and happiness.
Long ago in Ireland, lived a race of strong and courageous men called the Fianna. Fionn mac Cumhail, a great warrior, led them into battle against many worldly and otherworldly adversaries, keeping Ireland safe from invaders. But one day, an outsider arrived with a weapon far stronger than any the Fianna could carry or fight against.
On a great white horse, over the ocean from the west, rode a beautiful woman with long, flowing, golden hair. Oisin, Fionn's son, was instantly smitten with her. She told them her name was Niamh, and she had come to ask Oisin to marry her and go live with her in Tír na nÓg. Without hesitation, he swung up behind her and together they rode off across the waves.
The two were married and lived blissfully for three seasons. Though Oisin's love for Niamh only increased, he remembered his father and wished to visit him. He asked Niamh if he could go home to Ireland for a brief visit. She begged him not to, claiming if he left Tír na nÓg he'd never get back. But he was determined. Niamh agreed, but on one condition. While in Ireland, Oisin must never dismount from the horse and set foot on Irish soil.
Oisin assured her everything would be fine and he'd be back in no time. So off he rode across the ocean until he reached the shores of Ireland. He galloped to where his father and the Fianna had lived, but his old home was deserted and falling apart. Fionn and the Fianna were nowhere to be found. As Oisin rode into town in search of his father, he came upon a group of men struggling to get a rock out of the road. Surprised at their lack of strength, he stopped. But when he inquired of Fionn and the Fianna, the men didn't know who they were. Through the course of conversation, Oisin realized he'd been gone 300 rather than three years. Everyone he knew and loved had long since passed on. All that was left to him was to return to Tír na nÓg, for Niamh was now his only home.
Go To Page: 1 2
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Lianne Bruynell Lopes's Irish History topic, please visit the Discussions page.