The Mythology of the British Islands: An Introduction to Celtic Myth, Legend, Poetry, and RomanceSquire, Charles
General
The Mythology of the British Islands: An Introduction to Celtic Myth, Legend, Poetry, and Romance
Squire, Charles
Celts -- Folklore; Mythology, Celtic
But there were others—indeed, the most part—of the gods who refused to
expatriate themselves. For these residences had to be found, and the
Dagda, their new king, proceeded to assign to each of those who stayed
in Ireland a _sídh_. These _sídhe_ were barrows, or hillocks, each being
the door to an underground realm of inexhaustible splendour and delight,
according to the somewhat primitive ideas of the Celts. A description is
given of one which the Dagda kept for himself, and out of which his son
Angus cheated him, which will serve as a fair example of all. There were
apple-trees there always in fruit, and one pig alive and another ready
roasted, and the supply of ale never failed. One may still visit in
Ireland the _sídhe_ of many of the gods, for the spots are known, and
the traditions have not died out. To Lêr was given _Sídh
Fionnachaidh_,[159] now known as the “Hill of the White Field”, on the
top of Slieve Fuad, near Newtown Hamilton, in County Armagh. Bodb Derg
received a _sídh_ called by his own name, _Sídh Bodb_[160], just to the
south of Portumna, in Galway. Mider was given the _sídh_ of _Bri Leith_,
now called Slieve Golry, near Ardagh, in County Longford. Ogma’s _sídh_
was called _Airceltrai_; to Lugh was assigned _Rodrubân_; Manannán’s
son, Ilbhreach, received _Sídh Eas Aedha Ruaidh_[161], now the Mound of
Mullachshee, near Ballyshannon, in Donegal; Fionnbharr[162] had _Sídh
Meadha_, now “Knockma”, about five miles west of Tuam, where, as present
king of the fairies, he is said to live to-day; while the abodes of
other gods of lesser fame are also recorded. For himself the Dagda
retained two, both near the River Boyne, in Meath, the best of them
being the famous Brugh-na-Boyne. None of the members of the Tuatha Dé
Danann were left unprovided for, save one.
It was from this time that the Gaelic gods received the name by which
the peasantry know them to-day—_Aes Sídhe_, the “People of the Hills”,
or, more shortly, the _Sídhe_. Every god, or fairy, is a
_Fer-Sídhe_[163], a “Man of the Hill”; and every goddess a _Bean-Sídhe_,
a “Woman of the Hill”, the _banshee_ of popular legend.[164]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account