Irish Folklore: Tuatha Dé Danann Or Faries

Tuatha Dé Danann 

Tuatha Dé Danann or the People of Goddess Danu, were one of the great ancient tribes of Ireland. They inhabited Ireland before the arrival of the Milesians (the ancestors of the modern Irish). They are said to be the predecessors of Irish fairies and elves. 

They were led by King Nuada and when they came ashore they set fire to their ships to hide their arrival but also to stop themselves from having to retreat from Ireland. Smoke from these fires could be seen for miles and filled the sky for 3 days and 3 nights.

A poem in the Lebor Gabála Érenn says of their arrival:

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

They came from four mythical cities of islands in the north called Findias, Gorias, Murias, and Falias where they learned the skill of wisdom and magic. They brought four treasures to Ireland, Dagda’s Cauldron, the Spear of Lugh , the Stone of Fal, and the Sword of Light of Nuada.

Dagda’s Cauldron was said to be bottomless and supplied endless food and drink to whoever deserved it. It was said to have a ladle so big that two people could fit in it. The Spear of Lugh was a fiery lance or spear that never missed it's mark and protected the bearer from battle. The Sword of Light of Nuada, or shinning sword, no one ever escaped from it once it was drawn from its sheath. The Stone of Fal stone, speaking stone of Ireland, would cry out under kings of Ireland.

The Tuatha Dé Danann won the battle with the Fir Bolg. Out of respect for the manner in which they had fought, they allowed the Fir Bolg to remain in Connaught while the victors ruled the rest of Ireland.

King Nuada having lost an arm in battle, it was decreed that he could not rightly be king. Breas, a tribesman of Fomorian descent, was then made king. He turned out to be a tyrant and ruled for seven years until he was ousted by his people who had become disenchanted with hunger and dissent. Nuada returned as King with his replacement arm made from silver.

Breas raised an army of Fomorians battled with Nuada at Moytura in County Sligo. The Tuatha again prevailed and the power of the Fomorians was broken forever. Nuadha died in the battle, so hero of the conflict named Lugh was instated as the new King of Ireland.

The grandsons of the next King, Daghda, ruled during the invasion by the mighty Melesians. The Tuatha Dé Danann were defeated, but they were allowed to stay in Ireland but only underground. Not having nutrients from their goddess, they shrunk. They became the bearers of the fairies of Ireland.