The Tuatha De Danann

Art: Jim Fitzpatrick – http://www.jimfitzpatrick.com/

Tuatha De Danann is typically translated as “People of the Goddess Danu.” These people were so uncommonly skilled in the few arts of the time, that they dazzled even their conquerors and successors, the Milesians, into regarding them as mighty magicians. The Tuatha De Dannan are also thought to represent the main deities of Pre-Christian, Celtic Ireland.

The important members of the Tuatha Dé are: Dagda, Brigid, Nuada, Lugh, Dian Cecht, Ogma, and Lir.

The manuscript ‘The Annals of The Four Masters’ records that the Tuatha De Danann ruled Ireland from 1897 B.C. to 1700 B.C. They were a race of heroes who were uncommonly gifted in the art, poetry, magic and science of their time.

Yet when the Milesians conquered the De Danann, they drove them underground. It is believed that the De Danann still live underground as invisible beings known as the Aes sidhe. In a just battle, they will fight alongside of mortals. When they fight, they go armed with lances of blue flame and shields of pure white. Sometimes the De Danann would take mortals as lovers, other times they would play cruel tricks on mortals.

Eventually the Aes Sidhe came to be associated with fairies. Yet do not make the mistake of thinking of pixies or Tinkerbell. In early Irish and Welsh literature, these fairies could be tall, short, beautiful or ugly. Sometimes they could be benevolent. Yet at other times they could be very cruel.

If you would like to learn more about the Tuatha De Danann, check out the links below.

RELEVANT LINKS

Tuatha De Dannan (Wikipedia)

The Four Treasures of the Tuatha De Danann (Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids)

Tuatha De Dannan (Ireland-Information)

Eircom – Irish History