1 Chapter One: (Irish) Myth
Sean O’Faolain’s The Irish: A Character Study: “The great tales must be well known, Deirdre and Conchubar, Cuchulainn and Emer, and Fand and Etain, Diarmuid and Grainne, Oisin and Finn. The modern romantic poets who have made them popular have sinned only in softening their starkness and decorating their decoration. But the gods do whistle in the air, appear and vanish, hover, shimmer through a veil, the Otherworld is always at one’s shoulder and the sense of poetry is everywhere, though not always tamed to its purpose and never, outside the lyrics to which we must return later winnowed of its chaff” (7).
Irish mythical and legendary literature falls into three main divisions:
I. The Mythological Cycle (Book of Invasions, compiled in 9th and 12th century by monks)
- The coming of Partholan into Ireland (and the defeat of the evil Fomorians)
- The coming of Nemed into Ireland
- The coming of the Firbolgs into Ireland
- The invasion of the Tuatha De Danaan (People of Dana)
- The invasion of the Milesians (Sons of Miled) from Spain and their conquest of the People of Dana
II. The Ultonian/Ulster or Conorian Cycle (Tain Bo Cualigné, compiled in 8th century)
- Cuchulainn, Maeve, Deirdre, etc.
III. The Ossianic or Fenian Cycle (3rd century)
- Finn mac Cumhaill
- Oisin/Ossian, son of Finn Mac Cumhaill
The functions of myth: 1) Using the past to understand the present; 2) Seeking/establishing order; 3) Building nations/ “a people”; 4) Building tradition; 5) Creating beauty.
The Pagan Calendar
- August 1: Lughnasa
- October 31: Samhain (pronouned /Sawan/)
- February 1: Imbolc
- May 1: Beltane