The Tuatha De' Danann

The Tuatha Dé Danann ("People of the Goddess Danu") were one of the mythical races who settled in Ireland before the arrival of the Milesians, the ancestors of modern Gaels. The Dananns were descendants of the goddess Danu. Her son Dagda was their most powerful leader of the Dananns.

The Tuatha Dé Dananns were a race of deities as well as race of heroes. They were skilled in art and science, poetry and magic.

They were said to come from four mythical cities: Falias, Gorias, Finias & Murias.

When they came to live in Ireland, the Dananns received four magic treasures or talismans, one from each city. From Manannán, Lugh brought many gifts to the Tuatha Dé Danann. These magical gifts come from four great magical cities: Falias, Gorias, Findias and Murias. From the Falias, the Danann received the talking stone of truth, called Lia Fail. It was sometimes called ("Stone of Destiny"), because the Lia Fail would reveal who was the rightful king of Ireland.

The second treasure from the city Findias, was the great magical sword, called Freagarthach (the "Answerer"), that Lugh and Nuada wielded. Lugh also brought with him the invincible spear from Gorias. The last treasure from Murias was Cauldron of Dagda. This cauldron could feed everyone in Ireland without emptying. With these four gifts from the goddess Danu, they would have a chance of defeating the Fomorians. Before the Tuatha Dé Danann migrated to Ireland, they had learned all their skills from for four wizards/bards (druids) from these four cities. Morfesa from Falias, Esras from Gorias, Semias from Murias and Uiscias from Findias. (See the Druids of Danu)

After the Milesians defeated the Dananns, the Dananns either retreated to Tir na n-Og ("Land of Youth") or they continued to lived on the land with the Milesians, but their homes (subterranean palaces) were hidden by magic from the eyes of mortals. Their homes were commonly called Sidhe (síd or sídh) or the Otherworld. Another name for the Tuatha Dé Danann was the áes sídhe or the "People of the Sídhe".

In the Otherworld, the Danann remained young and seemingly immortal. Immortal in the sense, they can live a very long life and remain young, but they can be kill and destroy, just like any mortal.

There were frequent visits of the Dananns with the mortals. Sometimes they aided mortals, while other times they seek their destruction. Sometimes they sought marriage with mortals. Most of the times, the Dananns would come to the surface and meet their lovers, other times the mortals were allowed to live with them.

In the Ulster Cycle, the Tuatha Dé Danann was still seen as Celtic deities. However, in the Fenian Cycle, the Dananns had degenerated into nothing more then fey people; in another words, the Dananns became the "Fairy People". The Tuatha Dé Danann became frequently associated with fairies. Because of the Christian influences in the myths, some of them died in old age when they leave the Otherworld; that they were baptised before their death.