Oisin & Niamha The Faerie Queen...

Niamha came from beyond the sea westwards, riding a white steed, and found the Fianna on a deer hunt near Loch Léin (in County Kerry). She identified herself as Niamha the Golden-headed, daughter of the King of the Land of Youth, and declared her love for Oisín son of Fionn Mac Cumhail, the greatest of the Fianna, the knights who were the protectors of the High King of Ireland. She intended to take him to the Land of Youth (Tír na nÓg), and described the promises it held. Oisín, already in love, consented to the proposition and the two rode off together on the white steed. When they witnessed the maiden of the Land of the Living (Tír Na Nog) being violently pursued by a giant (Fomhor Builleach of Dromloghach), they made a detour to the Land of Virtues, where Oisín championed the maiden and slew the giant. Niamha and Oisín reached the Land of Youth, met the king and queen, and were married. The couple had three children (two sons they named Oscar and Fionn, and the girl Plor na mBan "Flower of Women"). When he had spent 300 years or more, Oisín developed homesickness and wished to see his father and the Fianna back in Ireland. It is reckoned that the 300 years only seemed like only some human years to him. Niamha reluctantly agreed to let Oisín visit his home, allowing him to ride Embarr, her white steed, but she cautioned him not to touch Irish soil, warning that if he did, all his earthly years would come upon him and he would be unable to return to Tir Na Nog. She feared the worst outcome. She wept and told him the trip would be for naught since the Fianna were long gone from Ireland, and Christians now inhabited the land. Oisín returned to Ireland, and searched for the Fianna in vain. At a place called Gleann-an-Smoil (glen of the thrushes), Oisín was asked to help lift a marble flagstone, as the men holding it up underneath were being overcome by the weight. Oisín moved the stone, but in the effort, the horse's belt broke and he fell to ground, turning him into a feeble and blind old man. The faerie horse fled. So, Oisin went to beg in the town squares, which is where Saint Patrick eventually found him. Saint Patrick told Oisin that when he died, which was sure to be soon, he could go to Heaven and live eternally with Jesus in a paradise. Oisin listened. Then, he asked Saint Patrick, --- "Will my brothers, the Fianna who have passed in death, be there?" Saint Patrick said, --- "No, the Fianna were Pagans." Oisin then asked Saint Patrick, --- "Will there be lovely, willing women in this paradise, Heaven?" Saint Patrick replied, --- "Sinful loose women in Heaven? Certainly, not!" Oisin considered this carefully. He could not imagine a paradise that wouldn't welcome the brave Fianna or a paradise without wenching. So, he told Saint Patrick, --- "No, thank you!" And, Oisin died, as he had lived, a pagan to the end. --- Re-telling of an ancient tale, copyright 2026, by Sorelle Sucere. (Btw, --- the gaelic language is known for being not pronounced as it's spelled so... Oisin = Isheen, Fionn Mac Cumhail = Fin Mac Cool, Niamha = Nahmah.)