Oisín in Tír na n-Óg

One morning the Fianna were hunting deer on the shores of Loch Léin in Kerry. They saw a beautiful white horse coming towards them. Riding on the horse was the most beautiful woman they had ever seen. She wore a long dress as blue as the summer sky, studded with silver stars, and her long golden hair hung to her waist. “What is your name and what land have you come from?” asked Fionn leader of the Fianna. “I am Niamh of the golden hair. My father is king of Tír na n-Óg,” she replied. “I have heard of a warrior called Oisín. I have heard of his courage and of his poetry. I have come to find him and take him back with me to Tír na n-Óg. Oisín son of Fionn. He was a great hero and a poet. “Tell me,” Oisín said, “what sort of land is Tír na n-Óg?” “Tír na n-Óg is the land of youth,” replied Niamh. “It is a happy place, with no pain or sorrow. Any wish you make comes true and no one grows old there. If you come with me you will find this is true.” Oisín mounted the white horse and said goodbye to his family and friends. He promised he would return soon. The horse galloped off over the water, moving as swiftly as a shadow. The Fianna were sad to see their hero go, but Fionn reminded them of Oisín’s promise to return soon.

                     The king and queen of Tír na- nÓg welcomed Oisín and held a feast in his honour. It was indeed a wonderful land, just as Niamh had said. He hunted and feasted and at night stories of Fionn and the Fianna.Oisín had never felt as happy as he did with Niamh, before long they were married. Time past quickly, and even though he was very happy, Oisín began to think about returning home for a visit. Niamh didn’t want him to go, but at last she said “Take my white horse. It will carry you safely to Ireland and back. You must not get off the horse. If you do you will never return to me or Tír na n-Óg.” She did not tell him he had been away for 300 years. He thought he had been away for only a few days. Ireland seemed a strange place to Oisín. People seemed small and weak to him. As he passed through Gleann na Smól and saw some people trying to move a large stone. “I will help you,” said Oisín. The men were terrified of this giant on a white horse. Oisín lifted the stone and hurled it. With that the girth broke and Oisín fell to the ground. Immediately the white horse disappeared and the men saw an old, old man. He asked of his father and the Fianna and when he learnt the were dead his heart was broken.

              By : Killian and Amy