Ancient Celtic literature abounds with stories
of people visiting magical worlds that are
separate from but close to our own. The denizens
of such Otherworlds do not age, and live a
pleasant life, free of pain and despair. Timetelescopes in their world so that hundreds of
human years pass by quickly, unnoticed by
the visiting mortals. But, although life in the
Otherworld is tranquil and idyllic, visitors
generally feel a fatal longing to return home.Magical Worlds
WESTERN EUROPEOisín
Besides being a warrior and a shape-changer,
Oisín was the poet of the Fian, and many of the
adventures of Finn mac Cool and his people are
told from Oisín’s point of view.Oisín and the boulder
Oisín saw two men struggling to
raise a boulder as he passed on his
horse. But when he stepped down
from his mount to help them, he
aged 300 years in a few moments.Queen of Tir na nÓg
Niamh Chinn Óir was a young woman of exceptional
beauty, who would ride across Ireland on horseback.
She ruled a land where nobody aged or fell sick but
where the years passed by like minutes.THE LAND OF
THE YOUNG
Oisín was the famous son of Finn mac
Cool and one of the Fian, a group of
warriors who fought for Ireland.
Once, when hunting, he met a beautiful
woman called Niamh Chinn Óir (Niamh
of the Golden Hair), riding a white horse.
Niamh professed her love to Oisín and asked
him to accompany her to Tir na nÓg, the
“Land of the Young”, of which she was queen.
On the way to this magical world, Oisín
killed a giant, and having shown his bravery,
was given Niamh as his bride. The couple
lived happily for centuries, but Oisín
eventually grew homesick and decided
to visit Ireland. He discovered that much
had changed since his departure. Niamh
had warned Oisín not to dismount from
his horse in Ireland, but he forgot when he
saw some men needing help to lift a
boulder. As soon as his feet touched
the ground, he became old and died.70