INTRODUCTIOX. xi 



its particulars from the older cycle at a time vvhen the tales of this older 

 cycle were still busily copied. 



Another feature equally characteristic of the tales of the Ossianic 

 cycle is the way in which personages of the mythological cycle arc 

 brought into contact and connection with the fiann and the men of 

 Erinn generally ; and here the part played in them by the Tuatlia De 

 Danand deserves some special consideration. Very different notions 

 and accounts are found to exist at the dififerent periods of Irish epic 

 literature about these Tuatha De Danand^. We can, with more or less 

 certainty, distinguish the following. They were originally a race of 

 gods worshipped by the ancient Irish. Cf. Jubainville, Introdiiction, 

 p. 174. But, except in their names, no very manifest traces of this 

 belief have come down to us. Among these those which point to the 

 existence of war-goddesses are the most distinct. In the oldest epic 

 cycle, the heroic, only occasional mention is made of them. They 

 appear as supernatural beings or spirits ('demons' in the Christian 

 terminology), able to do harm or good to man. They have their special 

 favourites amongst the heroes whom they protect and assist in fight. 

 Thus in LL. p. 82 b, we read of Ciichulaind jumping into his chariot and 

 proceeding to meet Ferdiad : gtwa gairsetar imme boccanaig 7 bdnanaig 

 7 geniti glindi 7 demna aeoir, daig dabertis Tnatha De' Danand a n-gariud 

 immi-siuin, co m-bad moti a grain 7 a ecla 7 a urjiad 7 a urnamain in 

 cach cath 7 in cach cathroi^ in cach Comlund 7 in cach coviruc i ieigcd. 

 Cf. LU. p. 77 b. 34. The connection of the Tuatha De Danand with the 

 des sidc is doubtful. 



In the mythological cycle, which, as it has come down to us, is of 

 later origin than the heroic cycle, being almost entirely the work of 

 Christian chroniclers, the Tuatha De Danand have, by an Euhemeristic 

 process, become one of the peoples that arrive in Erinn and take 

 possession of it for some time. But they are called ' demons ' neverthe- 

 less (LL. p. 13 a, 2), and preserve something of their original character. 

 Thus, according to LL. p. ^a, they come from the northern islands 

 of the world, where they had acquired druidism and science and 



' They are also called Tuath Z>/ Danand, or Donand, or Tiiath Dea LL. p. ga, or 

 Fir Dea, LL. p. 245 b. 



b 2 



