57^ [Proc. B.N.F.C, 



ledge, were the Tuatha-de-Denaans. These people are believed 

 to have been very small, but clever in all sorts of magic, spells, 

 and witchcraft ; they are believed to have used stone weapons 

 only, and were utterly overcome and destroyed by a race of 

 invaders, the Milesians, who afterwards landed in Ireland ; but 

 the Irish people believe that, instead of being killed, the De 

 Denaans took refuge under ground, entering the earth at old 

 forts or raths, or through caves, or under green mounds, and 

 that these people are the fairies of Ireland, and that these same 

 places are the gateways by which they come out when they wish 

 to visit the upper world again. As it is believed they were 

 conquered by a race using weapons of metal, the fairies hate 

 metal, especially iron or steel, to this day. 



This underground country is called Tir-na-oge, or the Land 

 of Youth, because the fairies do not grow old or die. There 

 are many stories of persons being carried oil by the good people, 

 and escaping after a longer or shorter stay in Tir-na-oge. Music 

 was often heard beside these green hills, or raths, but it was 

 dangerous to linger, for although the melodies were most 

 charming and the airs easily remembered, some mischief — such 

 as lameness, deformity, or sickness — often fell upon the listener. 

 On the other hand, the fairies sometimes acted kindly towards 

 people, by curing their ailments and removing their deformities 

 or misfortunes. 



During moonlight nights fairies are seen by mortals flitting in 

 shadowy troops between the eye and the newly-risen moon ; 

 many of these seemed to be finely dressed lords and ladies. The 

 summer or autumn nights were chosen as favourite times for 

 having their dances in lonely vales or on green hill-sides ; some- 

 times they sport near old ivied castles, beside a lake or river, or 

 sometimes in a gloomy churchyard, under the walls of its ruined 

 church, or over lonely tombs of the dead ; but they are very 

 jealous of mortal intruders, and usually punish them severely. 

 Although elfin sports may continue during night, the first glow 

 of morning is a signal for instant departure to their deep caves, 

 rocky crevices, or their favourite hollows under green mounds. 



