times legends about the leprechauns or “little people” are associated with this remarkable race. In truth, the world created by the Tuatha Dé Danann was not significantly different than the one described in myths and legends.
Quite apart from building an alternative world, perhaps the greatest skill the Tuatha Dé Danann perfected was the ability to slow the passage of time almost to a standstill. A second of human time became many hours beneath the earth and an hour became years and as a result the people of Dana effectively became immortal. The population of this alternative world remained static because although few died, no one was born. The cycle of life was frozen in time and there was no sickness or death.
In the decades that followed their descent, the Dé Danann built their own world increasingly isolating themselves from the human race on the surface of the earth. Occasionally, particularly in the early days after the Milesians took control of Ireland, some of the Dé Danann, still interacted with the surface people.
The reason for this interaction was that the Dé Danann had a great deal of respect and affection for the race they had abandoned. Because of marriages while they were still above ground, many of those who lived on the surface of the earth were, in part, people of Dana and were related to those who chose the land of eternal youth. Cathbad the Druid’s remarkable skill, for example, could be traced to his royal blood. The Tuatha Dé Danann also believed that an occasional infusion of their own blood would further ensure the survival of these lesser mortals. Thus, Lugh of the Long Hand sired Cúchulainn. In time, this connection became more and more remote, particularly because generations changed so quickly on the surface of the earth. In time, the Tuatha Dé Danann rarely appeared above ground.
The world into which Ferdia was delivered appeared remarkably similar to the one from which he came. Looking around anyone would have sworn that he or she was out of doors rather than in an incredibly massive cavern. The only apparent difference was that what appeared to be the sky was not blue but, rather, a dark shade of grey, not unlike a rainy day above ground. That sky seemed to be a long way off but, of course, that was an optical illusion created by the Dé Danann. Although the roof of the cavern was a great distance from the floor it was patently not as endless as the sky. Like the sky above them, the world the Tuatha Dé Danann created was a remarkable collection of illusion, science, metallurgy, mechanics and magic.
The Tuatha Dé Danann enjoyed daylight during waking hours, just as they had when they were above the ground, thanks to an intricate series of glass and mirrors that stored, reflected and magnified light. This light, and heat, was solar in origin and entered the cavern from any number of minute openings to the world above. Because time passed more slowly under the earth, solar light was stored and then displayed to reflect the passing of days and nights under ground. The same was true with air that entered the underworld. Ireland was and is covered with rocks and mounds of rocks many of which protect vents into the land of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Even today, as these rocks are taken away by humans, who are concerned with tillage or developing a nice garden, other rocks are pushed up to take their place.
And, of course, there are hundreds of what are known to surface residents as “Fairy Forts” sprinkled across the Irish Countryside. It is said that to interfere with these fairy forts will bring great misfortune. The reason, quite simply, is that these mounds are not forts at all but are portals or suterrains into the land of the Tuatha Dé Danann and to interfere with these portals would threaten the existence of the people of Dana. To protect themselves the Dé Danann employ their black magic against those who would threaten their existence by tampering with their fairy
Quite apart from building an alternative world, perhaps the greatest skill the Tuatha Dé Danann perfected was the ability to slow the passage of time almost to a standstill. A second of human time became many hours beneath the earth and an hour became years and as a result the people of Dana effectively became immortal. The population of this alternative world remained static because although few died, no one was born. The cycle of life was frozen in time and there was no sickness or death.
In the decades that followed their descent, the Dé Danann built their own world increasingly isolating themselves from the human race on the surface of the earth. Occasionally, particularly in the early days after the Milesians took control of Ireland, some of the Dé Danann, still interacted with the surface people.
The reason for this interaction was that the Dé Danann had a great deal of respect and affection for the race they had abandoned. Because of marriages while they were still above ground, many of those who lived on the surface of the earth were, in part, people of Dana and were related to those who chose the land of eternal youth. Cathbad the Druid’s remarkable skill, for example, could be traced to his royal blood. The Tuatha Dé Danann also believed that an occasional infusion of their own blood would further ensure the survival of these lesser mortals. Thus, Lugh of the Long Hand sired Cúchulainn. In time, this connection became more and more remote, particularly because generations changed so quickly on the surface of the earth. In time, the Tuatha Dé Danann rarely appeared above ground.
The world into which Ferdia was delivered appeared remarkably similar to the one from which he came. Looking around anyone would have sworn that he or she was out of doors rather than in an incredibly massive cavern. The only apparent difference was that what appeared to be the sky was not blue but, rather, a dark shade of grey, not unlike a rainy day above ground. That sky seemed to be a long way off but, of course, that was an optical illusion created by the Dé Danann. Although the roof of the cavern was a great distance from the floor it was patently not as endless as the sky. Like the sky above them, the world the Tuatha Dé Danann created was a remarkable collection of illusion, science, metallurgy, mechanics and magic.
The Tuatha Dé Danann enjoyed daylight during waking hours, just as they had when they were above the ground, thanks to an intricate series of glass and mirrors that stored, reflected and magnified light. This light, and heat, was solar in origin and entered the cavern from any number of minute openings to the world above. Because time passed more slowly under the earth, solar light was stored and then displayed to reflect the passing of days and nights under ground. The same was true with air that entered the underworld. Ireland was and is covered with rocks and mounds of rocks many of which protect vents into the land of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Even today, as these rocks are taken away by humans, who are concerned with tillage or developing a nice garden, other rocks are pushed up to take their place.
And, of course, there are hundreds of what are known to surface residents as “Fairy Forts” sprinkled across the Irish Countryside. It is said that to interfere with these fairy forts will bring great misfortune. The reason, quite simply, is that these mounds are not forts at all but are portals or suterrains into the land of the Tuatha Dé Danann and to interfere with these portals would threaten the existence of the people of Dana. To protect themselves the Dé Danann employ their black magic against those who would threaten their existence by tampering with their fairy
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