The
race of faery people who originally settled
Ireland.
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"The Riders of the Sidhe" by John
Duncan, 1911. Image from
ArtMagick,
a non-profit virtual art gallery.
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Their
Legend:
The
are known as The People of the Mounds, The
Lordly Ones, The Good People. They were
descended from the Tuatha de Danann who
settled Ireland millennia ago. The Sidhe
were driven underground after losing a
great war. They retreated to a different
dimension of space and time than our own,
and made their homes inside hollow hills,
mounds, fairy raths and cairns. They also
live in Tir na nOg a mythical island, west
of Ireland.
Old stories abound in which faeries borrow
tools, steal food from humans, and play
them tunes. Some Irish families still
claim descent from the Sidhe.
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They
are a proud, beautiful people, attracted
to beauty in others, and fond of poetry,
chess and music. They lure humans with
their songs. Fall asleep by a rath and the
faery songs will play in your head
forever.
Some say the Sidhe fight side by with
humans, if the battles are just. The Sidhe
are tall and handsomely dressed, their
halls are richly decorated places with
sumptuous foods and drinks.
It is said that The Sidhe are generally
benign, unless angered by a foolish
mortal.
"Many trees and mounds are
considered under their protection
and if a mortal destroys or
damages these then a curse is put
upon himself and his family.
In some parts of the countryside
people would not build their
houses over certain 'fairy paths'
because of the type of
disturbances
which would ensue."
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Quote from "Irish Folklore: Traditions
and Superstitions of the country" by John
O'Hanlon.
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"In
Fairyland" by John Anster Fitzgerald, one
of the Victorian faery painters. Image
from ArtMagick,
a non-profit virtual art gallery.
|
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Image
from Art
Today.
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What
They Can Mean to You and
Me:
The
Sidhe are fabulous, marvelous, enchanting.
Their realm is a place to play, to regain
your innocence, your sense of fun and
mystery, your child-self.
But their realm can be more that that.
Some claim that the faeries taught the
human race magic. And still do teach - if
your mind is open to the possibility.
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