Ireland's Immortals : A History of the Gods of Irish Myth

Ireland's Immortals tells the story of one of the world’s great mythologies. The first account of the gods of Irish myth to take in the whole sweep of Irish literature in both the nation’s languages, the book describes how Ireland’s pagan divinities were transformed into literary characters in the medieval Christian era—and how they were recast again during the Celtic Revival of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. A lively narrative of supernatural beings and their fascinating and sometimes bizarre stories, Mark Williams’s comprehensive history traces how these gods—known as the Túatha Dé Danann—have shifted shape across the centuries, from Iron Age cult to medieval saga to today’s young-adult fiction. We meet the heroic Lug; the Morrígan, crow goddess of battle; the fire goddess Brigit, who moonlights as a Christian saint; the mist-cloaked sea god Manannán mac Lir; and the ageless fairies who inspired J.R.R. Tolkien’s immortal elves. Medieval clerics speculated that the Irish divinities might be devils, angels, or enchanters. W. B. Yeats invoked them to reimagine the national condition, while his friend George Russell beheld them in visions and understood them to be local versions of Hindu deities. The book also tells how the Scots repackaged Ireland’s divine beings as the gods of the Gael on both sides of the sea—and how Irish mythology continues to influence popular culture far beyond Ireland. An unmatched chronicle of the Irish gods, Ireland’s Immortals illuminates why these mythical beings have loomed so large in the world’s imagination for so long. Mark Williams is the Simon and June Li Fellow in the Humanities and Tutor in English at Lincoln College, University of Oxford, where he teaches medieval Irish, Welsh, and English literature. He is the author of Fiery Shapes: Celestial Portents and Astrology in Ireland and Wales, 700–1700. Endorsements "In 1896, George Russell wrote to W. B. Yeats announcing that ‘the Gods have returned' to Celtic realms; Mark Williams's brilliant and powerful book makes good the claim. Learned, discursive, masterfully organized, and often very funny, it illuminates the cults, characters, personalities, and uses of Irish divinities from their emergence in saga, pseudohistory, and folklore through to their exploitation in the Celtic Revival and the literature of fantasy, and their analysis in modern scholarship. This is an important contribution to the history of religion, nationalism, and Gaelic culture; it is also so well written as to be unputdownable."—R. F. Foster, University of Oxford "With its huge range, constant new insights, colorful material, and sparkling style, this is a truly remarkable book. It should delight a very big readership."—Ronald E. Hutton, University of Bristol Ireland's Immortals Tells The Story Of One Of The World's Great Mythologies. The First Account Of The Gods Of Irish Myth To Take In The Whole Sweep Of Irish Literature In Both The Nation's Languages, The Book Describes How Ireland's Pagan Divinities Were Transformed Into Literary Characters In The Medieval Christian Era--and How They Were Recast Again During The Celtic Revival Of The Late-nineteenth And Early Twentieth Centuries. A Lively Narrative Of Supernatural Beings And Their Fascinating And Sometimes Bizarre Stories, Mark Williams's Comprehensive History Traces How These Gods - Known As The Tuatha De Danann - Have Shifted Shape Across The Centuries, From Iron Age Cult To Medieval Saga To Today's Young-adult Fiction. We Meet The Heroic Lug; The Morrigan, Crow Goddess Of Battle; The Fire Goddess Brigit, Who Moonlights As A Christian Saint; The Mist-cloaked Sea God Manannan Mac Lir; And The Ageless Fairies Who Inspired J.r.r. Tolkien's Immortal Elves. Medieval Clerics Speculated That The Irish Divinities Might Be Devils, Angels, Or Enchanters. W. B. Yeats Invoked Them To Reimagine The National Condition, While His Friend George Russell Beheld Them In Visions And Understood Them To Be Local Versions Of Hindu Deities. The Book Also Tells How The Scots Repackaged Ireland's Divine Beings As The Gods Of The Gael On Both Sides Of The Sea--and How Irish Mythology Continues To Influence Popular Culture Far Beyond Ireland. Hidden Beginnings: From Cult To Conversion -- Earthly Gods: Pagan Deities, Christian Meanings -- Divine Culture: Exemplary Gods And The Mythological Cycle -- New Mythologies: Pseudohistory And The Lore Of Poets -- Vulnerability And Grace: The Finn Cycle -- Damaged Gods: The Late Middle Ages -- The Imagination Of The Country: Towards A National Pantheon -- Danaan Mysteries: Occult Nationalism And The Divine Forms -- Highland Divinities: The Celtic Revival In Scotland -- Coherence And Canon: The Fairy Faith And The East -- Gods Of The Gap: A World Mythology -- Artgods. Mark Williams. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 517-555) And Index. A sweeping history of Ireland's native gods, from Iron Age cult and medieval saga to the Celtic Revival and contemporary fiction Ireland's Immortals tells the story of one of the world's great mythologies. The first account of the gods of Irish myth to take in the whole sweep of Irish literature in both the nation's languages, the book describes how Ireland's pagan divinities were transformed into literary characters in the medieval Christian era—and how they were recast again during the Celtic Revival of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. A lively narrative of supernatural beings and their fascinating and sometimes bizarre stories, Mark Williams's comprehensive history traces how these gods—known as the Túatha Dé Danann —have shifted shape across the centuries, from Iron Age cult to medieval saga to today's young-adult fiction. We meet the heroic Lug; the Morrígan, crow goddess of battle; the fire goddess Brigit, who moonlights as a Christian saint; the mist-cloaked sea god Manannán mac Lir; and the ageless fairies who inspired J.R.R. Tolkien's immortal elves. Medieval clerics speculated that the Irish divinities might be devils, angels, or enchanters. W. B. Yeats invoked them to reimagine the national condition, while his friend George Russell beheld them in visions and understood them to be local versions of Hindu deities. The book also tells how the Scots repackaged Ireland's divine beings as the gods of the Gael on both sides of the sea—and how Irish mythology continues to influence popular culture far beyond Ireland. An unmatched chronicle of the Irish gods, Ireland's Immortals illuminates why these mythical beings have loomed so large in the world's imagination for so long. Ireland's Immortals tells the story of one of the world's great mythologies. The first account of the gods of Irish myth to take in the whole sweep of Irish literature in both the nation's languages, the book describes how Ireland's pagan divinities were transformed into literary characters in the medieval Christian era--and how they were recast again during the Celtic Revival of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. A lively narrative of supernatural beings and their fascinating and sometimes bizarre stories, Mark Williams's comprehensive history traces how these gods--known as the Tuatha De Danann --have shifted shape across the centuries, from Iron Age cult to medieval saga to today's young-adult fiction. We meet the heroic Lug; the Morrigan, crow goddess of battle; the fire goddess Brigit, who moonlights as a Christian saint; the mist-cloaked sea god Manannan mac Lir; and the ageless fairies who inspired J.R.R. Tolkien's immortal elves. Medieval clerics speculated that the Irish divinities might be devils, angels, or enchanters. W. B. Yeats invoked them to reimagine the national condition, while his friend George Russell beheld them in visions and understood them to be local versions of Hindu deities. The book also tells how the Scots repackaged Ireland's divine beings as the gods of the Gael on both sides of the sea--and how Irish mythology continues to influence popular culture far beyond Ireland. An unmatched chronicle of the Irish gods, Ireland's Immortals illuminates why these mythical beings have loomed so large in the world's imagination for so long. Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 CONTENTS 8 List of Illustrations 10 Abbreviations 12 Preface 14 Guide to Pronunciation 22 PART ONE 32 1 Hidden Beginnings: From Cult to Conversion 34 2 Earthly Gods: Pagan Deities, Christian Meanings 61 3 Divine Culture: Exemplary Gods and the Mythological Cycle 103 4 New Mythologies: Pseudohistory and the Lore of Poets 159 5 Vulnerability and Grace: The Finn Cycle 225 6 Damaged Gods: The Late Middle Ages 279 PART TWO 306 7 The Imagination of the Country: Towards a National Pantheon 308 8 Danaan Mysteries: Occult Nationalism and the Divine Forms 341 9 Highland Divinities: The Celtic Revival in Scotland 392 10 Coherence and Canon: The Fairy Faith and the East 437 11 Gods of the Gap: A World Mythology 465 12 Artgods 520 Acknowledgements 534 Glossary of Technical Terms 538 Conspectus of Medieval Sources 542 Works Cited 548 Index 588