The following research has been compiled from the Wurzburg Codex, a
collection of Celtic manuscripts from around A.D. 700, specifically the
Leabhor Laigneach (The Book of Leinster), and the Leabhor Baile an
Mhota (The Book of Ballymote), as translated by Michael O'clery, in
1620. Additional sources on the origins of the Tuatha De Danaan
include "History" by Heroditus, Various references from the writings of
Homer, The wall of the Temple of Ramesis III, "The White Goddess" by
Robert Graves (1948), "Lost Cities" by archaeologist Leonard Cottrell
(1958), "The Horizon Book of Lost Cities" by Leonard Cottrell (1962),
"Irelands Faerie Lore" by Rev. Michael P. Mahon (1919), "The Religion
of the Ancient Celts" by J.A. MacCulloch (1911), "Gods and Fighting
Men" by Lady Gregory (1904), and the personal notes of J.R.R. Tolkien,
concerning his research into the development of the race of the Gray
Elves, for his now famous stories.

PART I: Who were the Danaans?

The Tale of the Tuatha De Danaan spans many centuries and
surprisingly begins in ancient Greece. There, long before the rise of
the Mycenaens, there lived a race of nomads known as the
Pelasgians. Tribal in nature, they were sea-farers who claimed to be
born from the teeth of the Cosmic Snake Ophion, and the Great
Goddess Danu. Danu, the lovely slender woman with an upturned
nose, deathly pale face, lips as red as rowan berries, eyes of startling
blue, and long fair hair. Able to transform into a sow, mare, bitch,
vixen, she-ass, weasel, serpent, owl, she-wolf, tigress, mermaid, or
loathsome hag. The names Danae, Don, Dana, and her finale Greek
manifestation, Eurynome, would later know her. The Romans, bless
their hearts….twisted as they were, would masculinize her as Donus
the divine father of Cottius, who would become the sacred king of the
Cottians, a Ligurian Confederacy that the Cottian Alps were named
for, but alas I stray, as I am wont to do, when delving into the history
of the Eldar races.

The Pelasgians ruled Greece for many years until the coming of the
Achaeans, who invaded Thessaly from Syria in about 1900 B.C. The
Achaeans were patriarchal herdsmen who worshipped the
Indo-European trinity of gods Mitra, Varuna, and Indra. They would
later evolve into Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, as the Achaeans would
evolve into the Mycenaen Greeks. They conquered Greece and tried
to destroy the semi-matriarchal Bronze age Pelasgians, but failing
that…simply assimilated them through compromise, accepting
matrilineal succession, and even accepting the Great Goddess
herself.
However, not all of the Pelasgians were content to stay. A loose
confederation of tribes fled, adopting their nomadic ways on a grand
scale, departing from Greece altogether. Some would roam the
Mediterranean Sea, sacking Cnossos in 1400 B.C. These tribes would
become the Ionians, and they would people Lesbos, Chios, Cnidos,
Thrace, and Troad. In time they would unite with the Phoenicians,
Philistines, Mitanni, Jebusites, Amorites, and the Hittites to attack
Egypt, where they would be crushed my the Pharoah Ramesis III,
who by the way names them the Danuna on his temple walls in 1187
B.C.
Homer spoke of them as the Danaoi. Herodotus would mention the
Syrian Achaean invasion of Greece in the first paragraph of "History".
He also mentions the capture, by the Phoenicians of the Danaan
Shrine of the White Goddess Io at Argos, then the religious capital of
the Peloponnese (the Cretans had colonized it in about 1750 B.C.).
Herodotus does not date the event other than by placing it before
the Argo expedition to Colchis, which the Greeks date at 1225 B.C.,
and before Europa went from Phoenicia to Crete, a tribal emigration
which occurred earlier, prior to the sacking of Cnossos in 1400 B.C.
But it is of the northern fleeing confederation of Pelasgian tribes who
called themselves the Tuatha De Danaan that we follow from here. As
they migrated north they left their mark upon the races that they
touched until at last they reached Denmark where they established a
great kingdom. Denmark means "Kingdom of the Danaans". They built
four great cities; great Falias, shining Gorias, Finlas, and rich Murias,
which lay to the south. In each of these four cities there lived a wise
man, which taught their young men skill and knowledge, along with
perfect wisdom. These men were; Senias, of Murias; Arias, the
Fair-haired poet of Finias; Urias of the Noble nature of Gorias; finally,
Morias in Falias itself. Their king was named Nuada, their chiefs were
Manannan, son of Lir; Ogma, the king's brother, who taught them
writing; Diancecht, who was their chief healer; Neit, a god of Battle;
Credenus, the chief craftsman; and Goibniu, the chief smith.
Their great women were Badb, a great battle Goddess; Macha, who
collected the heads of men killed in battle; Morrigu, the crow of
battle; Eire, Fodla, and Banba, the daughters of the Dagda. They
would later become queens of Ireland and each for a time would lend
the country their name. (Eire was the last one to do so historically,
thus her name is the one associated with Ireland today); Eadon, the
nurse of poets; and Brigit, the woman of poetry. The poets
worshipped her as she was very great and noble. She was also a
woman of healing, was an excellent smith, invented the whistle for
signaling across distances and much more. Her face it was said, was
ugly on one side and comely on the other; her name means
Breosaighit, or Fiery Arrow.
As a people they held three things above all others; the plough, the
sun, and the Hazel tree. It is said that when they reached Ireland,
they divided into three sections, named for the three; Coll (Hazel),
Cecht (plough); and Grain (sun). But again I stray.
It is not known what brought them to Ireland, but it was a mass and
total migration, for they brought with them their four sacred
treasures that were each kept in a separate city; A Stone of Virtue
was brought from Falias, called Lia Fail, or the stone of Destiny. From
Gorias they brought a sword, which would later be called the Sword
of Lugh. The Spear of Victory was brought from Finias, and from
Murias they brought the Caldron of the Gods, from which no company
ever went away from unsatisfied. They landed in Ireland around 1472
B.C.
PART II: The Danaans come to Ireland

The land of Ireland in 1472 B.C. was ruled by a race of creatures
known as the Firbolgs. I have read many places that they were
deformed giants, but it is my personal beliefs that their stone age
culture was akin to Neanderthal man. Be that as it may..or may not
as the case might be, the Tuatha De Danaan arrived in a mist, it is
said, and that they came through the air and the high air to Ireland.
Legend says that they arrived on the first day of Beltaine, what is
now known as May the first. They landed northwest of Connacht. But
the Firbolgs, the men of Bag, saw nothing but a mist lying on the hills.

Now King Eochaid, son of Erc, who maintained his throne in Teamhair,
ruled the Firbolgs. He had dreamed of the coming of the Danaans, or
the men of Dea, as they were called. His Druids (interesting eh?) had
told him that they were a great enemy. So it came to past that he
sent his greatest champion, Sreng, to learn of this new race.
And Sreng did indeed go to the settlement of the Tuatha De Danaan,
in Magh Rein. There he was met by Bres, a champion of the Danaans,
and they would learn much from each other. They made a pact
between themselves that no matter what the future might bring,
they would always remain friends.
The Tuatha De Danaan sent Sreng back with a message that they
would not fight the Firbolgs if King Eochaid would cede them half the
land. Needless to say this did not bode well with the Firbolg King,
who decided to battle. They would meet in a place called Magh
Tuireadh. To make a bloody story short, the Firbolgs lost the battle
miserably. With their power crushed, the Firbolgs were given
Connacht to dwell in as their own, and in time, they would foster
Ferdiad, who fought Cuchulain, and Erc, son of Cairbre, who would
later slay Cuchulain. The Tuatha De Danaan took Teamhair as their
own, renaming it Druim Cain (The Beautiful Ridge). But it is also
known as Liathdruim (Gray Ridge), and Druim na Descan (The Ridge
of the Outlook).
The City-State was laid out as such; Nuada's Rath lay to the North;
The Hill of Hostages lay to the Northeast; The Green of Teamhair lay
West, and the Hill of the Sidhe was Northwest of the Hill of Hostages.
There was a great wall there called Nith, where the first mill of
Ireland was built. To the north of the Hill of Hostages they placed Lia
Fail, their sacred stone. The city was built surrounded by the Wall of
Three Whispers, and near the wall was the House of Women. This
House had seven doors on its east and west sides, and it was here
that great feasts were held.
Close by was the Great House of A Thousand Warriors, and south of
that was the little Hill of Women Soldiers. Thus, The Danaan's first city
on Irish soil came to be.
For a time the Danaans grew in numbers and prospered, but in time
they were threatened by the invasion of another race, the
Fomorians. It is here that the great hero of Irish lore Lugh appears. It
is said in the legends that he was the son of Cian of the Tuatha De
Danaan, and Ethlinn, the daughter of Balor, the warrior king of the
Fomorians.
It is said that when met by Nuada's doorkeepers Gamal, the son of
Figal and Camel, son of Riagall, he offered his services as a
carpenter. But the Job of carpenter was held by Luchtar, son of
Luachaid.
He then offered his services as a smith. But that post was held by
Colum Cuaillemech of the Three Ways.
He then offered to be a Harper. But Abhean, son of Bicelmos held
that position.
He offered to be a poet. But Erc (a common name…like Joe…or Bob)
the son of Ethaman was Nuada's poet.
He offered to be a physician. But Diancecht was the Healer.
A brass worker, he offered. But alas, as you may guess, that job was
taken too. Credne Cerd worked the Brass.
A champion warrior then. But Nuada had many champions.
"But do you have a man that can do all of these things?"
And thus, Lugh was admitted by the King.
As to Lugh's part in the Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh, he is
credited with bringing the Riders of the Sidhe from the Land of
Promise (Tir-na-nog). The alliance formed by these two races would
profit the Tuatha De Danaan much in later times.
Thus it came to pass that the Fomorians were defeated.
Once again, the Danaans suffered through a time of peace and
prosperity. But after two hundred years another invasion graced their
shores.
In the Book of Invasions, and backed up by Bede's "Ecclesiastical
History", a people sailed west from Thrace, through the
Mediterranean Sea into the Atlantic Ocean. They made landfall on
Wexford Bay, where a huge battle was fought. The Danaans were
unable to defeat this wild race of warriors, so they bargained with
them.
They persuaded them to pass into Northern Britain, then called
Albion. These warriors would later become the ferocious Picts, or
Tattooed Men. The Picts had the same social habits that existed in
Thessaly prior to the coming of the Achaeans, and in classical times
among the primitive tribes of the southern Black Sea coast, along the
Gulf of Sirte' in Libya, Majorca, and Northwest Galicia. These customs
included exogamy, totemism, public coition, cannibalism, tattooing,
and women warriors. Their descendants still retain their non-Celtic
language in Bede's day.
The Pictish invasion was a portend of things to come. In 1268 B.C., a
race of people known as the Milesians invaded Ireland during the
reign of the Three Kings MaCoill, MacCecht, and MacGreine, together
with their Queens, Eire, Folda, and Banba (That's right, Manannan's
daughters).
They landed first at the mouth of the River Slaney, but the Druids
(interesting that they are still around) drove them back out to sea
with a powerful storm. They eventually landed at Inver Skene, or
Kenmore Bay, where the Bard of the Milesians, called by the name of
Amergin chanted his now famous song, as his feet touched the soil.

The Song of Amergin

"I am the wind on the sea
I am the wave of the sea
I am the bull of seven battles
I am the eagle on the rock
I am a flash from the sun
I am the most beautiful of plants
I am a strong wild boar
I am a salmon on the water
I am a lake in the plain
I am a word of knowledge
I am the head of the spear in battle
I am the god that puts fire in the head
Who spreads light in the gathering on the hills?
Who can tell the ages of the moon?"

The Milesians marched to Druim Cain, (which was destined to become
Tara, under their rule), and demanded battle for Ireland from the
three kings.
And so it was.
There were two major battles fought.
At Sleive Mish in Kerry, and at the final battle at Taillte, in Meath.
Many were slain on both sides, but in the end, the Milesians won.
The three kings of the Tuatha De Danaan were killed in the battle at
Taillte.
It took a full year for the conquerors to subjugate Ireland. During
their march they encountered each of the surviving Queens of the
Vanquished Danaans.
First they met Banba, and she was aloof to the invaders. Still, she
asked that they name Ireland for her, and it was done. For a while
Ireland was called Banba.
Later on the march carried them to Folda.
She too was aloof to the warriors, but she as well asked of them to
name Ireland for her. And it was so. For a time Ireland was called
Folda.
Toward the end of their great march, they came upon the Last queen
of the Tuatha De Danaan. Eire.
And Eire was NOT aloof. She welcomed them to the land that they
would now rule, and offered them peace.
She too, asked of the invaders to name Ireland for her.
And it was so.
Ireland to this day is known as Eire.
Eire impressed them so, that she became Eireanaig, Goddess of the
Milesians.
The Milesians would become under her guidance, the Irish of today.
The Tuatha De Danaan met as an entire people to decide their fate at
Brugh on the Boyne, and it was decided that they would not be the
subjects of rule by the invaders. They built a massive underground
fortress at the Boyne, which is known today as New Grange. After
the battle, they used their Druids to blight the fields of the Milesians,
until at last, the invaders made peace with the Danaans through
Manannan. The first king of the Irish Milesians, Crimthan MacNair, is
buried at New Grange, as his wife was Danaan.
But the majority of the Danaans joined with the Sidhe and dwelt in
the hills, and Manannan put invisible walls around their glades, and
made them immortal, though they already were long lived. He
brewed them his ale, and fed them his swine, and it was so.
And a new king was chosen from the candidates most eligible, who
were Bodb Dearg, son of the Dagda, Ilbrech of Ess Ruadh, Lir of
Sidhe Fionnachaidh (The Hill of the White Field on Slieve Faud), Midhir
the Proud of Bri Leith, and Angus Og, son of the Dagda. And when it
was done, Bodb Dearg became King of The Tuatha De Danaan, and
he ruled in his seat in Sidhe Femen, which he enchanted greatly, and
he had three sons, Angus, Artrach, and Aedh. He also had a
daughter, Scathniamh, The Flower of Brightness.
Bodb Dearg was the last king of the combined Tuatha De Danaan.
They would eventually meld with the Sidhe, those spirits of the
mound, hill and wood, that lived in raths, which were round
stockaded fortresses. They became a nation of roving warriors, their
blue eyes and pale faces with long, curly yellow hair marking their
race. They adopted the Sidhe military custom of organizing
themselves in units of fifty men, and carried the white shield of the
Sidhe. The Sidhe at that time were ruled by two virgin born kings,
who were said to be sexually promiscuous without blame or shame.
Eventually they left this world as a united people from New Grange,
venturing back to Tir-na-nog, the paradise from which they had come
from…so long ago. But a few stayed behind.
Knockainy in Limerick is ruled by Aine, Faerie Queen and Banshee,
who became famous in A.D. 2 for cutting off the ear of Aillill Olvum,
The king of Munster, giving him his name "O" (ear) "Lom" (Bare),
meaning "Bare of one Ear". She rules there to this day.
As does Cleena, the Queen of South Munster. Her place is five miles
from Mallow, in the center of a great pile of rocks.
Aibell, or Abinn, is Queen of North Munster. Her Palace is two miles
north of Killaloe, and is called Craglea (Gray Rock), or Crageevil, or
simply "Aibell's Rock".
And the most famous, Grian of the Bright Cheeks, who rules from
Pallas Green Hill, in Tipperary. Still today, their armies roam the Irish
countryside, marching and riding out of the mists of time.