Finvarra
Encyclopedia
King Finvarra, also called Finvara, Finn Bheara, Finbeara or Fionnbharr, is the High King of the Daoine Sidhe in Irish folklore
. In some legends, he is also the King of the Dead. Finvarra is a benevolent figure who ensures good harvests, strong horse
s, and great riches to those who will assist him. Unfortunately, he is also a womanizer who frequently kidnaps human women.
According to the legend, he lives on Knockmaa
, a hill near Tuam
, in County Galway
with his queen Oona (or Oonagh, Una, Uonaidh, etc.). There is a ruin on the hill marked on Ordnance Survey maps as "Finvarra's castle". It is mentioned in manuscripts stretching back many centuries.
After the magical race the Milesians
defeated the Tuatha Dé Danann
, the Tuatha decided to leave. There was a group led by Finvarra who elected to remain in Ireland
. They were the Daoine Sidhe. Finvarra negotiated a truce where they were allowed to remain in Ireland as long as they remained underground. There they lived among the trees underground and built great cities. A magical spirit race, who affected the affairs of men above ground, they eventually became known as the fairy
folk. They were respected and feared, and no new structure was built without first asking the fairy folk for permission, or for their assistance and guidance. This gradually fell out of practice with the onslaught of the false christian beliefs forced on the people of Ireland.
This "dwindling" of the Tuatha Dé Danann (thought to be the gods of Irish mythology
) to the fairies of folklore represents an adaptation of earlier pagan traditions to the later Christianized
Ireland. A similar transition can be seen in other myths around the world (such as the Elves
of Norse mythology
who begin as human-sized beings and transition to tiny forest dwellers in later European folklore
).
Irish mythology
The mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved, shorn of its religious meanings, in medieval Irish literature, which represents the most extensive and best preserved of all the branch and the Historical Cycle. There are...
. In some legends, he is also the King of the Dead. Finvarra is a benevolent figure who ensures good harvests, strong horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s, and great riches to those who will assist him. Unfortunately, he is also a womanizer who frequently kidnaps human women.
According to the legend, he lives on Knockmaa
Cnoc Meadha
Cnoc Meadha is a hill west of Tuam, County Galway, in Ireland.It is said in legend to be the residence of Finnbheara, the king of the Connacht fairies. Of two large cairns on the hill, one was thought to be the burial-place of Finnbheara and the other of Queen Medb, whose name may be transformed...
, a hill near Tuam
Tuam
Tuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
, in County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
with his queen Oona (or Oonagh, Una, Uonaidh, etc.). There is a ruin on the hill marked on Ordnance Survey maps as "Finvarra's castle". It is mentioned in manuscripts stretching back many centuries.
After the magical race the Milesians
Milesians
Milesia, Milesian, Milesians, or Miletans may refer to:* In Irish mythology, the Milesians were the descendants of Míl Espáine, the final invaders of Ireland who defeated and displaced the semi-divine Tuatha Dé Danann...
defeated the Tuatha Dé Danann
Tuatha Dé Danann
The Tuatha Dé Danann are a race of people in Irish mythology. In the invasions tradition which begins with the Lebor Gabála Érenn, they are the fifth group to settle Ireland, conquering the island from the Fir Bolg....
, the Tuatha decided to leave. There was a group led by Finvarra who elected to remain in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. They were the Daoine Sidhe. Finvarra negotiated a truce where they were allowed to remain in Ireland as long as they remained underground. There they lived among the trees underground and built great cities. A magical spirit race, who affected the affairs of men above ground, they eventually became known as the fairy
Fairy
A fairy is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term...
folk. They were respected and feared, and no new structure was built without first asking the fairy folk for permission, or for their assistance and guidance. This gradually fell out of practice with the onslaught of the false christian beliefs forced on the people of Ireland.
This "dwindling" of the Tuatha Dé Danann (thought to be the gods of Irish mythology
Irish mythology
The mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved, shorn of its religious meanings, in medieval Irish literature, which represents the most extensive and best preserved of all the branch and the Historical Cycle. There are...
) to the fairies of folklore represents an adaptation of earlier pagan traditions to the later Christianized
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
Ireland. A similar transition can be seen in other myths around the world (such as the Elves
Elf
An elf is a being of Germanic mythology. The elves were originally thought of as a race of divine beings endowed with magical powers, which they use both for the benefit and the injury of mankind...
of Norse mythology
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
who begin as human-sized beings and transition to tiny forest dwellers in later European folklore
European folklore
European folklore or Western folklore refers to the folklore of the western world, especially when discussed comparatively.There is, of course, no single European culture, but nevertheless the common history of Christendom during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period has resulted in a number...
).