Oisin in the Land of Eternal Youth
Long ago in Ireland there lived a young man called Oisin. He was the son of mighty warrior Fionn Mac Cumhaill and he was a gifted poet. He loved hunting and one day while chasing deer he came upon a beautiful woman on a fabulous white horse. She spoke to him, saying “I am Niamh, the daughter of the sea god and I have come a long way to see the most handsome young poet in Ireland.” Oisin was bedazzled by the young woman and easily persuaded to go with her, without even asking where that might be. He climbed up on the horse which then flew over fields & forests and over the sea to the distant land of Tir n’a nOg. This was a paradise situated beyond the sea in the west and inhabited by supernatural beings. Here there was no passing of time in any human sense, the flowers and trees were forever in bloom, the wine and mead always flowing and there was no sickness or sorrow. Oisin loved being with Niamh in this dreamlike place and time indeed seemed to stop for the young poet. A