Mag Mell

In Irish mythology, Mag Mell ("plain of joy"), also called Tír na nÓg ("land of the young"), Land of the Living, the Many-colored Land and the Promised Land, was a mythical realm achievable through death and/or glory. Unlike the underworld in some mythologies, Mag Mell was a pleasurable paradise, identified as either an island far to the west of Ireland or a kingdom beneath the ocean. In its island guise it was visited by various Irish heroes and monks forming the basis of the Adventure Myth or "echtrae" as defined by Myles Dillon in his book Early Irish Literature. This otherworld is a place where sickness and death do not exist. It is a place of eternal youth and beauty. Here, music, strength, life and all pleasurable pursuits come together in a single place. Here happiness lasts forever, no one wants for food or drink. It is the Celtic equivalent of the Greek Elysium or the Valhalla of the Norse.

Related Topics:
Irish mythology - Underworld - Echtrae - Myles Dillon - Elysium - Valhalla

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Legends say its ruler is the Fomorian King Tethra, or more frequently Manannan mac Lir. It is perhaps best known from the myth of Oisín and Niamh of the Golden Hair.

Related Topics:
Fomorian - Tethra - Manannan mac Lir - Oisín - Niamh

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Oisín's story is familiar. To get to Tír na nÓg an adventurer needed a guide, in Oisín's case, Niamh plays the role. They travel together to the Blessed Realm and the hero spends some time there. Eventually homesickness set in and Oisín wants to return to his native land. He is devastated to learn a hundred years have passed in Ireland since he had been with Niamh, though it seemed to him only one. He can see Ireland from the back of Niamh's magical horse, but she warns him not to touch the ground, as the weight of all those years would descend upon him in a moment. Oisín doesn't heed the advice, and he instantly withers away into an old man. He is able to tell St. Patrick his story and be blessed before dying. This story bears a striking similarity to many other tales, including that of Urashima Taro.

Related Topics:
St. Patrick - Urashima Taro

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Mag Mell's allure extended from the pagan era to Christian times. In later stories, the realm is less an afterlife destination than an Earthly Paradise which adventurers could reach by traveling west from Ireland, often blown off course by providential tempests while on an inspired mission. They typically explore many other fantastic islands before reaching their destination and returning home (or sailing on). Among these voyagers are St. Brendan, Bran (see the Voyage of Bran), and Mael Dúin.

Related Topics:
Earthly Paradise - Ireland - St. Brendan - Bran - The Voyage of Bran - Mael Dúin

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Irish monks were celebrated sailors, they doubtless inspired such stories and were inspired by them. They reached and colonised any number of faraway islands, and St. Brendan is even speculated to have reached the New World a thousand years before Columbus.

Related Topics:
New World - Before Columbus

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