Editing Niamh (mythology) (section)

==Summary==
The familiar story of Niamh of Tír na nÓg was described in a poem around 1750 attributed to Mícheál Coimín (1676–1760), and summarized as follows:<ref>{{harvp|Coimín&O'Looney tr.|1859}}</ref><ref>{{harvp|Coimín&Gaelic Union|1880}}</ref>

:Niamh came from beyond the sea westwards<!--Atlantic Ocean-->, riding a white steed, and found the [[Fianna]] on a deer hunt near [[Lakes of Killarney|Loch Léin]] (in [[County Kerry]]).{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|Annotated as being the [[Lakes of Killarney]], [[County Kerry]]).<ref>{{harvp|Coimín&O'Looney tr.|1859|loc=p. 200, note 1}}</ref>}}<ref>{{harvp|Coimín&O'Looney tr.|1859|pp=234–237}}; {{harvp|Coimín&Gaelic Union|1880}}, Str. 1–12</ref>

:She identified herself as Niamh the Golden-headed, daughter of the King of the Land of Youth,{{Refn|The King's name being "Cailce (Brilliant)"<ref name=okearney/> is a misreading of "inghean chailce Ríogh na nÓg"(the chalk-white daughter of the King of the Land of Youth') in Str. 15.<ref name=o-briain/>}}<ref>{{harvp|Coimín&O'Looney tr.|1859|pp=238/239}}; {{harvp|Coimín&Gaelic Union|1880}}, Str. 15</ref> and declared her love for [[Oisín]] son of [[Finn Mac Cumhail|Finn]]. She intended to take him to the Land of Youth ([[Tír na nÓg]]), and described the promises it held.<ref>{{harvp|Coimín&O'Looney tr.|1859|pp=238–245}}; {{harvp|Coimín&Gaelic Union|1880}}, Str. 17–36</ref>

:Oisín, already in love, consented to the proposition and the two rode off together on the white steed. When they witnessed the maiden of the Land of the Living ([[Tír na mBeo]]) being violently pursued by a giant (Fomhor Builleach of Dromloghach),<ref>{{harvp|Coimín&O'Looney tr.|1859|pp=244–251}}; {{harvp|Coimín&Gaelic Union|1880}}, Str. 37–55</ref> they made a detour to the Land of Virtues, where Oisín championed the maiden and slew the giant.<ref>{{harvp|Coimín&O'Looney tr.|1859|pp=250–257}}; {{harvp|Coimín&Gaelic Union|1880}}, Str. 58–79</ref>

:Niamh and Oisín reached the Land of Youth, met the king and queen, and were married. The couple had three children (two sons they named Oscar and Finn, and the girl [[Plor na mBan]] "Flower of Women"). When he had spent 300 years or more, Oisín developed homesickness and wished to see his father and the Fianna back in Ireland.<ref>{{harvp|Coimín&O'Looney tr.|1859|pp=256–267}}; {{harvp|Coimín&Gaelic Union|1880}}, Str. 80–104</ref> (It is reckoned that the 300 years only seemed like 3 years to him, in some retold versions).{{Refn|"Oisin in Tirnanoge", retold by [[P. W. Joyce]].<ref name=joyce/>}}

:Niamh reluctantly agreed to let Oisín visit his home, allowing him to ride Embarr, her white steed, but she cautioned him not to touch Irish soil, warning that if he did, he would be unable to return. She feared the worst outcome. She told him the trip would be for naught since the Fianna were long gone from Ireland, and Christians now inhabited the land. Oisín returned to Ireland, and searched for the Fianna in vain. At a place called Gleann-an-Smoil (glen of the thrushes), Oisín was asked to help lift a marble [[flagstone]], as the men holding it up underneath were being overcome by the weight. Oisín moved the stone, but in the effort, the [[surcingle|horse's belt]] broke and he fell to ground, turning him into a feeble and blind old man. The horse fled.<ref>{{harvp|Coimín&O'Looney tr.|1859|pp=266–279}}; {{harvp|Coimín&Gaelic Union|1880}}, Str. 105–151</ref>

This entire story of Niamh is told within the [[frame story]] of Oisín's dialogue with [[Saint Patrick]].<ref>It is explained that the "pagan-saint dialogue" serve as frame, as in ''[[Acallam na Senórach]]'', and that the Oisín and Niam story involved dialogue with St. Patrick, in: {{cite book|last=Mackillop |first=James |title=Myths and Legends of the Celts |publisher=Penguin UK |year=2006 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HI5yXNhbebYC&pg=PT336|page=336|isbn=9780141941394 }}</ref>