Midir

The Proud One

Midir the Proud is one of the great lords of the Tuatha Dé Danann, master of the síd at Brí Léith and central figure in one of the most romantic tales in Irish mythology. His love for Étaín spans centuries and the boundaries between worlds.

The Wooing of Étaín

The tale of Tochmarc Étaíne ("The Wooing of Étaín") is one of the most beloved stories in the Irish mythological cycle. Midir fell in love with the beautiful Étaín and made her his wife. His first wife Fuamnach, consumed with jealousy, used magic to transform Étaín into a pool of water, then a worm, then a jewel-colored fly. The wind blew Étaín across Ireland for seven years, and she was eventually swallowed by a mortal woman, reborn as a human child.

The Loss and Recovery

One thousand and twelve years after her transformation, Étaín—now mortal and married to Eochaid Airem, High King of Ireland—had forgotten her former life. Midir came to Tara and challenged Eochaid to games of fidchell (a board game). After losing deliberately several times, Midir wagered one kiss from Étaín. Eochaid agreed, Midir won—and when he kissed Étaín, her memories returned. They rose through the skylight as two swans and fled to Brí Léith.

The War with Eochaid

The High King was not content to lose his queen. He raised an army and dug into the síd mounds of Ireland, violating the Otherworld, until Midir released Étaín—or so it seemed. Midir had sent fifty women who looked identical to Étaín. Eochaid chose, but chose his own daughter by Étaín rather than Étaín herself, leading to incestuous tragedy. The tale is a meditation on memory, identity, and the dangers of meddling with the fairy realm.

The Three Cranes

Midir's síd is guarded by three malevolent cranes who sit at the entrance and discourage travelers: one cries "Do not come!", another "Keep away!", the third "Go past!" These birds of ill-omen may be transformed enemies or guardians of the Otherworld's secrets.