Oisín (pronounced Uh-sheen) was a member of the legendary Irish army, the Fianna. He was the son of Fionn MacCumhail, the famous leader of the band of fierce warriors who defended Ireland in the 3rd century A.D.
The most famous Irish legend featuring Oisín is called Oisín in Tír na nÓg. Tír na nÓg (pronounced teer na nowg) translates to English as the “land of eternal youth”. It is a mythical place in Irish folklore, where its people retain their youth for all time. One day, Oisín is out hunting with other members of the Fianna when he spots a beautiful woman with waist-length golden hair riding a beautiful snow white horse.
She approaches the warriors and introduces herself as Niamh Cinn ór ( pronounced Nee-uv Keen or “Niamh of the golden hair”). She tells Oisín and his comrades that she is the daughter of the king of Tír na nÓg and is seeking a great warrior named Oisín, to ask him to join her in the Land of the Young. For Oisín, it was love at first sight and he readily accepts the princess’ invitation.
The pair travel together across the land and sea, finally reaching the shores of Tír na nÓg. He is greeted with a feast and soon settles into a blissful life with Niamh at his side. The pair have three children and live happily together over the next three years. Before long, Oisín begins to pine for the shores of home and begs Niamh to come with him to visit Ireland.
She allows him to take her white horse to visit home, but warns him that he must never set foot on the soil or he will not be able to return to Tír na nÓg.
Oisin travels across the sea once more. When he arrives in Ireland, he is shocked that the Ireland he left behind has changed beyond recognition. What felt like three years in Tír na nÓg, was actually three hundred years in Ireland.
The Fianna and his family home are gone. As Oisin is travelling across the land he once called home, he sees three men who are struggling to move a giant boulder. He approaches to lend them a hand, bending down in his saddle to move the rock. Suddenly, the saddle snaps and he is thrown to the floor.
The instant he touches the grass, the spell of Tír na nÓg is broken. The young, handsome warrior changes into a frail old man.
The men are shocked at the warrior’s sudden transformation and decide to bring him to seek the help of St. Patrick. Oisín recounts his life to St. Patrick, who confirms that his father Fionn and the Fianna are long dead. Oisin laments, telling St. Patrick about his adventures with the Fianna and his time in Tír na nÓg before dying soon after.
Although the great warrior had died, his legacy lives on through his account of his life and the story of Oisín in Tír na nÓg is one of the most loved Irish legends today.
