THE GODDESS ÉRIU

Today I thought we could turn away from the "classics" and delve into the IRISH FOLKLORE as a prodigious alternative. Believe it or not, Irish folklore, myths and legend constitute a significant part of Irish history, culture and traditional beliefs. There are plenty of legends associated with the Emerald Isle and I'm going to introduce you to one of them. So, if you are ready, let's journey into the whimsical and mythical world for a while!

You may have already inferred something from the title of this paragraph, or it may seem familiar. Yes, you are on the right track; Ireland is called Érie in Irish Gaelic. One of its first inhabitants were of Celtic origin. In pre-Christian times, Celtic civilization had a strong history of revering the Divine Feminine, exemplified in Ireland's namesake, Ériu. Ireland is named after this powerful female goddess Ériu.

THE STORY OF ÉRIU

It is believed that Ériu along with her sisters, Banba and Fódla, were members of the ancient Tuatha Dé Danann ("tribe of the gods"), a supernatural race in Irish mythology. It is said that Ériu and her sisters were asked to represent the Tuatha Dé Dannan when meeting the Milesians, a rival race who arrived in Ireland long after the Tuatha Dé Danann, intent on dominating the country. 

The Milesians were led by their druid, Amergin. Ériu and her sister sensed that a new age was dawning for Ireland with the arrival of the Milesians, and it was time for them to return through the spiritual veil (which was probably a veil between different realms). The sisters and Amergin eventually met atop Uisneach, the sacred hill in the heart of Ireland. The sisters requested that Amergin name Ireland after them. Thus, Ériu's sovereign presence and connection to the land significantly impacted Amergin. So,he named the land after her, and by that leaving their puissant feminine legacy embedded in the land for future generations to come.

That's the legend in a nutshell. I might write about the Uisneach hill particularly later sometime in the future since the place real and located in Ireland. I hope you enjoyed this out-of-the-ordinary article theme. I thought it a good idea to veer off the beaten track for a while. Anyway, that's about it for this time!

Take care of yourselves! 

Dictionary: 

Uisneach hill - Uisneach does not have a definite translation, however, it is usually translated as the "place of the heart" or an "angular place."

Ériu - fullness, bounty, abundance.

The Milesians - a race of people who are considered the ancestors of modern-day Ireland.

Amergin - it is said that upon first setting foot in Ireland he recited a magical incantation.