Tír Tairngire

The Land of Promise, one of several otherworldly paradises from early Irish tradition, much associated with Manannán mac Lir, although he does not rule here. The goal of many eachtrada [adventures] is to reach Tír Tairngire. St Brendan is seeking it in his Navigatio, and Cormac mac Airt visits the Fountain of Knowledge in Echtrae Chormaic. Manannán takes his three-day-old son Mongán here to gain otherworldly knowledge; the latter stays for many years. The youthful Ciabhán is taken here but, according to some texts, elopes with the beautiful Clídna. After her adultery here with Gaidiar, Manannán's son, Bé Chuma is expelled. The Tuatha Dé Danann bring the rowan tree from Tír Tairngire. In Echtrae Airt meic Cuinn [The Adventure of Art Son of Conn], the rulers of Tír Tairngire are Dáire (2) and Rígru Rosclethan, called ‘sinless’ because they have intercourse only to produce their otherworldly son Ségda Sáerlabraid. Myles Dillon and Nora Chadwick (1967) see an Icelandic anticipation of Tír Tairngire in Ódainsakr [the field of the not dead] and Land lifanda manna [the land of living men]. See also EMAIN ABLACH; MAG MELL.