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THE DAGDA'S HARP

THE DAGDA'S HARP

The Dagda - an important god in Irish mythology who is seen as a father-figure, chieftan, and druid - was known to have many wonderful, mystic possessions and items. But his most prized one of all was his harp, Uaithe, otherwise called the Four-Angled Music.

It was a beautiful instrument made of oak and artfully decorated. The Dagda was the only one who could play it, and he could make people giddy with joy or sob with sorrow whenever he did. It was said that the playing of his harp made the seasons come in the correct order.

Upon hearing of this harp when preparing to go to war against the Tuatha de Dannan (a supernatural race who were thought to represent the main deities in pre-Christian Gaelic Ireland) in the second Battle of Moytura, the Fomorians (sea deities) decided they wanted to get ahold of this magical harp.

They'd heard stories of how, when the Dagda played it when men were going off to battle, it would make them forget all their fears and worries, replacing the previous emotions with honour and blood-lust as they charged into the battle.

Whilst the battle against the Tuatha de Dannan raged on, a few of the Fomorian warriors snuck into the Dagda's home and stole his harp. Fleeing as far away as they could, and taking their wives and children with them, the warriors settled in an abandoned castle, where they hung the harp up on the wall and awaited news.

Some time passed, and eventually, the remains of the defeated Fomorian warriors trekked up the road to the castle. They had the lost the battle, but consoled themselves with the fact that they now had the Dagda's treasured harp.

Returning home from the battle, ready to celebrate their triumphant victory, they called on the Dagda to play his harp. But, the harp was no-where to be found. Despite the fierce day full of battling and bloodshed, when the Dagda stood up and asked who would come help him to find his harp, Ogma the Artificer and Lugh of the Long Arm immediately offered to retrieve it for him.

After travelling far and searching high and low, they eventually came to the castle where the remains of the Fomorians had settled, and saw the harp hanging on the wall. The two warriors were weary of how they would get past all the sleeping soldiers undetected, but when the Dagda spread out his arms and called out to the harp, it sprang off the wall and ran over to him.

But the sound startled the Fomorians awake and they jumped up at the sight of the three of them, drawing their swords as they began advancing on them.

The Dagda called out the Music of Mirth and began playing his harp. In spite of themselves, the Fomorian warriors involuntarily burst out into laughter, laughing so hard that their weapons slipped out of their hands as their feet began to dance.

When the music stopped, they almost immediately snapped out of the trance they were in and snatched back up their weapons, continuing their advance on the three men.

Next, the Dagda called on the Music of Grief, making all the warriors, their wives and their children burst into floods of tears as sadness enveloped them.     The music came to a stop, and the warriors once again continued advancing upon them, weapons raised.

This time, he brought forth the Music of Sleep and struck the strings so softly there was hardly any sound. Though they tried to fight it, their eyes closed and every last Fomorian fell into a deep slumber. Lugh, Ogma, and the Dagda took the harp and escaped into the night, leaving the sleeping Fomorians behind. After that, no-one ever stole the Dagda's harp again.