It is March and nearing Saint Patricks day and since the Emerald Isle most likely never had snakes could the serpants Saint Patrick drove into the sea been a group of Dwarf Druids that dressed in green? Is there some truth to this mythology of Irish Folklore?
There is always a germ of truth in folklore, and the Irish have always believed in "the little people". Many still do!
And St Patrick driving out the snakes is a Catholic story; as is the using of the shamrock to illustrate the Trinity.
I believe originally lepreachauns were called Tuatha de danan, the children of the goddess Danu. I also don't recall original mythology stating they were short...but I could be wrong, it's years since I looked.
My Great Great Great Grandmother came from Ireland so some stories got passed down. I thought it was my Great Aunt that told me of the Dwarf Druids but my Mother says that was the Aunt that believed in the wee folk as spirits and tricksters. She was the last one to practice Irish pagan path. So I must have read it somewhere.
@ Brysing / Yes My Irish side thats left says there were never any snakes in Ireland. It was a symbolic story. Thats what got me remembering Dwarfs. Or is Midget the proper term? I just cant remember where I heard or read that.
In Irish-Celtic mythology, the Tuatha De Danann ("People of the goddess Danu") are the Irish race of gods, founded by the goddess Danu. These gods, who originally lived on 'the islands in the west', had perfected the use of magic. They traveled on a big cloud to the land that later would be called Ireland and settled there.
Shortly after their arrival they defeated the Firbolg at the first battle of Mag Tuireadh. In the second battle of Mag Tuireadh they fought and conquered the Fomorians, a race of giants who were the primordial inhabitants of Ireland. The Tuatha De dealt more subtly with the Fomorians than with the Firbolg, and gave them the province of Connacht. There was also some marrying between the two races.
The Tuatha De themselves were later driven to the underworld by the Milesians, the people of the fabulous spanish king Milesius. There they still live as invisible beings and are known as the Aes sidhe. In a just battle, they will fight beside mortals. When they fight, they go armed with lances of blue flame and shields of pure white.
Important members are of the Tuatha De are: Dagda, Brigid, Nuada, Lugh, Dian Cecht, Ogma, and Lir. The goddess Danu can also be identified with the Welsh goddess Don.
