A long time ago when the Tuatha Dé Danann were leaving this plane and going underground, they divided up all the barrows in the land of Erin, to become their dwelling places for all time. Dagda Mor, also know as Eochaid Ollathar (Father of All), Aedh (Fire), and as Ruadh Rofessa (Lord of Great Knowledge) was their leader at this time and was the one chosen to give out the barrows.

After they had all been allotted, the Dagda's son, Angus Mac Óg returned home and asked for a dwelling place. Dagda told him that they had all been given out. Angus knew that if he couldn't get a house by a fair method, he could always resort to trickery. At first, he was outraged that one hadn't been saved for him, and then he acted as though he accepted it. He asked his father if he could use the Brug na Bóinne, his father's house, for a day and night.

The Brug na Bóinne, now known as New Grange in county Meath, had first been the house of Boand, his mother, then passed on to his father, the Dagda. It was a wonderful place where there was always an endless supply of ale. Among it's other treasures were three trees that were always in fruit, no matter how much that was picked. There were also two pigs, one living and the other cooked and ready to eat. These pigs would trade places daily, so that there was always a supply of meat.

After the day and night had passed, Dagda came back to claim his house. Angus greeted him and told him that much as he'd like to give back the house, it had been given to him for "day and night." And seeing as how all time, and eternity is composed of "day and night," the house belonged to him forever!

Now Dagda seemed to find this very logical and agreed that Angus had got the better of him and should keep it. Now, there is a smaller barrow near New Grange that is known as "The Tomb of the Dagda," and New Grange is called "The Tomb of the Son of the Young."

And so ends my story of how Angus received a house.

Updated - 5/2001

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