The Supernatural and Faery

Where it surfaces

• Irish Fairy Tales

  The tales are steeped in magical events, faery encounters, and otherworldly interventions that drive the plot.

• I

  Tuan is reputed to be a magician, and his connection to Time as a foster-brother suggests a supernatural, timeless quality.

• XII

  Aillen mac Midna's attack from the Shí and the opening of the doors at Samhain emphasize the intersection of mortal and faery worlds.

• XIII

  Aillen mac Midna is a being from the Shí (fairy mound), and his music and fire are supernatural threats.

• XIV

  Aillen mac Midna is a being from the Shí who uses otherworldly music and flame; Fionn counters with his own magic and spear.

• The Birth of Bran

  The involvement of the Dark Druid and the magical birth of Bran underscore the presence of supernatural forces in the world of the Fianna.

• II

  Uct Dealv uses faery magic to change shape and transform Tuiren, highlighting the supernatural elements of the Shí.

• I

  The fawn's mysterious behavior and the suspicion that it comes from the Shí introduce a supernatural element.

• II

  Saeve's origin as a Faery woman and the threat of the Fear Doirche, a dark magician, underscore the pervasive influence of the supernatural world on mortal lives.

• IV

  The doppelgänger Fionn, the hazel rod transformation, and the vanishing of the fawn and hounds all emphasize faery enchantment and supernatural deception.

• VII

  The boy's home is in the Shí, and the Dark Magician's actions are rooted in faery magic.

• II

  Becfola's step from Tara into Faery, and the subsequent encounter with wolves, highlights the permeable boundary between the human world and the supernatural.

• The Carl of the Drab Coat

  The Carl's appearance and actions blur the line between the human world and the faery realm.

• I

  Fionn and the Fianna are unknowingly translated to Faery, highlighting the permeable boundary between worlds.

• The Carl of the Drab Coat

  The Carl is revealed to be the ruler of the Shí of Rath Cruachan, a faery lord, and his shape-shifting and magical defeat of Cael highlight the presence of the Otherworld.

• The Enchanted Cave of Cesh Corran

  The cave serves as a gateway to the supernatural, with magical beings and enchantments.

• II

  The chapter emphasizes the hidden nature of the Faery realm and the inability of mortals to see its inhabitants unless they enter it.

• III

  Fionn and Conán unknowingly enter Faery through an enchantment, and the daughters of Conaran weave enchantment with their spinning.

• IV

  The three sisters use magical holly branches to weaken and capture the Fianna.

• V

  The three hags are supernatural beings who enchant the Fianna; the cave is a place of otherworldly danger.

• Becuma of the White Skin

  Becuma's origin and actions highlight the influence of the Otherworld on the mortal realm.

• I

  The chapter introduces multiple supernatural worlds (Shí, Many-Coloured Land, Land of Wonder, Land of Promise) and the magical journey between them.

• III

  Becuma's arrival from the sea, her magical cloak, and her retained powers highlight the Faery influence on mortal kings.

• The Banishment of Art

  Becuma's origin from the Many-Coloured Land beyond the sea and the magicians' divination underscore the supernatural forces affecting the mortal realm.

• Chapter VI

  The island of Rigru is a faery realm with magical self-service, a crystal door, and a sinless family, highlighting the intersection of mortal and Otherworld.

• VII

  Segda's mother arrives from an 'home of enchantment,' and the magicians' inability to answer her challenge underscores the limits of mortal knowledge against faery wisdom.

• VIII

  Becuma's journey into Faery, her foster-sister Ainè's interference, and the quest for magical objects highlight the supernatural elements.

• Art's Quest for Delvcaem

  The chapter is steeped in supernatural elements: enchanted islands, prophetic warnings, magical creatures, and the Otherworldly palace of Morgan with its grisly defenses.

• Art's Ordeal in the Many-Coloured Land

  The Many-Coloured Land, magical chimeras, shape-changing, and the witch Dog Head's enchantments.

• Mongan’s Frenzy

  The frenzy itself is a supernatural event, and Mongan's origins are tied to the faery realm.

• III

  The sudden transition from a violent hailstorm to fair weather and the step from the mortal world into Faery highlights the supernatural boundary between worlds.

• IV

  The chapter vividly depicts the transition into Faery, emphasizing its enhanced beauty and otherworldly nature.

• V

  The magical cure requiring a perfectly white cow with red ears and the Black Hag's character introduce supernatural elements.

• VI

  The Black Hag's supernatural demand and the appearance of a mysterious warrior in green cloak and golden sandals.

• VII

  Manannán mac Lir, a god-like figure, intervenes with a monstrous dog, blending the mortal and otherworldly realms.

• XV

  Mongan uses supernatural power to create an illusion of a river and transform himself and mac an Dáv, demonstrating faery magic.

• XIX

  Mongan's magical abilities and the fantastical transformation of characters and animals highlight the supernatural elements of the story.