extraction.celtic_irish.gods_and_fighting_men.oisin_country_of_young
---
record_id: extraction.celtic_irish.gods_and_fighting_men.oisin_country_of_young
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
passage_locator:
label: 'Book Eleven, Chapter I: Oisin''s Story; journey to and return from the Country
of the Young'
start: 14366
end: 14544
translation: Lady Augusta Gregory, Gods and Fighting Men
notes: Line numbers refer to the repository markdown source.
canonical_text:
summary: Oisin tells Patrick that Niamh took him west over the sea to the Country
of the Young, where he remained young and time seemed short, but on returning
to Ireland he dismounted and became an aged man.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Oisin is said to have returned to Ireland long after Niamh brought him away,
although the time seemed short to him.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Oisin and Niamh turn westward over the sea, which opens before them and closes
behind them in waves.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: During the journey they see cities, courts, white houses, palaces, a deer,
a white red-eared hound, and mounted figures travelling over the waves.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Oisin names the destination the Country of the Young and the Country of Victory.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The country is described as blossoming, full of smooth plains, a grand dun,
sunny houses, shining stone palaces, armed men, young women, and royal figures.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: The king tells Oisin that his life there will be long lasting and that Oisin
will be young forever.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: Niamh warns Oisin that if he gets off the white horse in Ireland he will never
return and will become old, blind, and withered.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: After Oisin dismounts beside a remembered stone trough, the years come on
him and the white horse leaves.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Oisin
description: Son of Finn who journeys to the Country of the Young and later returns
to Ireland.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Niamh of the Golden Hair
description: Woman who brings Oisin over the sea and warns him about dismounting.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: King of the Country of the Young
description: Royal host who welcomes Oisin and identifies Niamh as his daughter.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: white horse
description: Horse associated with Oisin's return condition and departure from him
after he dismounts.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
roles:
- id: role:1
label: otherworld_traveler
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Oisin travels west over the sea to the Country of the Young and later returns.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: role:2
label: otherworld_bride_and_guide
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Niamh brings Oisin to the Country of the Young and gives the return warning.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- id: role:3
label: transformed_returnee
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Oisin returns from the Country of the Young and becomes aged after dismounting.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:8
- id: role:4
label: otherworld_king
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The speaker identifies himself as King of the Country of the Young.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:5
label: conditional_return_mount
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Remaining on the horse is the stated condition for Oisin's return.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: western sea passage
literal_form: westward sea path that opens before Oisin and Niamh.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: Country of the Young
literal_form: Country of the Young, also called Country of Victory.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: sym:3
label: white red-eared hound
literal_form: eager white red-eared hound following a hornless deer beside the travellers.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: white horse
literal_form: white horse that carries Oisin and leaves after he dismounts.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: sym:5
label: stone trough
literal_form: stone trough remembered from the Fianna.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Sea journey to the Country of the Young
summary: Oisin and Niamh travel west over the sea, see marvelous beings and places,
and arrive in the Country of the Young.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:2
label: Conditional return and aging
summary: Niamh warns Oisin not to dismount in Ireland; when he does, the accumulated
years come on him and the horse leaves.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: otherworld_sojourn
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Oisin is taken across the sea to a marvelous realm where youth and time operate
differently.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The taxonomy currently lacks a direct otherworld motif entry.
- id: motif:2
label: return_from_otherworld_with_time_shift
taxonomy_refs:
- return
basis: Oisin returns from the Country of the Young to a changed Ireland and immediately
ages when he violates the return condition.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The return is not a triumphant restoration; it is a loss-marked return.
- id: motif:3
label: magical_animal_mount
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The white horse mediates travel and carries the condition that Oisin must
not touch Irish ground.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The text does not explicitly call the horse magical in this passage, but
its role is extraordinary.
- id: motif:4
label: departure_to_transformed_realm
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
- initiation
basis: Oisin leaves Ireland and enters a realm of altered time, marriage, feasting,
and changed status.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage emphasizes otherworldly residence more than formal initiation.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage can be compared by function with other otherworld-journey traditions
in which crossing a boundary leads to altered time, changed status, and a dangerous
return condition.
claim_level: same_function
target: cross-cultural otherworld journey and return motifs
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: medium
limitations: The claim identifies a recurring narrative function and does not argue
historical contact.
- id: claim:2
claim: The white horse functions as a threshold vehicle between ordinary Ireland
and the Country of the Young.
claim_level: same_function
target: magical animal or threshold mount motif comparisons
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: low
limitations: The source gives the horse a crucial role but does not fully describe
its origin or nature in this excerpt.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 14366-14373
quote_or_summary: Oisin returns long after Niamh took him away; the time seemed
short to him, but he is later found old and fallen from the white horse.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public-domain source text.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 14381-14385
quote_or_summary: Oisin says he and Niamh turned westward over the sea, with the
sea going away before them and filling in behind.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public-domain source text.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 14385-14393
quote_or_summary: The journey includes marvelous buildings, a hornless deer, a white
red-eared hound, and mounted figures crossing the waves.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public-domain source text.
- id: ev:4
type: quote
locator: lines 14395-14401
quote_or_summary: Oisin names the destination the Country of the Young and the Country
of Victory.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public-domain source text.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 14408-14424
quote_or_summary: The country has blossoms, smooth plains, a grand dun, shining
palaces, armed men, young girls, and royal figures.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public-domain source text.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 14426-14435
quote_or_summary: The king welcomes Oisin, promises long-lasting life and youth
forever, and identifies Niamh as his daughter.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public-domain source text.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 14454-14472
quote_or_summary: Niamh allows Oisin to return but warns that touching the ground
will prevent return and make him old, blind, and withered.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public-domain source text.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 14533-14544
quote_or_summary: Oisin forgets the warning, dismounts by the stone trough, the
years come upon him, and the horse leaves him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public-domain source text.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: high
comparison_claims: medium
notes: The otherworld journey, time shift, and failed return condition are explicit
in the passage.
reviewer_status:
status: draft
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Needs review for motif naming and relation to broader echtra/immram categories.
extracted_by: Codex
extracted_at: '2026-04-27'
notes: Worker D extraction focused on otherworld, return, and threshold mount motifs.