In the ancient mists of time, there lived a race of beings known as the Tuatha de Danaan .... roughly translated as "the tall people of Danu".
These people were led by their Lord, one Partholon. Partholon was a mighty man, and he led his people from the fabled land of Tir Na Nog to Ireland.
Now at this time, the people of Ireland were beset by ugly misshapen creatures called the Fomorians. These creatures only had one arm and one leg apiece.
Partholon led the Tu'atha against the Fomorians, driving them to the very edges of Ireland, where these strange creatures took up residence. Once he had done this, he was proclaimed the first High King of Ireland.
Time was peaceful and blissful for a while, but one day, Partholon's sister, Dealgnid grew ill. A strange sickness spread throughout the Tu'atha, and many people died. It took Partholon some time, but with the help of his wizards and montebanks, he discovered that the disease had been created by the Fomorians in order to have their revenge on the Tu'atha, hoping to wipe them out and retake Ireland.
Partholon's army was decimated by the illness, so Partholon, High King of Ireland set out alone, armed only with his sword and his knowledge of magick to do battle with the Fomorians. He searched them out and fought valiantly. For a time he was winning, but he began to tire. The Fomorians were relentless, and he was but one man against them.
Just when he was beginning to think that it was over, that he would die, he heard his sister, singing a magickal lullaby. She had followed him all this time, even though she was terribly ill.
The lullaby was a song that would open up the Dreaming, the Realm of Dreams, the place that we visit when we sleep.
Once the Dreaming opened, the tide of the Battle changed again. Partholon was as a God in the Dreaming, for it was rumoured that Tir Na Nog itself was from the Dreaming and that he was a child of Danu herself.
The battle was swift, and furious, and Partholon drove the Fomorians deep into the Dreaming where he bound the creatures into the trees and the rocks. And there they reside to this day, being the foundation of nightmares.
Once the battle was won, Partholon returned to his sister, only to discover that the journey had wearied her greatly, causing her body to give in to the strange illness.
He carried her home and was saddened to discover that his people, the Tu'atha de Danaan were gone, victim to the Fomorian's final legacy. His sister finally took her last breath as she too gave in to the illness also the moment he carried her across the threshold of their home.
Partholon was stricken by terrible grief and not wishing to lose his sister, bound her spirit into a mahogany musical box. He then left the lands of the Tu'atha de Danaan behind, seeking only to mourn for his people.
He circled the Green Mountain clockwise three times and knocked upon the hillside. A passageway opened into the mountain and Partholon entered. He crafted a stone throne for himself and sat, unmoving in mourning for his people for over a millennia.
It is said that the musical box still exists, and that when opened, plays the tune of the lullaby that Dealgnid sang to save her brother. And if you listen to it, on Midsummer's Eve, you can hear Partholon singing the same song faintly from his throne under the Mountain.
