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Tochmarc Étaíne (The Wooing of Étaín)

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A Mythological Cycle tale of rebirth and reincarnation, preserved in the Yellow Book of Lecan.

Preserved across several manuscripts including the Yellow Book of Lecan, this tale follows Étaín through mortal and otherworldly lives after she is transformed into a fly by a jealous rival, and eventually won back by her husband Midir of the Tuatha Dé Danann.

Referenced by

appears in (from) Aengus Aengus, as Midir's foster son, helps him find and reclaim Étaín in this tale.
appears in (from) Étaín

The Four Cycles of Irish mythology
Cycle	Entries here	Focus
The Mythological Cycle	17	The oldest of the four cycles, telling of the Tuatha Dé Danann and the successive invasions of Ireland.
The Fenian Cycle	6	Tales of Fionn mac Cumhaill and his band of warriors, the Fianna, set generations after the Ulster Cycle in a world of hunting, romance, and roaming adventure.
The Ulster Cycle	12	The heroic tales of Conchobar mac Nessa's court at Emain Macha, centered on Cú Chulainn and the great cattle raid of the Táin Bó Cúailnge.
The Historical Cycle	1	Also the Cycle of the Kings — legendary and semi-legendary tales of Ireland's High Kings, treated by medieval scribes as genuine national history.

Sources

Bergin, O. & Best, R.I. (eds. & trans.). "Tochmarc Étaíne." Ériu, vol. 12, Royal Irish Academy, 1938.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tochmarc Étaíne?

Tochmarc Étaíne ("The Wooing of Étaín") is a Mythological Cycle text following the beautiful Étaín through rebirths, transformations, and rival suitors, including the god Aengus and the Otherworldly king Midir.

What happens to Étaín in the story?

Midir's jealous first wife transforms Étaín into a pool of water, then a worm, then a fly, and she is eventually swallowed by a mortal woman and reborn as a human, growing up with no memory of her divine past before Midir eventually finds and reclaims her.

Why is Tochmarc Étaíne important to Irish mythology?

It's one of the richest surviving Mythological Cycle tales, weaving together reincarnation, shapeshifting, and the Otherworld into a single narrative, and it also connects to the Historical Cycle through Étaín's descendant, King Conaire Mór.