This is the Connla and the Fairy Maiden story. Conn of Hundred Fights was a famous warrior and dearly loved his son, Connla with the fiery hair. One day, as they stood on Mount Usna, Connla saw a beautiful maiden walking towards him and asked her who she was.
She was from among the joyous Hill Folk who lived in the Land of the Ever-Living. But no one except Connla could see her!
Conn asked, “Who are you talking to?”
The invisible maiden introduced herself and said she wished to take Connla, whom she loved, to her Land of the Ever-Living. “King Boadag rules over that kingdom, and Connla will wear the royal fairy crown and never grow old there. For, it is a Plain of Pleasure and Joy!” she explained.
Conn did not wish to lose his son, and he still could not see the maiden. So, he called Druid, his magical advisor. The maiden vanished, giving an apple to Connla.
Coran, the Druid, knew magical spells. When Conn sought his help to protect Connla, he chanted various spells, but the lady vanished, leaving an apple in Connla’s hand.
The apple was magical, for Connla ate nothing but that for a month. Each time he took a bite, it became whole again!
Connla longed to see the maiden again. On the last day of the month, when he went out with his father, she came again.
Conn heard her invite his son to the Land of the Ever-Living. He summoned Coran.
But the maiden warned him that the Druid’s magic would fail before the powerful fairy magic!
Conn asked his son what he wished. He loved his father and his people, but he loved the maiden too. So, she summoned her crystal boat, and they sailed away in it.
Conn watched the boat sailing away, never to be seen again!
