Aos Sí

I Miotaseolaíocht na nGael (idir Éirinn agus Albain), cine osnádúrtha ab ea an t-Aos Sí (Sean-Ghaeilge: Áes Síde).

Deirtear go mbíonn cónaí ar an Aos Sí bíodh faoi thalamh, nó trasna na mara thiar, nó i ndomhan dofheicthe a chómhaireann le domhan an chine dhaonna, mar a insítear i Leabhar Gabhála na hÉireann.  As Nua-Ghaeilge, glaotar daoine na síthe orthu.  Deirtear anseo is ansiúd gur sinsir, spioraid an nádúir, nó déithe iad.

Feictear i roinnt foinsí tánaisteacha agus treasacha Béarla, údair cáiliúla agus tábhachtacha amhail W. B. Yeats san áireamh, go luaitear an t-aos sí go simplí mar "the sídhe".

Béaloideas agus Creideamh Sí
I roinnt scéalta de chuid na nGael, is ainm liteartha na dTuath Dé Danann é an Aos Sí, sinsir dhiagaithe na nGael.  Mar chuid de choinníollacha Chlann Mhíle, thoiligh Tuatha Dé cúlú faoi thalamh.  I leaganacha níos déanaí, bhí a sí féin ag gach treabh na dTuath Dé. Deirtear gur sár-álainn iad, cé go bhféadann siad bheith gránna agus míofar.

Tá nasc idir an aos sí agus amanna áirithe na bliana.  Sa chaoi go gcreidtear go mbíonn Tír na nÓg níos giorra don domhan daonna le titim na hoíche agus éirí na gréine, is níos éascaí é dá réir buaileadh leis an aos sí. Tá roinnt féilte ann gaolta leo Samhain, Bealtaine agus Féile Eoin (Lár an  tSamhraidh) san áireamh.

Cleachtar an Creideamh Sí ag iad a bhfuil fonn orthu dea-chaidreamh a choinneáil leis an aos sí agus gan iad a mhaslú.  Trí ré na Críostaíochta go dtí an lá inniu, caomhnaítear in Éirinn, Albain agus i measc an diaspóra, nós táirgthe bainne agus bia traidisiúnta — amhail is bia bruithe, úil nó sméara — don aos.  

Creidtear go gcosnaíonn an t-Aos sí go fíochmhar a n-áitribh — cé acu sí, fáinne sí, crann ar leith (go minic sceach gheal), nó loch nó coill áirithe.  Dá saorófaí a mbailte, chuirfidís an ruaig ar na daoine nó rudaí úd.  Déantar dá bharr iarrachtaí áiteanna beannaithe an aosa a chosaint ó thoghail déanta bóithre nó tithe. Tá scéalta den saghas sin mar bhunús de mhiotas na n-iarlaisí i mbéaloideas iarthar na hEorpa, .i. go ndéanann an t-Aos Sí fuadach ar leanbh le fonn díoltais.

De ghnáth, ní ainmnítear go díreach iad go fiú, ach glaoitear "na Daoine Maithe" orthu mar shofhriotal. Go deimhin, deirtí orthaí cosantacha scaití nuair a bhíodh daoine ag comhrá faoi na Daoine Maithe, ar eagla go dtiocfadh corraí orthu. Seo a leanas ceann a cloiseadh dé Máirt éigin fadó i mBéal Átha Chomhraic:

 "Iniuf Dé Máirt. Is maith a' chórsa dhúinn iad! Is maith a chórsa dhófa sinn.
 Glacamuid le n-a gar agus le n-a gcoimirc. Nár théighidh éinne a bhaineas dúinn achoíche ar an imirc!"

Na síthe
Is ionann na síthe agus na tuamanna a fheictear fós ar fud fad na tíre, ina mbíodh, de réir sna seantéacsanna, "na rí-thithe, cúirteanna, árais" de neacha an alltair a bhíodh ina gcónaí ann.  I roinnt téacsanna níos deireanaí as Béarla, ámh, úsáidtear go míchruinn an focal sídhe le haghaidh na ndaoine agus na tuamanna araon.

Ós rud é go bhfuarthas reiligí i mórán dó na síthe, creidtear gur lonnaitheoirí réamhCheilteacha na hÉireann iad an t-aos sí.  De réir eile, tá tionchar chultúr na Gréige le fáil ann, go háirithe dar leo Oibreacha agus Laethe le Hesiod (a léirítear bunús moráltachta agus modhanna talmhaíochta na Gréige, agus a dhéanann cur síos ar na cine daonna cruthaithe ag na déithe).  Moltar ámh gur neamhdhóchúil iad na smaointe seo, agus gur féidir an tionchar úd a thuiscint de bharr bhunús coiteann  [[Prótai-Ind-Eorpach| an dá chultúir.

Cineáil
 Is ionann bean sí anois agus bean ar bith osnádúrtha na hÉireann, agus a caoineadh ag tuar báis.
 Feictear an bean ní le  baill fhuilteach éadaigh nó cathéide an té atá ar tí bád d'fháil.
 Feictear anois is arís an sluagh sí sa spéir ag eitilt, b'fhéidir na mairbh mallaithe, olca, corracha.  B'fhéidir gur cineál dá leithéid iad na siabhra, tugtha d'olc agus rógaireacht. Tá amhrán tíre na nUltach ann áfach ina bhfaightear "sheevra" le brí ach "sióg".

Faightear cineáil eile mar a leanas:

 Ábarta 
 Ábartach
 Ellén Trechend
 Leannán Sí
 Leipreachán
Ollphéist
 Púca
 Síofra

Féach freisin
Tuatha Dé Danann
 Fir Bholg
Sióg
 Alltar

Foinsí

Príomhfhoinsí
 Leabhar Gabhála na hÉireann, mar shampla sa Leabhar Laighneach
 Annála na gCeithre Máistrí
 Leabhar Bhaile an Mhóta
 Leabhar na hUidhre
 Leabhar Buí Leacáin
 Leabhar Mór Leacáin

Fofhoinsí
 Briggs, Katharine (1978). The Vanishing People: Fairy Lore and Legends. New York: Pantheon.
 Briody, Mícheál (2008, 2016) The Irish Folklore Commission 1935-1970: History, Ideology, Methodology Helsinki Finnish Literature Society  and Studia Fennica Foloristica 17 urn:ISSN:1235-1946 Retrieved on 10 April 2018
 Colum, Padraic (1967) A Treasury of Irish Folklore: The Stories, Traditions, Legends, Humor, Wisdom, Ballads, and Songs of the Irish People. New York Crown Publishers  Retrieved from Opensource via Archive.org 10 April 2018
 De Jubainville, M. H. D'Arbois and Richard Irvine Best (1903). The Irish Mythological Cycle and Celtic Mythology. Dublin Hodges, Figgis, and Company. Retrieved from Indiana University Library via Archive.org 12 October 2017
 Evans-Wentz, W. Y. (1911). The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries. London: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from University of California Library via Archive.org 12 October 2017 
 Gantz, Jeffrey (1981) Early Irish Myths and Sagas London, Penguin ; 
 Keating, Geoffrey ( 1866) Foras Feasa ar Éirinn: The History of Ireland O'Mahony John (Trans) New York. James B. Kirker Retrieved from Boston College Libraries via Archive.org 12 October 2017 also republished as Keating, Geoffrey ( 1902–14) Foras Feasa ar Éirinn: The History of Ireland Comyn, David and Dinneen, Patrick S. (eds.) 4 vols. London David Nutt for the Irish Texts Society. Retrieved from University of Toronto Library via Archive.org 12 October 2017 
 Keightley, Thomas. (1892) Fairy Mythology. London: George Bell & Sons, Retrieved from Project Gutenberg 15 October 2017
 Koch, John T. (2005). Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia Vol. 1 A-Celti.  Oxford. ABC-Clio.  Retrieved on 14 March 2018
 MacKillop, James (1986). Fionn Mac Cumhail: Celtic Myth in English Literature New York Syracuse University Press  Retrieved on 14 March 2018
 MacKillop, James (1998). Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. London: Oxford. .
 MacKillop, James (2005). Myths and Legends of the Celts. London. Penguin Books .Retrieved on  14 March 2018
 McAnally, David Russell (1888).Irish Wonders: The Ghosts, Giants, Pookas, Demons, Leprechawns, Banshees, Fairies, Witches, Widows, Old Maids, and Other Marvels of the Emerald Isle Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, & Company Retrieved from United States Library of Congress via Archive.org 20 November 2017 
 Monaghan, Patricia (2004)The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore New York Facts on File  Retrieved on 10 April 2018
 Ó Danachair, Caoimhín (1978). A Bibliography of Irish Ethnology and Folk Tradition. Dublin Mercier Press 
 Ó Súilleabháin, Seán (1942) A Handbook of Irish Folklore Dublin Educational Company of Ireland Limited 
 Ó Súilleabháin, Seán & Christiansen, Reidar Th.(1963). The Types of the Irish Folktale. Folklore Fellows' Communications No. 188. Helsinki 1963.
 Rolleston, T.W. (1911). Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race. London. George Harrap and Company. Retrieved from Public Library of India via Archive.org 14 March 2018 
 Zipes, Jack (2015) The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales 2nd Ed. Oxford University Press  Retrieved  10 April 2018
 White, Carolyn (2005) [1st pub.1976], A History of Irish Fairies New York. Avalon Publishing Group.  
 Irish folklore archive inscribed into UNESCO register Rte News 6 December 2017 Retrieved 10 April 2018

Foinsí Treasacha
 Anonymous [C.J.T.] (1889). Folk-Lore and Legends: Ireland. London: W.W. Gibbings. Retrieved from Harvard University Library via Archive.org 21 November 2017  also republished as Anonymous [C.J.T.] (1904). Irish Fairy Tales Folklore and Legends. London: W.W. Gibbings. Retrieved via Archive.org 21 November 2017 
 Anonymous, The Royal Hibernian Tales; Being 4 Collections of the Most Entertaining Stories Now Extant, Dublin, C.M. Warren, Retrieved from Google Books on 4 November 2017 
 Browne, Frances. (1904). Granny's Wonderful Chair New York: McClure, Phillips and Company, Retrieved from United States Library of Congress via Archive.org 22 November 2017 
 Carleton, William (1830). Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry, First Series Vol. 1. Dublin: William Curry, Jun, and Company Retrieved from University of Illinois Library via Archive.org 11 November 2017 
 Carleton, William (1830). Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry, First Series Vol. 2. Dublin: William Curry, Jun, and Company Retrieved from University of Illinois Library via Archive.org 11 November 2017 
 Carleton, William (1834). Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry, Second Series Vol. 1. Dublin: William Frederick Wakeman Retrieved from University of Illinois Library via Archive.org 11 November 2017 
 Carleton, William (1834). Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry, Second Series Vol. 2. Dublin: William Frederick Wakeman Retrieved from University of Illinois Library via Archive.org 11 November 2017 
 Carleton, William (1834). Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry, Second Series Vol. 3. Dublin: William Frederick Wakeman Retrieved from University of Illinois Library via Archive.org 11 November 2017 
 Carleton, William (1845). Tales and Sketches Illustrating the Character, Usages, Traditions, Sports, and Pastimes of the Irish Peasantry. Dublin: James Duffy Retrieved from University of California Library via Archive.org 11 November 2017 
 Colum, Padraic (1916). The King of Ireland's Son. New York: H. Holt and Company Retrieved from Project Gutenberg via [1] 24 November 2017 
 Colum, Padraic (1918). The Boy Who Knew How to Speak to Birds. New York: The MacMillan Company Retrieved from New York Public Library via Archive.org 24 November 2017 
 Colum, Padraic (1929) [First Pub. 1919). The Girl Who Sat by the Ashes. New York: The MacMillan Company Retrieved from New York Public Library via Archive.org 24 November 2017 
 Croker, Thomas Crofton (1825).Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland vol. 1 London: John Murray, Retrieved from Oxford University Library via Archive.org 6 November 2017 
 Croker, Thomas Crofton (1828).Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland vol. 2 London: John Murray, Retrieved from Oxford University Library via Archive.org 6 November 2017 
 Croker, Thomas Crofton (1828).Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland vol. 3 London: John Murray, Retrieved from Oxford University Library via Archive.org 6 November 2017 
 Curtin, Jeremiah (1890). Myths and Folk-Lore of Ireland London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington Retrieved from University of Toronto Library via Archive.org 8 November 2017 
 Curtin, Jeremiah (1894). Hero-Tales of Ireland. London: MacMillan and Company Retrieved from University of Toronto Library via Archive.org 8 November 2017 
 Curtin, Jeremiah (1895). Tales of the Fairies and of the Ghost World: Collected from Oral Tradition in South-West Munster. Boston: Little Brown Company Retrieved from University of Wisconsin Library via Archive.org 8 November 2017 
 De Valera, Sinéad (1927). Irish Fairy Stories, London: MacMillan Children's Books.  Retrieved 27 November 2017 .
 Dixon Hardy, Phillip. (1837).Legends, Tales, and Stories of Ireland Dublin: P.J. John Cumming, Retrieved from Harvard University Library via Archive.org 23 November 2017 
 Frost, William Henry. (1900).Fairies and Folk of Ireland New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, Retrieved from New York Public Library via Archive.org 6 November 2017 
 Graves, Alfred Perceval. (1909).The Irish Fairy Book London: T. Fisher Unwin, Retrieved from University of California Library via Archive.org 22 November 2017 
 Griffin, Gerald (1842) Tales of the Jury-Room in Three Volumes. Vol.1 London Maxwell and Co. Publishers Retrieved from University of Illinois Library via Archive.org 10 April 2018
 Griffin, Gerald (1842) Tales of the Jury-Room in Three Volumes. Vol.2 London Maxwell and Co. Publishers Retrieved from University of Illinois Library via Archive.org 10 April 2018
 Griffin, Gerald (1842) Tales of the Jury-Room in Three Volumes. Vol.3 London Maxwell and Co. Publishers Retrieved from University of Illinois Library via Archive.org 10 April 2018
 Griffin, Gerald (1827) Tales of the Munster Festivals in Three Volumes. Vol.1 London Saunders and Otley Retrieved from University of Illinois Library via Archive.org 10 April 2018
 Griffin, Gerald (1827) Tales of the Munster Festivals in Three Volumes. Vol.2 London Saunders and Otley Retrieved from University of Illinois Library via Archive.org 10 April 2018
 Griffin, Gerald (1827) Tales of the Munster Festivals in Three Volumes. Vol.3 London Saunders and Otley Retrieved from University of Illinois Library via Archive.org 10 April 2018
 Hyde, Douglas (1890). Beside the Fire: A Collection of Irish Gaelic Folk Stories. London: David Nutt Retrieved from National Library of Scotland via Archive.org 9 November 2017 
 Hyde, Douglas (1896). Five Irish Stories: Translated from the Irish of the "Sgeuluidhe Gaodhalach". Dublin: Gill & Son Retrieved from University of California Library via Archive.org 9 November 2017 
 Hyde, Douglas (1915). Legends of Saints and Sinners (Every Irishman's Library). London: T. Fisher Unwin Retrieved from University of Connecticut Library via Archive.org 9 November 2017 
 Jacobs, Joseph (1892) Celtic Fairy Tales London : D. Nutt. Retrieved from Wikisource 17 October 2017
 Joyce, Patrick Weston. (1879).Old Celtic Romances London: C. Kegan Paul and Co., Retrieved from Harvard University Library via Archive.org 22 November 2017 
 Kennedy, Patrick (1866) Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts, London: MacMillan and Company Retrieved from National Library of Scotland via Archive.org 15 November 2017 
 Kennedy, Patrick (1870). Fireside Stories of Ireland, London: M'Glashan and Gill and Patrick Kennedy. Retrieved from University of California Library via Archive.org 18 November 2017 
 Kiely, Benedict (2011). The Penguin Book of Irish Short Stories London: Penguin Books, . Retrieved 27 November 2017 . (Traditional Irish story translated from "The Stories of Johnny Shemisin" (no Date), Ulster Council of the Gaelic League
 Leamy, Edmund. (1906).Irish Fairy Tales Dublin: M.A. Gill & Son. Ltd, Retrieved from University of Toronto Library via Archive.org 6 November 2017 
 Lover, Samuel (1831).Legends and Stories of Ireland vol. 1 Dublin: W.F. Wakeman, Retrieved from University of Pittsburgh Library via Archive.org 6 November 2017 
 Lover, Samuel (1831).Legends and Stories of Ireland vol. 2 London: Baldwin and Cradock, Retrieved from Oxford University Library via Archive.org 7 November 2017 
 MacManus, Anna (Ethna Carbery). (1904).In The Celtic Past New York: Funk and Wagnalls, Retrieved from University of California Library via Archive.org 22 November 2017 
 MacManus, Seumas. (1899).In the Chimney Corners: Merry Tales of Irish Folk Lore New York: Doubleday and McClure Company, Retrieved from New York Public Library via Archive.org 24 November 2017 
 MacManus, Seumas (1900). Donegal Fairy Stories New York: Doubleday, Page & and Company, Retrieved from Harvard University Library via Archive.org 22 November 2017 
 McClintock, Letitia (1876). Folklore of the County Donegal, Dublin University Magazine 88. Retrieved from National Library of Ireland on  15 October 2017 
 O'Faolain, Eileen (1954). Irish sagas and Folk Tales London: Oxford University Press. ; .
 O'Flaherty, Liam (1927). The Fairy Goose and Two Other Stories, London: Crosby Gaige. Retrieved 27 November 2017 .
 Scott, Michael (1988) Green and Golden Tales: Irish Hero Tales Dublin: Sphere Books Limited ; 
 Scott, Michael (1989) Green and Golden Tales: Irish Animal Tales Dublin: Sphere Books Limited ; 
 Scott, Michael (1989). Irish Folk and Fairy Tales Omnibus. London Sphere Books ; 
 Scott, Michael (1995) Magical Irish Folk Tales Dublin: Sphere Books Limited ; 
 Scott, Michael (1988). Green and Golden Tales: Irish Fairy Tales, Dublin: Sphere Books Limited,; . 
 Sheridan Le Fanu, Joseph, (February 5 1870) The Child That Went with the Fairies  All the Year Round pp.228-233 Retrieved from Prelinger Library via Archive.org 10 April 2018 Republished in Sheridan Le Fanu, Joseph (1923) Madam Crowl's Ghost and Other Tales of Mystery James, Montague Rhodes (ed.) London: George Bell & Sons, Retrieved from Project Gutenberg 10 April 2018
 Stephens, James (1920) Irish Fairy Tales. London, MacMillan & Company, Retrieved from Project Gutenberg 5 November 2017 
 Wilde, Lady Francesca Speranza (1888).Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms, and Superstitions of Ireland London: Ward and Downey, Retrieved from Cornell University Library via Archive.org 5 November 2017 
 Yeats, William Butler. (1888).Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry London: Walter Scott, Retrieved from University of Toronto Library via Archive.org 20 November 2017 
 Yeats, William Butler. (1888).Irish Fairy Tales London: T. Fisher Unwin, Retrieved from University of California Library via Archive.org 20 November 2017 
 Young, Ella. (1910).Celtic Wonder Tales Book Dublin: Maunsel & Company LTD, Retrieved from University of California Library via Archive.org 22 November 2017

Tagairtí

Aos Sí
An tOsnádúr
Miotaseolaíocht na nGael

Béaloideas
Béaloideas na hÉireann
Creideamh
Creideamh in Éirinn
Reiligiúin Paindiacha