It is believed by many people that the cave fairies are the remnant
of the ancient Tuatha-de-Dananns who once ruled Ireland, but were
conquered by the Milesians.
These Tuatha were great necromancers, skilled in all magic, and
excellent in all the arts as builders, poets, and musicians. At first
the Milesians were going to destroy them utterly, but gradually were
so fascinated and captivated by the gifts and power of the Tuatha that
they allowed them to remain and to build forts, where they held high
festival with music and singing and the chant of the bards. And the
breed of horses they reared could not be surpassed in the world—fleet
as the wind, with the arched neck and the broad chest and the quivering
nostril, and the large eye that showed they were made of fire and
flame, and not of dull, heavy earth. And the Tuatha made stables for
them in the great caves of the hills, and they were shod with silver
and had golden bridles, and never a slave was allowed to ride them.
A splendid sight was the cavalcade of the Tuatha-de-Danann knights.
Seven-score steeds, each with a jewel on his forehead like a star, and
seven-score horsemen, all the sons of kings, in their green mantles
fringed with gold, and golden helmets on their head, and golden greaves
on their limbs, and each knight having in his hand a golden spear.
And so they lived for a hundred years and more, for by their
enchantments they could resist the power of death.