ABSTRACT
Echtrae (expedition, adventure) is an early Irish tale type that tells of the hero’s journey to another world. In some of these tales, the hero remains in the Otherworld. One of the earliest of them is Echtrae Chonnlai (Connlae’s Expedition), which probably dates to the eighth century. Connlae, a son of Conn Cétchathach, is approached by an unnamed woman. She says she has come from “the land of the living, where there is neither death nor sin,” and invites Connlae to go with her. He is torn between love of his people and desire for the woman, but he eventually departs with her and is never seen again. In Echtrae Nerai, the hero leaves the court of Ailill and Medb at Cruachain (Rathcroghan in County Roscommon) and goes in search of a drink for a hanged man. When he returns, Nerae follows some warriors into the cave at Cruachain and finds himself in a síd, or Otherworld abode. He secretly marries a woman there; she warns Nerae that the Connachta must assail the síd, for otherwise Cruachain will be destroyed. When the Connachta have accomplished this, Nerae returns to the síd and stays there forever.
