Ireland, the "Emerald Isle," is a land rich with many legends. Among the well-known tales is that of Tir na nog, the Land of Eternal Youth.

There was once a king named O'Donoghue who lived by the shores of a lake. According to legend, "At the bottom of the lake lies a realm called Tir na nog, where time has no power and people never grow old." O'Donoghue was deeply loved by his people, but one day he suddenly vanished into the lake. From that day on, it was whispered that "once a year, on the very day he disappeared, he returns again to the world above."

As the fated day approached, the land was plagued by unusually severe weather. Yet when dawn finally broke on the day, the storm ceased abruptly, and the lake fell completely silent. Then, emerging from the waters, appeared O'Donoghue, a knight astride a white horse, accompanied by the fairies of Tir na nog. Shimmering in rainbow hues, the fairies danced as they played beautiful music, forming a procession that utterly captivated all who beheld it. Before long, O'Donoghue and the fairies vanished once more into the mist, still in formation. Even after they disappeared, the music they had played lingered on, endlessly enchanting those who had heard it. Thus, the vision of the beautiful land and the presence of O'Donoghue remained forever in the hearts of the people.

This piece depicts the people who long for the vanished O'Donoghue and believe in the legend of his return, and then portrays the fulfillment of their wish: O'Donoghue's reappearance on the promised day, his enchanting of the people's hearts, and his quiet departure once again.

(Masanori Taruya)