2019/22/5
The Dé Danán Dé index reveals a worldview that is non-Olympian—less concerned with petty divine drama and more with sovereignty, land, and skill. Unlike the Greek pantheon (fixed, individualistic), this index is relational: gods are defined by their functions within a tuath (tribe) and their bond to the land of Ériu.
Its most profound structural feature is cyclical time—the gods are not eternal masters but former inhabitants of Ireland, defeated by the Milesians (ancestors of the Irish), now living in the sídhe mounds. Thus, the index is not a guide to worship but a memorial—a ghost map of a displaced divine race. That melancholic distance is its unique poetic power.
The 60-Day Speed Run The most fascinating aspect of De Dana Dan is not what happened on screen, but how fast it was made. Director Priyadarshan is known in Bollywood for his incredible speed, but De Dana Dan was a race against time.
The story goes that Priyadarshan had promised the producers a release date, but the script wasn't even fully locked when they started shooting. The movie was shot in a frantic 60-day schedule. This is incredibly fast for a Bollywood film which usually takes months. index of de dana dan work
During the Singapore shoot, the crew worked at breakneck speed. There is a famous anecdote that Priyadarshan would finalize the dialogue and scenes just hours before the shoot. Akshay Kumar, known for his punctuality and discipline, would arrive on set, get the lines, deliver them in one or two takes, and they would move on. They filmed the famous climax flood scene (which took 15 days to shoot) with such precision that they didn't waste a single canister of film.
A deep analysis of the index reveals four primary layers of categorization:
A. Genealogical Hierarchy
The index prioritizes ancestry. At the apex: Danu (mother goddess, though enigmatic). Then Dagda (the Good God, father figure). Then functional kingship: Nuada (first king), Lugh (youthful, skilled king), and Bres (the flawed, foreign king). This mirrors medieval Irish society’s obsession with lineage (fine) and rightful rule. The Dé Danán Dé index reveals a worldview
B. Tripartite Functional Roles (Proto-Dumézilian)
Following Georges Dumézil’s trifunctional hypothesis, the index implicitly divides the Tuatha Dé Danann into three classes:
C. Thematic Clusters by Domain
The index cross-references beings by natural or cultural domain:
D. Narrative Function
Beyond categories, the index tracks role in stories: antagonist (Crom Cruach?), tragic figure (Étaín), trickster (Bricriu), or gatekeeper (Cailleach). D. Narrative Function
Beyond categories
Here is the chronological index of de danann work for studio releases. This is the backbone of any collection.
| Year | Album Title | Key Personnel | Notable Tracks | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1975 | De Danann | Frankie Gavin, Alec Finn, Johnny McDonagh | "The Mason’s Apron," "Ships are Sailing" | | 1976 | Selected Jigs Reels & Songs | Adds: Dolores Keane, Andy Irvine | "Mo Ghile Mear" (My Gallant Star) | | 1977 | The Mist Covered Mountain | Jackie Daly (accordion) joins | "The Mist Covered Mountain," "Garrett Barry’s" | | 1979 | The Star Spangled Molly | Pure instrumental brilliance | "The Holly Bush," "The Star of Munster" | | 1981 | Best of De Danann (First compilation) | Early classics remastered | Compilation only | | 1982 | Song for Ireland | Mary Black & Maura O’Connell dual vocals | "Song for Ireland," "Cavan Girl" | | 1984 | De Danann (self-titled re-record) | Transitional lineup | "The Galway Shawl" | | 1986 | The Irish Connection | Return to roots, less pop | "The Kilavil Reel" | | 1987 | A Jacket of Batteries | Experimental electronic/folk fusion | "The Rambling Irishman" | | 1990 | Half Set in Harlem | New York jazz influence | "Harlem Reel" | | 1996 | Hibernian Rhapsody | Frankie Gavin’s rock/classical crossover | "Hibernian Rhapsody" (Queen cover) | | 2000 | Welcome to the Hotel Connemara | 25th anniversary celebration | "Connemara Cradle Song" | | 2004 | One Night Stand (Live album) | Critical pivot to live energy | "The Queen of the West" | | 2015 | The Best of De Danann: The Decca Years | Final curated compilation | Rare radio sessions |
Archivist’s Note: Half Set in Harlem and A Jacket of Batteries are the most difficult to find in physical formats. A digital "index of de dana dan work" will often list these as "rare OOP (Out of Print)."
Searching "index of de dana dan work" on fan forums (like TheSession.org or Irish Traditional Music Archive) often yields these titles:
Warning: Many bootlegs have poor mixing (too much bodhrán, not enough fiddle). The 1981 NYC tape is the exception—it is sonically pristine.