And it is how the young man was, he had a sweet-smelling apple, having the colour of gold, in his hand, and he would eat a third part of it, and with all he would eat, it would never be less.  And that was the food that nourished the two of them, and neither age or sorrow could touch them when once they had tasted it.

“Who are you yourself?” Tadg asked him then.  “I am son to Conn of the Hundred Battles,” he said.  “Is it Connla you are?” said Tadg.  “I am indeed,” said the young man, “and it is this girl of many shapes that brought me here.”  And the girl said:  “I have given him my love and my affection, and it is because of that I brought him to this place, the way we might be looking at one another for ever, and beyond that we have never gone.”

“That is a beautiful thing and a strange thing,” said Tadg, “and a thing to wonder at.  And who is there in that grand dun with the silver walls?” he said.  “There is no one at all in it,” said the girl.  “What is the reason of that?” said Tadg.  “It is for the kings that are to rule Ireland yet,” she said; “and there will be a place in it for yourself, Tadg.  And come now,” she said, “till you see it.”

The lovers went on to the dun, and it is hardly the green grass was bent under their white feet.  And Tadg and his people went along with them.

They came then to the great wonderful house that was ready for the company of the kings; it is a pleasant house that was, and any one would like to be in it.  Walls of white bronze it had, set with crystal and with carbuncles, that were shining through the night as well as through the day.

Tadg looked out from the house then, and he saw to one side of him a great sheltering apple-tree, and blossoms and ripe fruit on it.  “What is that apple tree beyond?” said Tadg.  “It is the fruit of that tree is food for the host in this house,” said the woman.  “And it was an apple of that apple-tree brought Connla here to me; a good tree it is, with its white-blossomed branches, and its golden apples that would satisfy the whole house.”

And then Connla and the young girl left them, and they saw coming towards them a troop of beautiful women.  And there was one among them was most beautiful of all, and when she was come to them she said:  “A welcome to you, Tadg.”  “I thank you for that welcome,” said Tadg; “and tell me,” he said, “who are you yourself?” “I am Cliodna of the Fair Hair,” she said, “daughter of Gebann, son of Treon, of the Tuatha de Danaan, a sweetheart of Ciabhan of the Curling Hair; and it is from me Cliodna’s wave on the coast of Munster got its name; and I am a long time now in this island, and it is the apples of that tree you saw that we use for food.”  And Tadg was well pleased to be listening to her talk, but after a while he said:  “It is best for us to go on now to look for our people.”  “We will be well pleased if you stop longer with us,” said the woman.

And while she was saying those words they saw three beautiful birds coming to them, one of them blue and his head crimson, and one was crimson and his head green, and the third was speckled and his head the colour of gold, and they lit on the great apple-tree, and every bird of them ate an apple, and they sang sweet music then, that would put sick men into their sleep.