Irish Glossary

The River Boyne — one of Ireland's most sacred rivers, flowing through County Meath. Home of the Salmon of Knowledge and named after the goddess Boann.

One of the three sons of Lir. His name means 'fire'. He was the elder of the three brothers.

The first wife of Lir and beloved mother of his four children. She died after the birth of the twins Fiachra and Conn.

A mythical princess and the second wife of King Lir.

Woman of the Fairy Mound, the Irish name for the Banshee, a female spirit whose mournful wail heralds the death.

The fearsome Scottish giant who challenged Fionn mac Cumhaill to battle.

High King of the Tuatha Dé Danann and father of both Aoibh and Aoife. When he discovered Aoife's treachery, he cursed her to become a demon of the air for eternity.

To weep, to wail. The mournful funeral lament traditionally sung by women at Irish wakes, closely linked to the cry of the Banshee.

A principal goddess and queen of the Tuatha Dé Danann, sometimes described as Queen of the Banshees.

The youngest of the four Children of Lir. One of the twin sons.

The King of Ulster and maternal uncle of Cú Chulainn. A powerful ruler who oversaw the great warriors of the Red Branch.

An Irish mythological demigod and hero of the Ulster Cycle.

The mortal mother of Cú Chulainn and sister of King Conor Mac Nessa.

The birth name of Fionn mac Cumhaill before he gained his legendary name.

Fortress of Shadows, the impregnable stronghold of the warrior-woman Scáthach on the Isle of Skye.

The great royal fort and seat of the Kings of Ulster, today known as Navan Fort in County Armagh.

The wife of Cú Chulainn and daughter of the chieftain Forgall Monach. She was renowned for her beauty, wisdom, and fierce loyalty to her husband.

The magical white horse of Niamh, able to gallop across the surface of the sea. She lent it to Oisín to return to Ireland.

Cú Chulainn's closest foster brother and fellow trainee under Scáthach.

One of the twin sons of Lir. His name is possibly derived from 'fiach' meaning 'raven'.

The legendary Irish warrior-hunters led by Fionn mac Cumhaill

Also known as Finn Eces, a wise druid-poet who spent seven years fishing the River Boyne for the Salmon of Knowledge. He was the teacher and foster-father of the young Fionn mac Cumhaill.

A mythical hunter-warrior and leader of the Fianna. He is said to have built the Giant's Causeway.

Daughter of Lir. The eldest and most protective of the four children.

Spear of Death, the terrible barbed spear gifted to Cú Chulainn by Scáthach. Made from the bones of a sea monster.

Valley of the Thrushes — the valley through which Oisín passed on his return to Ireland.

The loyal charioteer and trusted companion of Cú Chulainn. He drove the hero's chariot into battle and remained by his side.

The Grey of Macha, one of Cú Chulainn's two magical horses, said to be a supernatural being.

Ancient sea god and noble lord of the Tuatha Dé Danann.

Lake of the Oaks, the first of three locations where the Children of Lir spent 300 years of their enchantment, located near Mullingar.

Ireland's largest lake, said to have been created when Fionn mac Cumhaill scooped up a massive chunk of earth and hurled it at Benandonner, leaving a great hollow that filled with water.

The great god of the sea and ruler of the Otherworld. Father of Niamh and keeper of Tír na nÓg.

The powerful and ruthless Queen of Connacht. She launched the invasion of Ulster to seize the great Brown Bull of Cooley.

Niamh of the Golden Hair, a queen of Tír na nÓg and daughter of Manannán mac Lir. She crossed the sea on her magical white horse.

Son of Fionn mac Cumhaill and legendary poet-warrior of the Fianna. He fell in love with Niamh and spent 300 years in Tír na nÓg.

The clever wife of Fionn mac Cumhaill.

A mischievous shapeshifting spirit of Irish folklore, feared as the most troublesome of the fairy folk.

The warp spasm or battle frenzy, a terrifying transformation that overtook Cú Chulainn in battle.

The Shadow, a legendary female warrior who ran a school for heroes on the Isle of Skye (Dún Scáith). She trained Cú Chulainn in all the arts of war and gifted him the Gáe Bulg.

The birth name of Cú Chulainn. As a child, he killed the fierce guard dog of the smith Culann and offered to take its place, earning his legendary name.

The fairy mounds or fairy folk of Irish mythology.

The Cattle Raid of Cooley, the greatest epic of the Ulster Cycle.

The gift of illumination through chanting.

The Land of Eternal Youth in Irish mythology, an otherworldly realm where illness and death do not exist.

The Well of Wisdom — a sacred spring at the source of the River Boyne, surrounded by nine magical hazel trees.