Aonghus.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Aonghus. (I) Of the six prominent characters in Irish myth who bear the name Aonghus, it is the love god, Aonghus O'g, who first comes to mind. He was son of the Dagda and Boann and his palace was Brugh na Boinne at New Grange by the River Boyne. He was of beautiful appearance, and four birds, representing his kisses, always hovered around his head. In the story "The Dream of Aonghus," Aonghus Og saw a beautiful maiden in a dream and fell sick for the love of her. He asked his mother for help, and she enlisted the help of the Bodb Dearg, her brother. The girl was identified as Caer Ibormeith, daughter of Ethal Anubhail of the De Danaan of Connacht. Aonghus Og asked Ailill and Medb, rulers of Connacht, to persuade Ethal Anubhail to give him his daughter. But Ethal Anubhail said it was not in his power to do this because Caer lived in the shape of a swan and on the Feast of Samhain would be found with 150 other swans swimming on Loch Bel Dragon (Lake of the Dragon's Mouth). If Aonghus Og could identify her, it would be up to Caer to decide if she wanted to go with him. Aonghus Og identified Caer; they went to his palace by the Boyne and lived together. Aonghus Og was also foster father to Diarmuid Ua Duibhne (Of the Love Spot) and tried to save him and his lover Grainne from the vengeance of Fionn Mac Cumhail by the use of magical devices. When Diarmuid was slain by a magic boar (actu- ally the son of Aonghus Og's steward, Roc, by Diarmuid's own mother), it was Aonghus Og who placed his body on a gilded bier and transported it to his palace, where he was able to breathe a soul into it whenever he wanted a conversation with Diarmuid.

The second Aonghus, Aonghus of the Terrible Spear, was a chieftain of the Desi who killed Cellach, son of the High King Cormac Mac Art, with a spear and knocked out the eye of Cormac with its butt. This is the incident that results in "The Expulsion of the Desi."

Among the other characters bearing the name Aonghus are Aonghus Bolg, an ancestor of the Firbolg, also regarded as an ancestor of the Desi; a son of the Bodb Dearg; Aonghus Mac Aedh Abrat, brother of the goddess Fand, who sang to Cuchulainn on his sickbed and cured him from his sickness; and, lastly, Aonghus Mac Lamh Gabuid, a warrior who challenged Cet of Connacht during the bragging contest in the tale of Mac Da Tho's boar. He is described as tall and fair-haired. Cet cut off his father's hand and this is why Aonghus challenged him.

References: Ellis, Peter Berresford. Dictionary of Celtic Mythology Oxford Paperback Reference, Oxford University Press, 1994. http://www.bookdepository.com/Dictionary-Celtic-Mythology-Peter-Berresford-Ellis/9780195089615?&a_aid=branwen&a_bid=b7d3496f