Some More on Gods of the Gaelic Pantheon

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Aibheall/Aoibhell/Aoibheall

by Kathleen Ní Bhriain

A Lady of the Mound, or Bean Sidhe (banshee), residing in Graig Liath (grey rock) in County Clare. Her name has been translated as "bright", "sparkling", and "beautiful", all things which are generally attributed to goddessess. Aibheall is said to have a harp which was only heard by those of Clann UíBriain just before they died. For this reason she has been referred to as "banfháidh O mBriain", meaning "prophetress of Clann UíBriain".

One source qoutes a 12th century text in which Aibheall appears to Brian Boru on the eve of his death, to tell him not only of his death, but which of his sons will succeed him as Rí.

The meaning of her name, as well as her history of appearing to members of Clann UíBriain just prior to their death, place Aoibhell in the realm of Goddess of sovereignity, and protector of both Clann UíBriain and County Clare.

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Sources:

Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, Peter Berresford Ellis,
  Oxford University Press, 1992 ISBN: 0-19-508961-8

Myth, Legend and Romance: An Encyclopedia of Irish Folk Tradition_, D/aith/i OhOg/ain Prentice Hall Press, 1991, ISBN: 0-13-275959-4

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Éirinn / Erin

Mother of Banba, Fotla, and Éire. (Ellis, ibid, p.98)

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Eriu / Éire

One of the triune goddess — Banba, Fotla, & Éire; Ellis says the other two were her sisters.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Fand

by Dawn O'Laoghaire

Known also as the Pearl of Beauty, Fand was the wife of Manannan Mac Lir, the god of the ocean. 1 Fand was the possessor of seven cows and seven sheep. The milk of the cows was sufficient to satisfy the whole of the men of the world and it is the milk on which people who live in the Land of Promise are sustained. The seven sheep provide sufficient wool to clothe all the men of the world and it is the wool with which all the clothes of the men who live in the Land of Promise are made. [2] Fand is described as being very beautiful, with yellow hair, very tall, and having clothes made of many colors. [3]

The most well known tale about Fand is in the Tain and described an affair between Cuchulain and Fand. Fand was attacked by three Fomorri warriors when Manannan was away. Because Fand and Manannan ruled over the oceans, they were particularly vulnerable to attacks from the Fomorri who also lived under the ocean or on offshore islands [4] and whose chaotic nature was anathema to the land of beauty, plenty and stability ruled by Fand and Manannan. Her brother-in-law sends Fand's sister to entreat Cuchulain to come and protect Fand from the warriors and offers him Fand as his lover as a reward. Cuchulain comes and defeats the Fomorri. He then becomes Fand's lover and brings her home to Ulster. Emer, as Cuchulain's first wife, protests the presence of Fand in her home and then attempts to kill Fand when Fand makes an assignation to see Cuchulain again. Manannan arrives and demands that Fand choose between her husband and Cuchulain. Fand chooses her husband and Manannan shakes his cloak between Fand and Cuchulain to ensure that they will not see one another again. [5]

Contributed by Dawn O'Laoghaire

Notes 1. Ellis, Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, p. 95.
2. Gregory, Gods and Fighting Men, p. 117.
3. Gregory, Gods and Fighting Men, p. 119.
4. Dames, Mythic Ireland, p. 187.
5. Ellis, Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, p. 95

Sources

Dames, Michael. Mythic Ireland. London: Thames and Hudson (1992). Library of Congress Card Number 91-67303

Ellis, Peter Berresford. Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO (1992). IBSN 0-87436-609-7

Gregory, Lady Augusta. Gods and Fighting Men. London: John Murray (1904)