Goll

[I] The name means “blind of one eye” or “one-eyed,” and therefore we meet several people of this name in Irish mythology, most of them unsavoury characters. We have the son of Garb the Fomorii, whose wife, Lot, has bloated lips in her breasts and four eyes in her back. His son was Cichol Gricenchos. Then there is Goll Mac Golb, ruler of Magh Mell, who abducted the wife of Fiachna Mac Retach. He was finally slain by Laoghaire Mac Crimthann, who rescued Fiachna’s wife and married their daughter Dér Gréine (tear of the sun). But the most Goll of them all was Goll Mac Morna, leader of the Fianna before Fionn Mac Cumhail. He slew Fionn’s father, Cumal, to gain leadership of the Fianna. He married Fionn’s daughter, Cebha, and features prominently in the tales of the Fenian Cycle. Goll eventually slew Cairell, Fionn’s son. He fled, was pursued, and was finally trapped by the Fianna. Refusing to surrender, he died after twelve days from lack of food.

Golwg Hafddydd

[W] “Aspect of a Summer’s Day.” Maid to Esyllt and lover of Kae Hir, a companion of Trystan.

Gonemans

[W] A warrior who trains Peredur.

Gorias, City of

[I] One of the four great cities of the Dé Danaan—Falias, Finias, Gorias, and Murias. It was from Gorias that Lugh brought his invincible sword.

Gorm Glas

[I] “Blue green.” Conchobhar Mac Nessa’s sword.

Gorsedd

A bardic gathering, thought to derive from uerensed, a high seat. In Welsh myth the Gorsedd of Arberth is mentioned and Taliesin is claimed as founding an Order of Bards of Britain. Edward Williams (Iolo Morganwyg) inaugurated a Gorsedd ceremony on June 21, 1792. In this he claimed to have revived the rituals of the druids in their nature worship. At Carmarthen, in 1819, the Gorsedd ceremony became an integral part of the Eisteddfod, in spite of criticism by scholars. Today, after two centuries, the Gorsedd Cymru has become, of itself, a historical tradition, presenting a unique and colourful national spectacle. In 1901 the Bretons inaugurated a Breton Gorsedd (Gorzez Breizh), and in 1928 the Cornish Gorsedd (Gorseth Kernow) came into being. In September 1971 it was agreed that the three Gorseddau—the Gorsedd of the Bards of the Isle of Britain—while retaining their independence in domestic matters, should recognise the supreme authority of the Archdruid of Wales.