Fionn, however, still nurses thoughts of revenge, and Diarmuid is eventually slain by a magic boar, fulfilling the destiny ordained at his birth. Fionn could have saved his life but does not do so.

Gráinne at first swears vengeance and begins to train her four sons in skill with arms to kill Fionn. But Fionn woos her and bears her back to his fortress on the Hill of Allen as his bride. Gráinne is well drawn in the Irish myths, and is always consistent, as a wilful, ruthless, and passionate person, rather shallow and neurotic.

Grannos

Gaulish sun god and god of healing who, according to Dio Cassius, was invoked by the emperor Caracalla in a.d. 215. He was usually paired in Gaul with the goddess Sirona, whose name derives from the word for a star. Grannos could be cognate with the Goidelic word for sun—grian. He was invoked in Musselborough in England; in Auvergne, France, he is still remembered in a “nonsense chant” around harvest time. People dance around a harvest festival bonfire with a sheaf of corn, cut and set light to, while the chant is given: “Granno, my friend, Granno, my father, Granno, my mother.”

Grec

[I] A Connacht warrior who rescues Cormac Mac Art, when a baby, from a pack of wolves.

Grey of Macha

[I] Liath Macha. One of Cúchulainn’s two famous horses that were foaled at the same time as he was born. The other was the Black of Sainglenn. Before he went on his final battle foray, the Grey of Macha refused to be saddled and bridled by Cúchulainn and shed tears of blood. During the last fight the beast was wounded by Erc, king of Leinster, but still managed to kill fifty warriors with its feet, and thirty more with its hoofs before it died.

Grian

[I] A solar female deity. Her palace was at Cnoc Gréine at Pailis Gréine (Pallis Green), Co. Limerick.

Grianainech

[I] Synonym for the god Ogma, meaning “sunny countenance.”

Gronwy Pedbyr

[W] Lord of Penllyn, lover of Blodeuwedd, wife of Lleu Llaw Gyffes. Their plot to murder Lleu fails and Lleu slays him.

Grúacach

[I] Often used as a term for an ogre or monster, also an enchanter or wizard. The name signifies hairy, long-haired, or mane.

Grudye

[W] Son of Muryel, one of the seven survivors of the battle between Bran and Matholwch.