Ireland in the fourth century b.c., ruling alternatively with his brothers Dithorba and Cimbaeth. Another was a son of Fionn Mac Cumhail. Then there was a king of Oriel (Airgialla) who carried a shield called Dubhghiolla (Black Servant) on whose rim Badb, one of the goddesses of war, perched in the form of a crow. Aedh was said to be the original name of Goll Mac Morna, the leader of the Fianna who slew Fionn’s father. Another prominent Aedh was the dwarf of Fergus Mac Léide of Ulster, who accompanied the poet Eisirt to the kingdom of the Faylinn, a land of little people ruled by Iubdan.

Another Aedh was son of the god Bodb Dearg. Yet another was son of Ainmire who became High King and made war on the wily Brandubh, king of Leinster. This Aedh was defeated and perished at Brandubh’s hands because he lost a magic cowl that protected him from being wounded or slain in battle. In another version he is slain by Ron Cerr, a spy of Brandubh, while a Christian addition has the cowl given him by St. Colmcille.

Aedh is one of the four children of Lir, the ocean god, who was changed into a swan by his stepmother, Aoife. Another was a son of Miodchaoin. He and his two brothers, Corca and Conn, were slain by the three sons of Tuireann. Yet another was a giant, sometimes given as Aeda. He was a young man, smooth-featured and of surpassing beauty, who bore a red shield and a huge spear. He slew Bebhionn, daughter of Treon of the Land of Maidens, because she refused to wed him. Bebhionn was a beautiful giantess who sought aid from Fionn Mac Cumhail and his Fianna because she had become betrothed to Aedh against her will. After she was slain, the Fianna chased him, but when they reached the sea they found Aedh in a great war galley that was waiting for him and he escaped.

Finally we have Aedh Dubh. He slew the High King Diarmuid Mac Cearbal in the house of Banbán in accordance with a prophecy given by the druid Bec Mac Dé.

Aeí, Plain of

[I] The place of the bull strife at the end of the Táin saga. This was where Donn, the Brown Bull of Cuailgne, and Finnbhenach, the White Horned Bull of Connacht, had their last great battle. They fought for three days and nights before the White Horned Bull was slain, but the Brown Bull was mortally wounded.