A name anciently applied to Ireland, mentioned by Rufus Festus Avienius (ca. fourth century a.d.) in an account of the voyage of Himilco the Phoenician in 510 b.c.
In Celtic literature there is little evidence of human sacrifice being practised except in a story in the Dinnsenchas tract (Book of Leinster), which speaks of children being sacrificed to Cromm Cruach, an idol set up by Tighernmas on Magh Slécht. The story is put forward as an aberration rather than a norm. Cromm Cruach was quickly overthrown.
[I] Daughter of Bodb Dearg. She was turned into a fawn by the “Dark Druid.” One day, hunting near the Hill of Allen, Fionn Mac Cumhaill came across a fawn and his two hounds refused to kill it. Another version has Fionn crushing his hound to death between his legs to prevent it from killing the fawn. That night the fawn takes on Sadb’s mortal form and becomes Fionn’s mistress. They live happily for a while until the Dark Druid discovers them and turns Sadb back into a fawn. She vanishes and Fionn searches Ireland until, near Ben Bulben, he finds a naked boy who has been raised by a fawn. Fionn recognises in him his son by Sadb and calls him Oisín (Little Fawn).
[I] “Bitch of evil,” one of the hounds of Cromm Dubh.
[I] Son of Imbath and father of Macha who cursed the men of Ulster.
[I] Son of a king of Greece who, when his father died, was sent into exile in Ireland and then joined the Fianna. The Fianna restored him to his kingdom but not before he had been mortally wounded and restored to life by a magic cup.
[I] See Fintan.
[W] The oldest and wisest of living things, who eventually tells Culhwch where Mabon is being held prisoner.
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