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for “fairies.” Most popular is the banshee (bean sídhe), the woman of the fairies. Each of the gods was allotted a sídhe by the Dagda before he gave up leadership of them.
[I] Son of Starn. After the Nemedians’ defeat by the Fomorii, he and his followers fled from Ireland. Upon arriving in Thrace, they were enslaved and became ancestors of the Firbolg. An interesting choice of country, for Thrace was invaded and settled by Celts in the third century b.c., and the kings of Thrace bore Celtic names for several centuries.
[I] The New Testament character makes a surprising appearance in the myths when his sons are said to have raped the goddess Tlachtga.
[I] Daughter of Lir’s son Lodan. She went to the Well of Knowledge at the source of the Shannon, even though it was forbidden. The water of the well rose up and chased her westward and drowned her. The path of the water became the River Shannon, named after her. The story is parallel to that of Boann and the formation of the Boyne.
Gaulish goddess whose name means “star.” She is usually paired with Grannos.
[I] A druid, seer, and smith to whom Niall of the Nine Hostages and his four brothers were sent by Mongfhinn to see what their futures were. Sithchenn enticed them into his forge and set fire to it to see what items they would rescue. When Niall emerged with the anvil, Sithchenn prophesied he would be the greatest High King of Ireland.
[I] Sometimes Slainge. “Health.” He was a son of Partholón and the first physician in Ireland. Another Sláine was the son of Dela the Firbolg who ruled Leinster. He was an enemy of Nemed.
[I] A bull that belonged to the Mórrígán. See Odras.
[I] Anglicised as Sleemish. A mountain situated in Corco Duibhne (Co. Kerry) that was the site of the fabulous fort of Cú Roí. The entrance could never be found after sunset. The fortress was able to revolve like a millstone when Cú Roí uttered the word. It is not to be confused with the mountain in Co. Antrim where St. Patrick passed his youth herding swine.
[I] In Irish sliabh, “mountain.” Mountains, naturally, feature prominently in the myths, especially in Irish mythology, for they
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