child. Years later a young warrior named Conlaí arrived in Ulster. Cúchulainn challenged and slew him, not knowing, until the boy was dying, that he was his own son by Aoife.

The second Aoife is the second daughter of Ailill of Aran. She was foster daughter of the Bodb Dearg. On the death of her elder sister, Aobh, she married the ocean god Lir and became stepmother to her sister’s four children. She was jealous of them and ordered her attendants to slay them. When they refused she used magic to change them into swans. The children of Lir, in swan shape, had to spend a total of 900 years on various waters. According to the enchantment, when a southern princess married a northern prince, they would be released from the spell. When the Bodb Dearg found out what Aoife had done, he changed her into a demon of the air and no more was heard of her. See also Lir.

The third Aoife was the lover of Ilbrec, son of Manannán Mac Lir. She was changed into a crane and while in this form was killed. Her skin was used to make the Treasure Bag of the Fianna, sometimes called “The Crane Bag.” See Treasure Bag of the Fianna.

Aoi Mac Ollamain

[I] See Aí.

Aonbharr

[I] A magical horse that could travel on land and sea.

Aoncos

[I] An Otherworld island that was supported on a single pillar of silver rising out of the sea. It was seen by Mael Dúin on his fabulous voyage.

Aonghus

[I] Of the six prominent characters in Irish myth who bear the name Aonghus, it is the love god, Aonghus Óg, who first comes to mind. He was son of the Dagda and Boann and his palace was Brugh na Boinne at New Grange by the River Boyne. He was of beautiful appearance, and four birds, representing his kisses, always hovered around his head. In the story “The Dream of Aonghus,” Aonghus Óg saw a beautiful maiden in a dream and fell sick for the love of her. He asked his mother for help, and she enlisted the help of the Bodb Dearg, her brother. The girl was identified as Cáer Ibormeith, daughter of Ethal Anubhail of the Dé Danaan of Connacht. Aonghus Óg asked Ailill and Medb, rulers of Connacht, to persuade Ethal Anubhail to give him his daughter. But Ethal Anubhail said it was not in his power to do this because Cáer lived in the shape of a swan and on the Feast of Samhain would be found with 150 other swans swimming on Loch Bel Dragon (Lake of the