medical manuscript books is the Book of the O’Lees (now in the Royal Irish Academy), written in 1443, partly in Irish and partly in Latin. It is a complete system of medicine. The pages are curiously ruled and divided so that the writing forms patterns resembling the astrological zodiacal figures.

Astonishingly, there has been little historical study in this fascinating area of Irish and, indeed, Celtic culture. The first serious study was the paper “Astrology in Ancient Ireland,” given by Muiris Mac Cana (Maurice McCann), a historian of astrology, to the Irish Astrological Association in Dublin, May 27, 1991. His paper was published in the association’s journal, Aspect (1992) and in the astrology journal, Cao Times (New York).

Athairne the Importunate

[I] A druid and poet who is described as an overbearing satirist from Bed Edar (Howth). He was foster father of the poet Amairgen (not the Milesian). Under the laws of hospitality no gift demanded by a poet could be refused. He demanded the eye of the one-eyed King Luain of Connacht. But when he demanded Búan, the wife of Mesgora Mac Da Thó, and was refused, he went to Conchobhar Mac Nessa of Ulster and demanded that Ulster make war on Leinster for its affront to the laws of hospitality. In the war Mac Da Thó is killed.

Áth Liag Fionn

[I] The ford into which Fionn Mac Cumhail threw a flat stone attached to a golden chain that had magical properties. A prophecy said the stone would be found on a Sunday morning that would mark exactly seven years before the world came to an end.

Áth Nurchair

[I] The ford of the Sling Cast in Westmeath. This is where Cet waited in ambush in order to hurl his “brain ball” at Conchobhar Mac Nessa. The slingshot lodged in Conchobhar’s forehead. Fingen, his physician, said if the ball was extracted Conchobhar would die. Seven years later Conchobhar fell into a rage, the ball burst in his head, and he died.

Avagddu

[W] See Afagddu.

Avalon

[W] Annwn, the Otherworld or “Land of the Dead,” “Land of Eternal Youth,” “The Summer Land,” and so on.

Avon Dia

[I] Abhainn Dea, a stretch of river that held back its waves for fear of the mighty duel in the river ford (Ath Ferdia, now Ardee, the ford of Ferdia) between the champions Cúchulainn and Ferdia.