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[I] “Cattle counting.” A tribute exacted from the people of Leinster by the High King Tuathal Teachtmhair as recompense for the actions of Eochaidh, king of Leinster, who insulted Tuathal’s daughters Fithir and Dairne and caused their deaths. Eochaidh was killed by Tuathal, and Leinster agreed to the tribute. It was seldom paid, however, although the title of Brían Bóramha (Brian Boru) (a.d. 941–1014) would indicate that he had successfully imposed the tribute on Leinster during his reign.
Also Bormo, Bormanus. Gaulish deity associated with thermal waters. The name seems to denote seething or turbulent waters. The name survives in several place-names, such as Bournbonne-les-Bains. He is represented with a female companion, Damona, “Divine Cow.” Bors, which could be a variation of this name, is represented in Arthurian legend as a king of Gaul and brother of Ban of Benoic. Professor John Rhys argues that Bors was a synonym for Myrddin (Merlin).
[I] The Bran fleetingly referred to in the Book of Leinster as a son of Lir and brother of Manannán, and a god of the Otherworld, is doubtless cognate with Bran the son of Llyr in Welsh myth. But the more famous Bran of Irish myth is the son of Febal who set out on the famous “voyage tale,” which has been dated to the eighth century a.d. The story, however, is essentially pre-Christian in character. Bran has a vision of a beautiful woman who causes him to set out with his three foster brothers and twenty-seven warriors on a voyage to find the country from which the woman came. After numerous adventures, in which he meets the sea god Manannán Mac Lir, and lands on numerous mystical islands, Bran eventually comes to Tír na mBan, the Land of Women. Here Bran and his men stay. The men grow restless and long to return to Ireland. But they are warned that if they set foot on Ireland they will age suddenly for they have been away many centuries. They set sail, in spite of the warnings. As they near the shore, one of the crew leaps ashore and before their eyes he ages and turns to dust. Bran writes his story on Ogham wands and throws them ashore before turning his ship back into the unknown.
[W] Son of Llyr. Ruler of the Island of the Mighty (Britain), brother of Manawydan and of Branwen. Their story
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