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Dési, who fought seven battles with Cormac Mac Art before his clan was forced into exile because of the action of Aonghus of the Terrible Spear. There was also a king of Leinster who married the daughter of the High King Tuathal Teachtmhaire (a.d. 130–160) but wanted to marry her younger sister. He pretended that his first wife had died and married; when the two sisters found out what had happened they died of shame. Tuathal went to war with Eochaidh and forced him to agree on an annual tribute called the Bóramha. To exact the tribute once in a reign was a point of honour with a High King. The last to do so was Brían (1002–1014), who became known as Brían Bóramha, Anglicised as Brian Boru.
[I] There are four Eoghans who appear in Irish myths. One of them appears as a king of Connacht who is killed by Ulster warriors and buried on the Connacht border, facing Ulster, so that he could protect the kingdom from attack. The second is a king of Munster whose story resembles that of Art. There is Eoghan Mór, the true name of Mug or Mag Nuadat, king of Munster, who forced the High King Conn to split Ireland into two. He then ruled Mug’s Half, the southern half of Ireland. He was eventually defeated and slain by Conn. The most famous was Eoghan Mac Durthacht, a champion of the Red Branch, who slew Naoise and his brothers at the request of Conchobhar Mac Nessa. Conchobhar gave him Deirdre, but she threw herself from his chariot and killed herself.
“The Divine Horse.” One of the more important Gaulish deities, winning favour with the cavalry of the Roman army stationed in Gaul. She may be cognate with Edain Echraidhe in Ireland. She is, in fact, the only Celtic goddess known to have been worshipped in Rome. [See “Le mythe d’Epona,” Henri Hubert, Mélanges linguistiques offerts à M.J. Vendryes, Paris, 1925.]
[W] Sometimes Yrechwydd. An unlocated kingdom in sixth century a.d. north Britain.
[I] Sometimes given as Heremon. The first Milesian king of Ireland. He was the eldest of the surviving sons of Milesius. Amairgen the druid decreed that he should rule Ireland. His brother Eber refused to accept this and the brothers fought. Eremon slew Eber.
[W] Herefordshire, west of the Wye.
[W] Snowdonia in Gwynedd.
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