A comprehensive dictionary of Irish mythology and legend based on Gods and Fighting Men by Lady Augusta Gregory, first published in 1904 - the characters, deities and places of Irish myth. This is the third part of three, M to Z.
An Irish Myth Concordance
by Mike Nichol
copyright 1985 c.e.
by MicroMuse Press
[This information may be reproduced and distributed exactly as is, without further permission from the author, provided the statement of authorship and copyright are retained, and provided it is offered free of charge. Changes in the text, however, must be approved in advance by the author. MicroMuse Press is a division of The Magick Lantern, 1715 Westport Road, Kansas City, MO 64111. 816/531-7265]
'Myth is what we call other people's religion.'
--Joseph Campbell
The following concordance is based on 'Gods and Fighting Men' by Lady Augusta Gregory, first published in 1904. Page number references are to the 1976 trade paperback edition published by the MacMillan Company of Canada Limited. Brief supplimentary material is taken from 'Dictionary of Irish Myth and Legend' by Ronan Coghlan, published in 1979 by Donard Publishing Comapany, and referenced as 'DIM' in the following text.
As this is intended to be a concordance of the Irish mythological cycle only (as opposed to heroic, legendary, or historical material), references are limited to Part I, Books I - V, of Lady Gregory's volume. 'Gods and Fighting Men' was selected as the primary text for this concordance because it represents the most comprehensive synthesis of variant sources (both published and oral) ever attempted as a continuous narrative of Irish mythology. Lady Gregory lists her published sources as follows:
O'Curry, 'Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish'
'MSS. Materials'
'Atlantis'
De Jubainville, 'Cycle Mythologique'
'Epope'e Celtique'
Hennessy, 'Chronicum Scotorum'
Atkinson, 'Book of Leinster'
'Annals of the Four Masters'
Nennius, 'Hist. Brit.' (Irish Version)
Zimmer, 'Glossae Hibernacae'
Whitley Stokes, 'Three Irish Glossaries'
'Revue Celtique'
'Irische Texte'
'Gaedelica'
'Dinnsenchus'
Nutt, 'Voyage of Bran' 'Proceedings Ossianic Society'
O'Beirne Crowe, 'Arma Columcille'
Dean of Lismore's Book
Windisch, 'Irische Texte'
Hennessy et. al., 'Revue Celtique'
'Kilkenny Archaeological Journal'
Keatinge's 'History'
'Oyia'
Curtin's 'Folk Tales'
'Proceedings Royal Irish Academy'
'MSS. Series'
Dr. Sigerson, 'Bards of Gael and Gall'
Miscellanies, 'Celtic Society'
Muller, 'Revue Celtique'
Standish Hayes O'Grady, 'Silva Gaedelica'
An Irish Myth Concordance: M - Z
MacCecht - styled 'Son of the Plough', he was the husband of Fodhla (71)
MacCuill - styled 'Son of the Hazel', he was the husband of Banba (71)
MacGreine - styled 'Son of the Sun', he was the husband of Eriu (72)
Macha - one of the greatest of the women of the Tuatha de Danaan, she fed on the heads of men slain in battle (27). She, along with Badb and Morrigu , used powers of enchantment to bring mists , clouds of darkness, and showers of fire and blood over the Firbolgs at Teamhair for three days (29). The daughter of Emmass, she was killed by Balor in the second battle of Magh Tuireadh (65).
Maeltine Mor-Brethach - styled 'of the Great Judgments', he was a wise man of the Tuatha De Danaan who advised Lugh not to spare the life of Bres after the second battle of Magh Tuireadh (66)
Magh Cuilenn - (Moy Cullin) the place where some say Uillenn Faebarderg killed Manannan in battle (96)
Magh Luirg - the Plain of Following, it is a place that Lugh passed on his way to do battle with Bres (45)
Magh Mell - (Moy Mal) the Pleasant Plain, in Manannan's country (113)
Magh Mell - the Happy Plain, where Laegaire ruled as king, along with Fiachna (121)
Magh Mor - 'the Great Plain'. See Taillte (68)
Magh Mor an Aonaigh - the Great Plain of the Fair, the place where Lugh and the Riders of the Sidh met Bres and his army of the Fomor in battle (45)
Magh Nia - the second settlement of the Tuatha de Danaan in Ireland, better fortified and farther west in Connacht than Magh Rein (29)
Magh Rein - (Moy Raen) the first settlement of the Tuatha de Danaan in Ireland (28)
Magh Tuireadh (1) - (Moytirra) see First Battle of Magh Tuireadh (31)
Magh Tuireadh (2) - not the same as the place where the battle between the Tuatha De Danaan and the Firbolgs was fought, but to the north, near Ess Dara. It is where the great battle between the Tuatha De Danaan and the Fomor was fought, that was later called the Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh (63)
Mamos - see Figol (62)
Manannan - (Mananuan) son of Lir, a chief of the Tuatha de Danaan who was greater even than their king, Nuada (27). His sons are Donall Donn-Ruadh, Sgoith Gleigeil, Goitne Gorm-Shuileach, and Sine Sindearg (41). Manannan understtod all enchantments, so the Tuatha de Danaan left it to him to find places for them where they would be safe from their enemies. He chose the most beautiful hills and valleys of Ireland and put hidden walls about them (77). He helped Angus to get the Brugh na Boinne away from the Dagda by trickery (81). Aine may have been his daughter (86). Some say he was killed by Uillenn Faebarderg in battle at Magh Cuilenn (96). He raised Deirdre's children, taught Diarmuid the use of weapons, taught Cuchulain the use of the Gae Bulg. Some say he was Deirdre's father and a shape-changer, and was Culain, the Smith (97). He was the major sea god, ruling Tir Tairngiri. His wife was Fand (DIM).
Mata - the Sea-Turtle that could suck down a man in armour (80)
Mathgen - the great magician of the Tuatha de Danaan who had the power to topple mountains onto his enemies (61)
Mechi - the son of the Morrigu, he was killed by MacCecht (85)
Miach - son of Diancecht and brother of Airmed, he was better at healing than his father. He replaced the silver hand that Diancecht had fashioned for Nuada with Nuada's original hand and healed it. Diancecht, jealous of his son's healing powers, killed him. But 365 healing herbs sprang up from his grave (34).
Mide - the son of Brath, he kindled the first fire that was ever kindled in Ireland, at Uisnech, for the sons of Nemed (68)
Midhe - (Mee) the plain of Midhe was the place Taillte was buried with a mound raised over her grave (68). Also see Uisnech of Midhe (58)
Midhir (1) - of Bri Leith, styled 'the Proud', he was considered for kingship of the Tuatha de Danaan after their defeat (77). His first wife was Fuamach, his daughter was Bri, and his second wife was Etain (88).
Midhir (2) - styled 'of the Yellow Hair', he was chief of the Men of Dea. His three daughters, Doirenn, Aife, and Aillbhe, were given as wives to the three sons of Lugaidh Menn (79).
Midsummer Day - when the first battle between the Firbolgs and the Tuatha de Danaan began, which lasted for four days (30)
Miled - the sons of Miled, including Amergin (71), Eremon (72), Arranan, Donn, Ir, Heremon, Colpa, and Heber (73), led the invasion of the race of the Sons of the Gael into Ireland (71). His wife was Scota (75).
Miochaoin - killed by Brian, he was guardian of the Hill of Miochaoin (q.v.) and, along with his sons (Corc, Conn, and Aedh), he was under bonds not to allow any shouts to be given from that hill. Cian got his learning with them (49)
Men of Dea - see Tuatha de Danaan (27)
Men of the Bag - see Firbolgs (28)
Modharn - see Aine (79)
Morias - one of the four wise men and teachers of the Tuatha de Danaan before they came to Ireland. His home was Falias (27).
Mor-Loch - one of the twelve chief lochs of Ireland (q.v.) (62)
Morrigu - one of the greatest of the women of the Tuatha de Danaan, she was styled 'the Crow of Battle' (27) or 'the Battle-Crow (61). She, along with Badb and Macha , used powers of enchantment to bring mists , clouds of darkness, and showers of fire and blood over the Firbolgs at Teamhair for three days (29). After the second battle of Magh Tuireadh, only four men of the Fomor were left in Ireland, and they were driven out one Samhain night by Morrigu and Angus Og. She also proclaimed the news of the victory to the hosts and the royal heights of Ireland and to its chief rivers and invers (67). Mechi was her son (85). Aine may have been her daughter (86).
Mother of the Gods - see Dana (28)
Muaid - one of the twelve chief rivers of Ireland (q.v.) (62)
Muirne - daughter of Ethlinn and Tadg and sister of Tuiren and mother of Finn (68)
Muirthemne - see Plain of Muirthemne (43)
Murias - styled 'rich', the southern-most of the four cities of the Tuatha de Danaan before they came to Ireland. Its teacher was Senias, and its treasure was the Cauldron (27)
Nas - the place where Lugh held his court following the second battle of Magh Tuireadh (68)
Nechtan (1) - on the advice of the Druid Findgol l, to deceive King Bres, who taxed his people of the milk of all dun cows, he singed all the cows of Ireland in a fire of fern, making them dark brown. (32). He was the husband of Boann (DIM).
Nechtan (2) - the son of Collbrain, he begged Bran to leave Emhain and return to Ireland but, upon reaching shore, he crumbled to ashes (106)
Neid - see Eab and Seanchab (42)
Neit - he was a chief among the Tuatha de Danaan, and a god of battle (27)
Nem - one of the twelve chief rivers of Ireland (q.v.) (62)
Nemed - see Island of the Tower of Glass (38). The first fire ever kindled in Ireland (at Uisnech, by Mide) was for the sons of Nemed (68).
Nemnach - a well on the Hill of the Sidhe, out of which flowed the stream called Nith (31)
Nemthann - one of the twelve chief mountains of Ireland (q.v.) (62)
Nes - a magical spear made by Goibniu that would burn up like fire anyone whom it struck (65)
Net - husband of Badb, an early Irish god of war (DIM)
Niall - a champion of Connacht, he was drowned while attempting to pursue Cailcheir through a lake (81)
Nine Poets of the Fomor - among the chief men of the Fomor, they had learning and the gift of foreknowledge (42)
Nith - flowing from the well of Nemnach, it was the stream on which the first mill in Ireland was built (31)
Nuada - king of the Tuatha de Danaan when they first came to Ireland (27). He lost his arm in the first battle of Magh Tuireadh and hence, he lost the kingship (31). Diancecht fashioned an articulated arm of silver for him and he was called Nuada Argat-lamh, of the Silver Hand, for ever after (34), even though Miach later restored his original hand (34). After that, he was restored to the kingship (35). The father of Tadg (68) and Gaible (81), he was killed by Balor in the second battle of Magh Tuireadh (65)
Octriallach - son of Indech, he was one of the Fomor who took part in the Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh (61) On his advice, the Fomor threw stones into the well of Slane until it was dried up and a cairn raised over it, that was called Octriallach's Cairn (64). He killed Cassmail in the second battle of Magh Tuireadh (65).
Octriallach's Cairn - see Octriallach (64)
Octruil - the son of Diancecht and brother of Airmed, he helped them in their healing work at the well of Slaine (64)
Ogham - the stone raised over Cian's grave had his name written on it in Ogham (47), the script of pre-Christian Ireland which was invented by Ogma (DIM)
Ogma - styled 'the shining poet' (32), father of Tuireann (43) and brother of Nuada, he was a champion among the Tuatha de Danaan (37), and taught them writing (27) He found the sword Orna at the second battle of Magh Tuireadh (66)
Oilell - of Aran, his three daughters were Aobh, Aoife, and Ailbhe (124)
Olioll - see Cian (114)
Orna - the sword of Tethra found by Ogma at the second battle of Magh Tuireadh, it had the power to tell of all the deeds that had been done by it (66)
Pisear - the King of Persia killed by Brian (54), he was the owner of the Luan, a deadly spear that was among the payments that Lugh demanded from the sons of Tuireann for the death of Cian (49)
Plain of Muirthemne - the place where Cian was killed by the sons of Tuireann (43)
Plain of the Two Mists - a beautiful plain where Goll fell in battle against Laegaire (122)
Plain of Victory - in Manannan's country (114)
Pleasant Plain - see Magh Mell (113)
Prison of the Grey of Macha - in the house of the Dagda at the Brugh na Boinne (80)
Rachlainn - in the sea, from which a young man of the Tuatha gave the sons of Lugaidh Menn magical wedding gifts (79)
Rath Chobtaige - between this rath and Teamhair was the rath given by Angus Og to the sons of Lugaidh Menn (79)
Rath of Aedh of the Poets - see Aedh (78)
Red Branch of Ulster - Conall Cearnach was of that line (75)
Riagall - see Camel (37)
Rider of the Wave of Tuaidh - mentioned briefly in Ethne's complaint (58)
Riders of the Fomor - from Lochlann, seven battalions of them accompanied Bres to do battle against Lugh (42)
Riders of the Sidh - from the Land of Promise, they accompanied Lugh on his return to Teamhair (41), and again in his battle with Bres and his army of the Fomor at Magh Mor an Aonaigh (45)
Rogh - see Fergus (75)
Ruadan - son of Bres and of Brigit, he was sent to spy on the Tuatha De Danaan during the second battle of Magh Tuireadh, but was killed by Goibniu after he tried to kill him (64)
Rudrach - he and his brother Dergcroche were the two kings of Inislocha (117)
Ruide - along with Eochaid and Fiacha, one of the sons of Lugaidh Menn, King of Ireland (78)
Ruirtech - one of the twelve chief rivers of Ireland (q.v.) (62)
Sal - see Eochaid (121)
salmon of knowledge, five - see hazels of wisdom (28)
Samair - one of the twelve chief rivers of Ireland (q.v.) (62)
Samhain - (Sow-in) after the Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh, only four men of the Fomor were left in Ireland, and they were driven out one Samhain night by Morrigu and Angus Og (67)
Samthainn - brother of Cian and Goibniu, he lived with them at Druim na Teine (39)
Scathniamh - (Scau-nee-av) styled 'the Flower of Brightness', she was a daughter of Bodb Dearg who gave her love to Caoilte (80)
Sceilg Michill - the small island where Ir was buried (73)
Scetne - the place where the host of the Fomor landed in Ireland just before the Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh (60)
Scota - the wife of Miled, she was killed in the first battle fought between the Tuatha De Danaan and the Sons of the Gael (75)
Scuabtuine - styled 'the Sweeper of the Waves', it was Manannan's curragh, which was often used by Lugh and kept at Brugh na Boinn (50)
Seanchab - grandson of Neid, he was one of the chief men of the Fomor (42)
Sean-Slieve - Lugh passed the head of it on his way to do battle with Bres (45)
Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh - at Magh Tuireadh (2), it is where the great battle between the Tuatha De Danaan and the Fomor took place (63), after which there were only four men of the Fomor left in Ireland, till they were driven out one Samhain night by Morrigu and Angus Og (67)
Segois - one of the twelve chief mountains of Ireland (q.v.) (62)
Senias - one of the four wise men and teachers of the Tuatha De Danaan before they came to Ireland. His home was Murias (27).
Sgoith Gleigeil - styled 'the White Flower', he was one of the sons of Manannan. His brothers included Goitne Gorm-Shuileach, Sine Sindearg, and Donall Donn-Ruadh. His foster brother was Lugh (41).
Shannon - a river containing the ford of Athluain (45), it was named after Sionan, one of the only women (probably a goddess) to eat of the salmon of knowledge (DIM)
Sidhe Femen - (Shee -----) home of Bodb Dearg, and he put great enchantments about it (77)
Sidhe Fionnachaidh - the Hill of the White Field, on Slieve Fuad; the home of Lir (77)
Sine Sindearg - styled 'of the Red Ring', he was one of the sons of Manannan. His brothers included Sgoith Gleigeil, Goitne Gorm-Shuileach, and Donall Donn-Ruadh. His foster brother was Lugh (41).
Siogair - see Dobar (49)
Sionnan - one of the twelve chief rivers of Ireland (q.v.) (62), a variant of Shannon (q.v.)
Sital Salmhor - one of the chief men of the Fomor (42)
Siuir - one of the twelve chief rivers of Ireland (q.v.) (62)
Slaine - lying to the west of Magh Tuireadh (2) to the east of Loch Arboch, the well of Slaine was used by Diancecht, Octruil, and Airmed to restore to lifethe slain warriors of the Tuatha De Danaan in the second battle of Magh Tuireadh (64)
Slane - vaiant of Slaine (q.v.) (64)
Slieve Bladma - (Sleev ------) one of the twelve chief mountains of Ireland (q.v.) (62)
Slieve Cuailgne - the place where Cuailgne was killed (75)
Slieve Eibhline - the place where the Sons of the Gael met Fodhla (71)
Slieve Fuad - the place where Fuad was killed (75), and the location of Sidhe Fionnachaidh (77)
Slieve Leag - one of the twelve chief mountains of Ireland (q.v.) (62)
Slieve Macca Belgodon - one of the twelve chief mountains of Ireland (q.v.) (62)
Slieve Mis - one of the twelve chief mountains of Ireland (q.v.) (62), it is where the Sons of the Gael met Banba, and Amergin talked with her (71)
Slieve Snechtae - one of the twelve chief mountains of Ireland (q.v.) (62)
Sligech - one of the twelve chief rivers of Ireland (q.v.) (62)
Sons of the Gael - also called the sons of Gaedhal, they came from the south to invade Ireland and avenge the death of Ith, one of their race who had come to Ireland before and met his death there (71)
Spear of Victory - one of the four great treasures the Tuatha De Danaan brought to Ireland from the north. It came from the city of Finias (27).
Sreng - a great fighting man of the Firbolgs, he was sent to meet the Tuatha De Danaan when they first came to Ireland (28). He led the forces of the Firbolgs after King Eochaid fell (31), and it was he that struck off Nuada's arm (31).
Stone of Virtue - the Lia Fail (q.v.) (27)
streams of wisdom, seven - see hazels of wisdom (28)
Sweetheart of the Sidhe - see Leanan Sidhe (86)
Sword - one of the four great treasures the Tuatha De Danaan brought to Ireland from the north. It came from the city of Gorias (27).
Tabarn - see Cathmann (114)
Tadg (1) - (Teig) son of Nuada and husband of Ethlinn and, by her, father of Muirne and Tuiren (68)
Tadg (2) - the son of Cianand and brother of Airnelach and Eoghan, he went to the Land of the Ever-Living Ones (114) on his journey to rescue his wife, Liban, and his two brothers (120)
Taillte - daughter of the king of Magh Mor and wife of Duach and foster-mother of Lugh, she died during Lugh's kingship and was buried on the plain of Midhe and is honored each summer by fires and keening and games and sports at the place called Taillten (68)
Taillten - named after Taillte, it is the place where fires, keening, games and sports are held each summer in her honor (68)
Tailltin - (probably a variant of Taillten) it is the place Eriu's forces were driven back to during the first battle between the Sons of the Gael and the Tuatha De Danaan, and where the Battle of Tailltin (q.v.) was subsequently fought (75)
Tarba - the oak-wood where Niall caught up with Cailcheir (81)
Teamhair - (T'yower, or Tavvir) residence of Eochaid when the Tuatha de Danaan first came to Ireland (28). The Tuatha de Danaan took possession of it after the first battle of Magh Tuireadh, and from that time it was the chief place of Ireland, for its king was the High King. It was sometimes called Druim Cain, the Beautiful Ridge, and Liath-druim, the Grey Ridge, and Druim na Descan, the Ridge of the Outlook. The king's rath lay to the north (31). The Dagda made his home here after losing the Brugh na Boinne to Angus (82)
Tethra - a king of the Fomor, he owned the sword called Orna that was later found by Ogma (66)
Three Gods of Craftsmanship - Credne, Luchtar, and Goibniu (DIM)
Tiabhal - one of the Queens of the sea, her image was placed by Culain on Conchubar's magical shield (98)
Tir Tairngaire - the Land of Promise, Manannan's country (111)
Tir-nam-Beo - the Land of the Ever-Living Ones, Manannan's country (113)
Tower of Glass - on the Island of the Tower of Glass (q.v.), it was the home of Balor (38)
Traig Mor - the Great Strand, in Manannan's country (114)
Traigh Eothaile - the strand where King Eochaid fell in the battle against the Tuatha de Danaan. He was buried there with a great heap of stones raised over his grave (30).
Treon - of the Tuatha De Danaan; see Gebann (119)
Trogain - see Fertuinne (79)
Tuag - fosterling of Conaire the High King, she was loved by Manannan, but his pupil Fer Ferdiad failed in his attempt to bring her to Manannan, and the girl drowned (98)
Tuaidh - see Rider of the Wave of Tuaidh (58)
Tuatha de Danaan - (Too-a-ha-dae Donnan) styled 'the Men of Dea', the people of the gods of Dana who came from the North through the air in a mist to Ireland (27). They landed in north-west Connacht on Beltaine (28).
Tuirbe - father of Goibniu the Smith, he was famous for the cast of his axe (81)
Tuireann - son of Ogma, his own three sons were Brian, Iuchar, and Iucharba (47) and his daughter was Ethne. His sons had a long-standing feud with the three sons of Cainte and they killed Cian on the Plain of Muirthemne (43)
Tuiren - daughter of Ethlinn and Tadg, sister of Muirne, and mother of Bran (68)
Tuis - the King of Greece, killed by Brian (53), he was owner of a healing pig-skin that was among the payments that Lugh demanded from the sons of Tuireann for the death of Cian (48)
Tulach na Bela - 'the Hill of the Axe', place from which Tuirbe would cast his axe (81)
twelve chief lochs of Ireland - they are Derc-Loch, Loch Luimnech, Loch Orbsen, Loch Righ, Loch Mescdhae, Loch Cuan, Loch Laeig, Loch Echach, Loch Febail, Loch Decket, Loch Riach, and Mor-Loch (62)
twelve chief mountains of Ireland - they are Slieve Leag, Denda Ulad, Bennai Boirche, Bri Ruri, Slieve Bladma, Slieve Snechtae, Slieve Mis, Blai-Slieve, Nemthann, Slieve Macca Belgodon, Segois, and Cruachan Aigle (62)
twelve chief rivers of Ireland - they are the Buas, the Boinn, the Banna, the Nem, the Laoi, the Sionnan, the Muaid, the Sligech, the Samair, the Fionn, the Ruirtech and the Siuir (62)
Uaitne - also called Dur-da-Bla and Coir-cethar-chuin, it was the Dagda's magic harp which was taken by the Fomor during the second battle of Magh Tuireadh. Lugh and the Dagda and Ogma went to retrieve it. When the Dagda called to it, it sprang toward him, killing nine men of the Fomor on its way. The Dagda then played the sleeping strain and as the Fomor slept, he restored to Ireland all the cattle that the Fomor had taken in tribute. (67)
Uillenn Faebarderg - of the Red Edge, some say he killed Manannan in battle at Magh Cuilenn (96).
Uisnech - mentioned briefly in Ethne's complaint (58), the place where the five provinces meet, and the first place there was ever a fire kindled in Ireland (by Mide). Some say that Lugh died there (68). The hill of Uisnech is where the Sons of the Gael met Eriu, and Eremon spoke with her (72).
Ullad Echne - it lay to the south of the river Unius (61)
Un - the husband of Fais (75)
Unius - a river of Connacht where the Morrigu was washing herself when the Dagda returned from the camp of the Fomor (61). The foot of the Unius was called the Ford of Destruction since the second battle of Magh Tuireadh (66)
Urias - styled 'of the noble nature', one of the four wise men and teachers of the Tuatha de Danaan before they came to Ireland. His home was Gorias (27).
Valley of Fais - a valley at the foot of a mountain, it is were Fais was killed (75)
Valley of the Mata - near the house of the Dagda at Brugh na Boinne (80)
Wall of the Three Whispers - in Teamhair, it was near the House of the Women (31)
Wave of Tuaidh - see Rider of the Wave of Tuaidh (58)
Whisper of the Men of Dea - see Grellach Dollaid (40)