Seanchas
The Codex
The people, gods, treasures and ideas of the old tales. Each entry says where it comes from.
People
- Ailbhe Ailbhe · Old Irish Ailbe Cormac’s daughter: the first price of the silver branch.
- Ailill Ánguba Ailill Ánguba · also Ailill Anglonnach Eochaid Airem’s brother, sick with love for Étaín.
- Ailill mac Máta King of Connacht, Medb’s husband.
- Ailill of Aran Ailill Árann Father of Aobh, Aoife and Ailbhe.
- Amairgen Amairgen · modern Aimhirgin The poet of the sons of Míl.
- Aobh Eldest foster-daughter of Bodb Dearg, and mother of Lir’s four children.
- Aodh Aodh · Old Irish Áed Fionnuala’s twin. His name means “fire”.
- Aoife Aoife · Old Irish Aífe Lir’s second wife, who turned his children into swans.
- Bodhmall Bodhmall · Old Irish Bodbmall The druid woman who reared Fionn in the forest.
- Bran mac Febail The voyager who woke with a silver branch.
- Bres Breas · Old Irish Bres The beautiful king of the Tuatha Dé who gave nothing, son of a Fomorian king.
- Bricriu Nemthenga Bricriu of the Poison Tongue, the troublemaker of the Ulster tales.
- Cael ua Nemhnainn Cael ua Neamhnainn A young warrior of the Fianna who won Créde with a poem, and was drowned at Ventry.
- Caílte mac Rónáin Caoilte mac Rónáin · older spelling Caílte The swift runner of the Fianna, who outlived them and told their stories to St Patrick.
- Cairbre Lifechair Cairbre Lifeachair Cormac’s son, taken by the stranger with the silver branch.
- Cairenn Cairenn Chasdubh · Middle Irish Cairenn Casdub Niall’s mother, made to draw the water of Tara.
- Cathbad Cathbhadh · Old Irish Cathbad The druid of Emain Macha, who named Cú Chulainn.
- Charles Bunworth Rector of Buttevant, harper, and friend of the travelling harpers.
- Cian Lugh’s father, stoned to death by the sons of Tuireann.
- Coirpre Coirpre mac Étaíne Poet of the Tuatha Dé Danann, who made the first satire in Ireland.
- Conaire Mór King of Tara, begotten by a man who came as a bird, whose golden reign ended at Da Derga’s Hostel.
- Conall Cernach Conall Cearnach · Old Irish Conall Cernach One of the three great champions of Ulster.
- Conchobar mac Nessa Conchúr mac Neasa · Old Irish Conchobar mac Nessa King of Ulster, at Emain Macha.
- Conn Twin of Fiachra, the youngest of Lir’s children.
- Conn of the Hundred Battles Conn Céadchathach · Old Irish Conn Cétchathach King of Ireland, whose son Connla went away in a boat of crystal.
- Connla Conla Rua · Old Irish Condla Rúad The son of Conn of the Hundred Battles, called away by a woman only he could see.
- Corann Corann · Old Irish Corán The druid of Conn of the Hundred Battles, who sang against a voice from the other world.
- Cormac mac Airt The wise king of Tara.
- Créde Créidhe · Old Irish Créde The woman of the síd at Loch Cuire who married Cael, and died of grief beside him.
- Crunniuc Crunniuc mac Agnomain The rich man of the Ulster hills whose boast made Macha race the king’s horses.
- Cú Chulainn Cú Chulainn · as a boy, Sétanta The Hound of Culann: the great hero of the Ulster tales.
- Cú Roí mac Dáiri Cú Raoi mac Dáire · Old Irish Cú Roí mac Dáiri A king of Munster and a master of disguise, the last judge of the champions of Ulster.
- Culann The smith whose hound gave Cú Chulainn his name.
- Cumhall Cumhall · Old Irish Cumall Fionn’s father, who fought for the leadership of the Fianna and died for it at Cnucha.
- Deirdre Deirdre · Old Irish Derdriu The girl who screamed before she was born, and chose her own love over a king.
- Deoch Deoch iníon Fhinghín Daughter of Fingin, king of Munster: the woman of the south.
- Diarmuid Ua Duibhne Diarmaid Ua Duibhne The Fianna’s great lover and champion, foster-son of Aengus.
- Diurán Diurán the Rhymer, who cut a piece from the silver net and laid it on the altar of Armagh.
- Donn son of Míl Donn mac Míled The eldest son of Míl, who said he owed Ireland to no one, and did not live to enjoy it.
- Eithne the Long-sided Eithne Thaobhfhada · Old Irish Eithne Tháebfhota Cormac’s queen, and the last of the three that Manannán took.
- Elatha King of the Fomorians, and father of Bres.
- Emer Eimhear · Old Irish Emer Cú Chulainn’s wife, the daughter of Forgall the Wily.
- Eochaid Airem Eochaidh Aireamh · Old Irish Eochaid Airem King of Tara, husband of Étaín: the Ploughman.
- Eochaid mac Eirc The king of the Fir Bolg when the Tuatha Dé Danann came, who dreamed of black birds.
- Eochaid Mugmedón Eochaidh Muighmheadhon · Old Irish Eochaid Mugmedón King of Ireland, father of Niall and of the four sons of Mongfind.
- Eogan mac Durthacht Eoghan mac Durthacht · Old Irish Eogan mac Durthacht King of Fernmag, and the killer of Naoise.
- Étaín Éadaoin · Old Irish Étaín The woman born twice: wife of Midir in the síd, then queen of Tara.
- Fedelm The prophetess of Connacht who saw Medb’s host crimson with blood.
- Ferdiad Fear Diadh · Old Irish Fer Diad Cú Chulainn’s foster-brother, who fought him for four days at the ford.
- Fergus mac Róich The Ulster hero whose guarantee was broken, and who went over to Connacht.
- Fiacha mac Congha Cumhall’s trusted man, whose spear kept the boy Fionn awake at Tara.
- Fiachra Twin of Conn: the younger pair of Lir’s children.
- Finnéces Finnéces · often Finnegas The poet who waited seven years for the salmon of knowledge.
- Fionn mac Cumhaill Fionn mac Cumhaill · Old Irish Find mac Cumaill Leader of the Fianna: poet, hunter and seer. In later folklore, a giant.
- Fionnuala Fionnuala · Old Irish Finnguala The eldest of the Children of Lir. Her name means “fair shoulder”.
- Fuamnach Midir’s first wife, who turned Étaín into a fly.
- Goll mac Morna The one-eyed warrior who killed Fionn’s father.
- Gráinne Cormac’s daughter, who would not marry a man older than her father.
- Indech Indech mac Dé Domnann King of the Fomorians at the second battle of Mag Tuired.
- Ingcél the One-eyed Ingcél The one-eyed son of the king of Britain, who led the reavers against Da Derga’s Hostel.
- Íth Son of Bregon, who saw Ireland from a tower in Spain and paid for praising it.
- Láeg Láeg mac Riangabra · also Lóeg Cú Chulainn’s charioteer.
- Lairgnéan Lairgnéan mac Colmáin King of Connacht: the man of the north.
- Leborcham Leabharcham · Old Irish Leborcham The satirist no door could be shut against, who told Deirdre the name of Naoise.
- Liath Luachra The Grey One of Luachair: the warrior woman who helped rear Fionn.
- Lir Lear · Old Irish Ler Lord of Síd Fionnachaidh, father of the four swans.
- Lóegaire Búadach Laoghaire Buadhach · Old Irish Lóegaire Búadach Lóegaire the Triumphant, eldest of the three champions of Ulster.
- Mac Cécht Conaire’s champion, who went round the great rivers and lakes of Ireland for a cup of water.
- Máel Dúin Maol Dúin · Old Irish Máel Dúin The son of a raider and a nun, who put to sea to avenge his father and was three years and seven months among the islands of the ocean.
- Medb Méabh · Old Irish Medb Queen of Connacht, who went to war for the Brown Bull of Cúailnge.
- Mess Buachalla The cowherds’ foster-child: cast out as a baby, and mother of Conaire Mór.
- Mochaomhóg The holy man whose bell ended the swans’ enchantment.
- Mongán Mongán mac Fiachnai The son Manannán foretold, born to a mortal mother.
- Mongfind Mongfhionn · Old Irish Mongfind Eochaid’s queen, who hated Niall and set his mother to draw the water of Tara.
- Muirne Fionn’s mother: “Muirne of the fair neck”.
- Naoise Naoise · Old Irish Noísiu A son of Uisliu: singer, hunter, warrior, and the man Deirdre chose.
- Nera The man who followed the sídhe into the cave of Cruachan.
- Niall of the Nine Hostages Niall Naoighiallach · Old Irish Niall Noígíallach King of Tara, from whom the Uí Néill took their name and their claim to the kingship.
- Oisín Fionn’s son, the poet of the Fianna, who went to Tír na nÓg and came home three hundred years too late.
- Oonagh Úna Fionn’s wife in the folk tale, and the cleverest person in it.
- Oscar Oscar · older spelling Osgar Oisín’s son and Fionn’s grandson: the young champion who stood by Diarmuid.
- Saint Patrick Pádraig · Old Irish Pátraic Ireland’s patron saint, and in the later tales the last listener of the Fianna.
- Sithchenn Druid, prophet and smith of Tara, who judged the sons of Eochaid by fire.
- Sreng Champion of the Fir Bolg, who struck off Nuada’s arm and won Connacht for his people.
- Sualtam Cú Chulainn’s father, whose severed head went on crying the warning in Emain.
- Torna Torna Éigeas · Middle Irish Torna Éices The poet who found the newborn Niall on the green of Tara and fostered him.
- Tuireann Father of Brian, Iuchar and Iucharba.
Gods
- Aengus Óg Aonghus Óg · the Mac Óc The young god of the Brú: lover and trickster.
- Airmed Daughter of Dian Cécht, who sorted the herbs that grew from her brother’s grave.
- Banba Banba · Keating spells it Banbha The first of the three queens who asked that Ireland bear her name.
- Boann Bóinn The woman who became the river Boyne.
- Bodb Dearg Bodhbh Dearg · Old Irish Bodb Derg Son of the Dagda, chosen king of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
- Brigid Bríd · Old Irish Brigit Saint, and perhaps goddess, of 1 February.
- The Dagda An Daghda · Old Irish in Dagda “The good god”: father, druid and king of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
- Dian Cécht Dian Céacht · Old Irish Dian Cécht Physician of the Tuatha Dé Danann, who made Nuada’s hand of silver.
- Ériu Ériu · modern Éire The woman whose name became Ireland’s.
- Fódla Fódla · Old Irish Fótla The second of the three queens who asked that Ireland bear her name.
- Goibniu The smith of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
- Lugh Lugh · Old Irish Lug The god of many skills.
- Manannán mac Lir “Son of the sea”: lord of the Otherworld across the water.
- Miach The physician who gave Nuada back his own hand, and was killed for it.
- Midir Midhir · Old Irish Midir Lord of the síd of Brí Léith, who came back for the wife he had lost.
- The Morrígan An Mhór-Ríon · Old Irish Morrígan Goddess of battle and prophecy.
- Nechtan Neachtan · Old Irish Nechtan Lord of the síd where the Boyne rises, and keeper of the secret well.
- Nuada of the Silver Hand Nuada Airgeadlámh · Old Irish Nuadu Argatlám King of the Tuatha Dé Danann, who lost a hand in battle and was given one of silver.
- Ogma Oghma · Old Irish Ogma Champion of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and brother of the Dagda.
- Tailtiu Lugh’s foster-mother, who cleared a forest into a plain.
Peoples
- The aos sí aos sí The people of the mounds: the Good People.
- The Fir Bolg Fir Bolg The people who held Ireland when the Tuatha Dé Danann came.
- The Fomorians Fomhóraigh · Old Irish Fomóire Old enemies of the gods. In folklore, giants.
- The sons of Cermait Mac Cuill · Mac Cécht · Mac Gréine The three kings of the Tuatha Dé who ruled Ireland when the sons of Míl came.
- The sons of Míl Meic Míled The last invaders in the Book of Invasions: the Gaels.
- The sons of Tuireann Clann Tuireann Brian, Iuchar and Iucharba, who killed Lugh’s father and paid for it.
- Tuatha Dé Danann The old gods of Ireland.
Giants and beings
- Aillén mac Midgna The musician of the sídhe who burned Tara every Samhain, until the boy Fionn stayed awake.
- Balor Balar · Old Irish Balor The Fomorian champion whose evil eye no army could face; Lugh’s grandfather.
- The Bean Sí bean sí · older spelling bean sídhe The woman of the sídhe who keens before a death in the old families.
- Benandonner The Scottish giant of the Causeway’s popular ending.
- The Brown Bull of Cúailnge Donn Cúailnge The great bull of Cooley, for whom Medb went to war.
- Caer Ibormeith The girl Aengus saw in his sleep: a swan one year, a woman the next.
- Cucullin The giant who flattened a thunderbolt, in Carleton’s tale.
- Far Rua The red-haired Scottish giant in Patrick Kennedy’s telling (1866).
- Finnbennach The White-horned: the bull of Ailill’s herd, who would not belong to a woman.
- Macha The woman whose curse fell on the men of Ulster.
- Némglan King of the birds of Conaire’s father, who sent Conaire naked to Tara.
- Niamh Niamh Chinn Óir Niamh of the Golden Head: the daughter of the King of Tír na nÓg, who rode out of the west for Oisín.
- The Old Woman of Beare An Chailleach Bhéarra · Old Irish Caillech Bérri The woman of the early Irish lament, who had her youth seven times and outlived every man who lived with her.
- The Púca púca A shape-shifter of Irish folklore: now a horse, now an ass, now a goat.
- The Woman of Síd Cruachan Nera’s wife in the síd of Cruachan, who showed him how to save his people.
Treasures
- Cormac’s Cup of Truth A cup that breaks at a lie.
- The Crane Bag corrbolg Manannán’s bag of treasures, full at high tide and empty at the ebb.
- The Crown of Brión barr Briúin A diadem of gold kept in a well in the síd of Cruachan: one of the three wonders of Ireland.
- The Dagda’s Cauldron The cauldron no company left hungry.
- The Dagda’s Harp Daur Dá Bláo · Cóir Cethairchuir “Oak of two greens” and “four-angled music”: a harp with two names.
- The Gae Bulga Gae Bulga · also Gae Bolga Cú Chulainn’s barbed spear, cast from the fork of the foot.
- The Silver Branch An Chraobh Airgid The token of the Otherworld. This site takes its name from it.
- The Spear of Lugh The spear no battle could stand against.
- The Stone of Fál Lia Fáil The stone at Tara that cried out under a true king.
- The Sword of Nuada The sword no one escaped.
Ideas and places
- Carraig na Rón The Rock of the Seals, in the Sea of Moyle.
- Dindshenchas dinnseanchas The lore of places.
- The Fairy Thorn The old hawthorn standing by itself that nobody would cut: the Good People’s bush.
- The filid filí · Old Irish filid Poets, seers and keepers of lore, ranked in seven grades.
- The Fountain of Knowledge The shining fountain in the Land of Promise, with five streams flowing out of it.
- The Four Cities Falias, Gorias, Findias and Murias, where the Tuatha Dé Danann learned their arts.
- Ogham ogham · Old Irish ogam Ireland’s earliest writing: notches cut along the edge of a stone.
- The Otherworld Tír na nÓg · Mag Mell · Emain Ablach The country beside this one.
- Sovereignty An Flaitheas · Middle Irish in Flaithius The kingship, met as a woman at a well: loathsome at first and beautiful at last.
- The Three Strains goltraí · geantraí · suantraí Sorrow, laughter and sleep: the three kinds of Irish music.