An Chraobh Airgid

Person

Étaín

Éadaoin · Old Irish Étaín

The woman born twice: wife of Midir in the síd, then queen of Tara.

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In her first life she was Étaín of the Horses, daughter of Ailill and wife of Midir of Brí Léith. Fuamnach turned her into a fly, and a thousand and twelve years after her first begetting she fell into a cup and was born again, as the daughter of Étar. As the wife of Eochaid Airem she nursed his brother through a sickness of love without any stain on her honour, until Midir won a kiss from her husband over a board of fidchell and carried her away.

Kin and bonds

In the tales

  • The Wooing of Étaín A fly on the wind drops into a golden cup and is born again, remembering nothing. A thousand years on, her first husband comes to Tara to play for a kiss.
  • The Destruction of Da Derga’s Hostel A king bound by geasa breaks them one by one on the road, and knows exactly what it means.

See also

  • Brí Léith Ardagh Hill (Slieve Golry). Midir’s síd, which Eochaid Airem dug open to win back his queen.

Sources

Medieval manuscript. Written down by Irish scholars between the eighth and seventeenth centuries.

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