Irish Myths and Legends - Multiples 3
Irish mythology and legend is complicated, and rich in story and incident. Is it surprising then, that many characters share names?
Irelandseye.com presents the third of a short series, with detail of a number of these incident-filled lives, taken from the Appletree Press title Irish Myths and Legends by Ronan Coghlan.
Other names and events referenced in the entries can be found in the book, which is available from all good book stores.
Dermot
1. One of the Fianna, noted for his love spot. Grania, the betrothed of Finn, put a geas (see Geas) on him to elope with her and he complied. Finn pursued and eventually slew him.
2. A king of Tara, husband of Becfola. He once fought with Guaire and defeated him but then surrendered to him, for Guaire was a charitable person.
Donn
1. The Brown Bull of Cuailgne so desired by Maeve. She and her husband Ailell were comparing their possessions, each contending his were more extensive than the other’s. On discovering that Ailell had the bull Finnbheannach, of which she did not have the equal, Maeve desired Donn and over this the war between Connacht and Ulster was fought. When taken to Connacht by Maeve’s forces, Donn fought with and slew Finnbheannach and then returned to his own country where he died. Donn and Finnbheannach were originally divine swineherds who had many incarnations as animals.
2. A son of Milesius and Seang.
3. The Irish god of the dead, perhaps identical with the Dagda, who resided at Teach Doinn, off the southwest coast. In modern folklore he is associated with shipwrecks, crops, cattle and sea-storms.
4. A foster-brother of Mael Fhothartaig. He slew Echaid and his wife and son in retaliation for Mael Fhothartaig’s killing.
Echaid
1. The foster-father of Lugh.
2. The King of Dunseverick. He gave his daughter in marriage to Ronan, king of Leinster, in the hope that she would have an affair with Mael Fhothartaig. When the latter’s death was caused by her, Donn slew Echaid, his wife and son.
Eoghan
1. A king of Connacht, mortally wounded fighting the Ulstermen. He said he was to be buried on the Connacht border, facing Ulster, and that he would protect his kingdom, but the Ulstermen later dug him up and buried him face downward near Lough Gill.
2. Alternative name of Mug Nuadat.
3. An exile from Ireland who married Beara, the daughter of the king of Spain.
Extracts taken from the Appletree Press title Irish Myths and Legends flap book by Ronan Coghlan.
<<< first part selection of Irish Myths and Legends<<<
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>>> fourth part selection of Irish Myths and Legends>>>
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