Irish Myths and Legends - Multiples 5
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 fifth 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.
Laoghaire
1. A son of King Crevan of Connacht. He assisted Fiachna, a fairy man, to regain his wife from his nephew and went to live among the fairies, marrying Fiachna’s daughter, Der Greine.
2. Legendary king of Ireland, brother of Cobthach, who murdered him.
3. An Ulster champion, companion to Cuchulain.
Maine
1. A Norse prince who, at Conor’s behest, killed the sons of Usnach. Naoise had killed his father and brothers.
2. The name borne by each of the seven sons of Ailell and Maeve.
Oscar
1. The son of Ossian, one of the Fianna.
2. Ossian had a second son, also called Oscar, by Niamh in Tir na nÓg. Niamh named him after Ossian’s other son of the same name and she named his brother Finn, after Ossian’s father.
Ronan
1. A king of Leinster. He was the father of Mael Fhothartaig. When the latter’s mother died, Ronan married the daughter of Echaid, king of Dunseverick. She attempted to seduce his son and, having failed, accused him of adulterous desires towards her. Ronan had a warrior named Aedan slay his son, but, before he died of wounds (he was transfixed to his seat with a spear), he told Ronan the truth. Ronan was griefstricken. There is a parallel between this tale and that of Theseus, Hippolytus and Phaedra. Ronan was an historical personage: he lived in the seventh century.
2. The saint who cursed Suibhne.
Scota
1. The daughter of Pharaoh Cincris, the wife of Niul and the mother of Gael.
2. The daughter of Pharaoh Nectanebus who married Milesius. She fell fighting the Tuatha De Danaan. Her grave was in Kerry. These two persons, who figure in mediaeval Irish legend may have been the same person who became associated with different traditions. Scotus (fem. Scota) was the mediaeval Latin for an Irishman and Scota was an eponymous heroine of the Irish.
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