Fénius Farsaid (fayn-yus far-să) Fanciful ancestor of the Irish, thought to have been present at the Tower of Babel. Grandfather of Goídel Glas.
fenodyree, phynodderree, etc. (fen-ohd-ěr-ee, fin-ohd-ěr-ee) Hairy-legged solitary fairy of the Isle of Man; also known as the uddereek.
Fer Caille (fer kahl-yě) Hooded, fearsome churl in Irish heroic narrative and in later folklore.
Fer Doirich (fer dor-ěkh) Druid who transforms Sadb into deer form.
Fer Gair, Fer Lí, Fer Rogain (fer γar, fer lee, fer roγ-an) Foster-brothers of Conaire Mór who plunder the Irish countryside.
Fer Loga (fer loγ-ă) Charioteer for Medb and Ailill.
Ferdia (fer-dee-ă) Murdered servant of Fionn mac Cumhaill.
Ferdiad (fer-dee-ăd, fer-dee-ăth, fer-dee-ăth) Friend of Cúchulainn who nonetheless duels with him in the climax of the Táin Bó Cuailnge.
Fergus Lethderg (fahr-ees, fer-γus, fer-gus leth-der-ěg) A Nemedian hero.
Fergus mac Léti (fahr-ees, fer-yus, fer-gus mahk lay-dĭ) Mythical king of Ulster, probably a double for Fergus mac Róich.
Fergus mac Róich (fahr-ees, fer-yus, fer-gus; mahk roh-ikh, mahk roy) Ulster hero, often a lover of Medb; sent as an emissary to the fugitives Deirdre and Noise.
Fiachra (fee-akh-ră) One of the swan children of Lir.
fianna (pl.), fian (sing.) (fee-ă-nă, fee-ăn) Bands of militia-like armed men, also trained in poetry, in early Ireland.
Fianna Éireann (fee-ăn-ă ayr-an) Fionn’s fianna.
fidchell (fith-khel) Chess-like board-game of early Ireland.
filid (pl.) (fil-ee) Class of poets in early Ireland, below the status of the druid but above that of the bard. Comparable to the ancient vates.
Fin M’Coul Hiberno-English form for Fionn mac Cumhaill.
Find (find, fyund) Early Irish personification of wisdom, likely anticipation of Fionn mac Cumhaill.
Findchóem (fin-khoo-ěm) Mother of Conall Cernach, foster-mother of Cúchulainn.
Findias (fin-dee-ăs) One of the four magical cities of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Finnabair (fin-av-ir, fin-av-ăr, fyun-oor) Daughter of Medb and Ailill.
Finnachad (fin-akh-ăth, fin-eh-ee) Famous sídh of Co. Armagh, residence of Lir, father of the exiled children.
Finnbennach (fin-ven-ăkh) Irish name for the White-horned Bull of Connacht in the Táin Bó Cuailnge.
Finnbheara (finn-vahr-ă) King of the fairies in Irish folklore.
Finnéces (fin-ay-ges) Druid who hopes to catch the Salmon of Knowledge.
Finnguala (fun-oo-ăl-ă, fin-ool-ă) Eldest of the swan children of Lir and sometimes their spokesperson.
Fintan mac Bóchra (fin-tăn mahk bohkh-ră) ‘Husband’ of Cesair who flees his conjugal duties in the form of a salmon.
Fintan, son of Niall Noígiallach Foster-son of Conchobar who shares a third of Ulster with him and Cúchulainn, achronologically.
Fionn mac Cumhaill (fin, fyun, foon, fawn; mahk koo-il, mahk kuv-ăl; ang. fin mahk kool) Leading hero of the Fenian Cycle, father of Oisín, grandfather of Oscar; Hiberno-English: Fin M’Coul.
fios (fis) Name for Fionn’s esoteric wisdom.
Fir Bolg (feer bohl-ĭg, feer bul-ĭg) The fourth invaders of early Ireland in Lebor Gabála Érenn.
Fir Fálgae (fee fawl-γě) Warriors who contend with Cúchulainn and Cú Roí while they are in Scotland; speciously associated with the Isle of Man.
Fódla (foh-lă) One of the three eponymous goddesses of Ireland, along with Banba and Ériu, met by the invading Milesians; later an alternative poetic name for Ireland.
Follamain (fol-ă-măn) Leader of the martial boys’ corps at Emain Macha.
Fomorians (fo-mohr-ee-ăns; cf. Ir. Fomoire = fuv-oh-rě) Malevolent euhemerized deities of the Irish pseudo-history, Lebor Gabála Érenn.
Forgall Manach (fohr-gal mahn-ăkh) Wily father of Emer; Cúchulainn’s father-in-law.
Fothad Conainne (fu-hă kon-in-yě) Fenian warrior, a lover of the Cailleach Bhéirre.
Frecraid (freg-ră) Usual sword of Lug Lámfhota.
Friuch [boar’s thistle] (fryukh) Swineherd whose squabble with his friend Rucht transforms them both into bulls. Friuch becomes Donn Cuailnge, the Brown Bull of Cooley.
Fuamnach (foo-am-năkh, foo-av-năkh) Jealous wife of Midir; changes Étaín into an insect.
Furbaide (fur-vath-ě) Son of Conchobar, foster-son of Cúchulainn, whose wailing chant helps to bring peace.
Furbaide Ferbend (fur-vath-ě fer-venth) Son of Clothra who avenges his mother’s death by slaying his aunt Medb.
Gabalglinde (gav-ăl-γlin-thě) Blind seer at Temuir Luachra.
Gáe Assail (gay as-al) Mighty spear of Lug Lámfhota.
Gáe Bulga (gay bool-gă, bul-gă) Lethal spear of Cúchulainn, thrust with the foot.
gaesatae (gay-sat-ay) Armed men in Gaulish times who protected populations of which they were not a part: possible anticipations of the fianna.
Gaidiar (gath-yăr) Son of Manannán mac Lir who commits adultery with Bé Chuma.
Gáirech or Irgairech (gaw-rěkh, ir-gaw-rěkh) Site of the last battle in the Táin Bó Cuailnge, southwest of Mullingar in Co. Westmeath.
Gamel (gam-ăl, gav-ěl) Co-gatekeeper, with Camel, of Tara.
Gaulish Apollo One of several Gaulish gods known by classical names through interpretatio Romana; see under Apollo.
geis, (pl.) gessa (gesh, ges-ă) The idiosyncratic taboo or prohibition placed upon heroes and prominent persons in early Irish narratives. The geis may be placed capriciously or unfairly, but breaking it can bring death or other calamity.
Genevra (jen-ev-ră) Daughter of Tom, the Cornish giant.
gente buena [good people] (hen-tay bwayn-ă) A name for the Asturian fairy procession.
Gilfaethwy (gil-VIth-wee) Brother of Gwydion, rapist of Goewin.
Giraldus Cambrensis (jeer-ahld-ús kam-bren-sis) Twelfth-century Welsh cleric and travel writer, known especially for closely observed but disdainful comments about Ireland.
Glen Bolcáin (glen bolg-awn) Valley of the madmen, perhaps in both Counties Antrim and Kerry.
Glenasmole [Modlr. Glean na smóil: glen of the thrush, ember, small flame] (glen-ăs-mohl) Glen at the headwaters of the Dodder River, in South Co. Dublin.
Glewlwyd Galfaelfawr (gloo-loo-eed gal-VIl-vawr) Arthur’s rude porter who deters Culhwch.
Glwyddyn Saer (gloo-eth-en sIr) Shadowy Welsh folk figure, a patron of the crafts.
Glyn Cuch [glen scowl] (glen kikh) Valley where Pwyll meets and strikes a bargain with Arawn.
Goewin (goi-win) Beautiful virgin foot-holder of King Math in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi.
Gofannon (go-vahn-ŏn) Welsh divine smith, one of the children of Dôn.
Goibniu (gIV-noo, giv-noo, gwiv-ně, gwiv-new) Smith of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Goídel Glas (gwith-ěl, gIth-ăl glahs) Inventor of the Irish language, according to Lebor Gabála Érenn.
Goleuddydd (go-lIth-eth) Mother of Culhwch.
Goll mac Doilb (gul, gol mahk dolv) Sometimes named as ruler of Mag Mell.
Goll mac Morna (gul, gol, mahk mohr-nă) One-time adversary of Fionn mac Cumhaill who becomes his ally.
Goreu (gohr-I) Member of Culhwch’s party who decapitates the giant Ysbaddaden.
Gorias (gohr-eeas) One of the four magical cities of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Gradlon (grahd-lon) Virtuous king of Quimper, father of the debauched Dahut.
Gráinne (grahn-yă, grawn-yă) Daughter of Cormac mac Airt, lover of Diarmait. She rejects Fionn, is pursued by him and later united with him.
Grampian Line (gramp-eean) Range of mountains separating the Scottish Highlands from the Lowlands.
Grey of Macha (mahk-ă) Cúchulainn’s horse.
Gronw Pebyr (grahn-oo peb-eer) Adulterer with Blodeuedd who plots to kill her husband Lieu.
Guaire (goo-ah-ir-ě) One of many figures to bear this name becomes the lover of Eórann.
Guénolé (gwayn-ohl-ay) Fifth-
century ecclesiastic, cited in the ‘Legend of the City of Ys’.
Gundestrup Cauldron (gun-des-trup) Large silver vessel, richly decorated with Celtic art, named for place where found in Denmark but made elsewhere.
Gwawl (gooawl) Suitor of Rhiannon favoured by her father but humiliated by Pwyll; a son of Clud.
Gwent Is Coed (gwent is koid) Small, historical kingdom in what is now southeastern Wales. The child Pryderi, then known as Gwri, was raised here.
Gwern (gwern) Child of the Welsh princess Branwen and the Irish king Matholwch.
Gwion Bach (gwee-on bahkh) Name of the servant who is transformed into Taliesin.
Gwrhyr Gwastad Ieithoedd (goo-rheer gwas-tad ee-Ith-oith) Welsh member of King Arthur’s court, an interpreter.
Gwri (goo-ree) Substitute name for Pryderi while he is raised in exile.
Gwyddno Garanhir (gweeth-no gah-rahn-hir) Mythical Welsh ruler in whose realm baby Taliesin lands; father of Elphin.
Gwydion (gwid-eeon) Magician father of Lieu Llaw Gyffes who fashions Blodeuedd for him.
Gwyn Fryn [white mound] (gwin vrin) Hill near London where Bendigeidfran’s severed head is placed.
Gwyn Gogoyw (gwin goh-goi-oo) Father of Cigfa, wife of Pryderi.
Gwynedd (gwin-eth) The medieval kingdom occupying northwest Wales; the reconstituted (1974) county that encompasses much of that kingdom.
Gwynn ap Nudd (gwin ap neth) King of the fairies, tylwyth teg, in Welsh tradition.
Hafgan [summer white] (hav-gan) Rival and enemy of Arawn, killed by Pwyll.
Hallstatt (hahl-shtaht) Style of earliest Celtic art, c. 800–450 BC, named for archaeological site in Austria; often severely geometrical.
Harlech (hahr-lěkh) Coastal town of north Wales, seat of Bendigeidfran.
Hebrides (heb-rid-ees) Islands off the west coast of Scotland.
Hesperides, Apples of (hes-payr-ĭ-dees) One of Heracles’ twelve labours, reassigned to the sons of Tuireann.
Hochdorf (hohkh-dohrf) Site in southwestern Germany of a sixth-century BC burial of a wealthy Gaulish chieftain.
huestia [host] (west-ee-ă) A name for the Asturian fairy procession.
Hy Brasil (hi brahs-ĭl) An earthly paradise seen on the oceanic horizon west of Ireland.
Hychdwn Hir [tall piglet] (hekh-doon heer) Porcine offspring of a transformed Gwydion and Gilfaethwy.
Hyddwn (huth-oon) A fawn, offspring of the transformed Gwydion and Gilfaethwy.
Hywel Dda (hu-weel thă) Historical tenth-century Welsh king and law-giver.
Ibormeith [Ir. yew berry] (iv-or-veth) Nickname of Cáer, lover of Angus Óg.
imbas forosnai [poetic knowledge that illuminates] (im-bas for-os-nI) Power of divination possessed by Fionn mac Cumhaill and others.
Imbolc (in-bohlg, im-bohl-ĭk) Celtic winter festival, approximately 1 February on the modern calendar, later subsumed in St Brigit’s Day.
Imram, Immram… (im-rahv) Old Irish for ‘rowing about’, conventional first word in titles of travel narratives of visits to distant islands inhabited by human beings.
Ingcél Cáech (ing-gayl kikh) One-eyed British pirate who ravages Ireland.
Inis Fionnchuire (in-ĭsh fyun-kheer-ě) Imagined island between Ireland and Britain; the sons of Tuireann must retrieve its cooking spit.
Iolo Morganwg (eeohl-oh mohr-gahn-oog) Pseudonym of Edward Williams (1747–1826), poet, antiquarian and inventor of Welsh traditions such as the gorsedd.
Iona (I-ohn-ă) Island in the Inner Hebrides, site of the first Christian monastery founded by St Colum Cille.
Ír (eer) Milesian sailor killed in the invasion of Ireland, one of many eponyms for Ireland.
Iraird Cuillen (ir-ard k[w]il-ěn) Site where Cúchulainn leaves his first warning to Medb’s army, coextensive with the modern village of Crossakeel, Co. Meath.
Iseult (ĭ-soolt) Lover of Tristan in the Arthurian legends.
Íth (eeth) Milesian leader who sees Ireland from a high point in Spain; he is killed when leading an exploratory party to Ireland.
Iubdán (yuv-thawn) King of the fairies in the thirteenth-century Echtra Fergusa maic Léite.
Iuchair (yukh-ar) One of the three tragic sons of Tuireann.
Iucharba (yukh-ăr-vă) One of the three tragic sons of Tuireann.
Jack Cornish giant; compared to Lug Lámfhota in ‘Giants of Morvah’.
Joan Wife of Tom, the Cornish giant.
Keating, Geoffrey (c.1580–c.1645/50) Irish-language historian, priest and poet. Irish name: Séathrún Céitinn (shah-hroon kI-tin, kay-tin)
Kêr Is (kayr ees) Breton title for the ‘Legend of the City of Ys’.
Kernow (ker-now) Cornish name for Cornwall.
Knockmany (nok-mahn-ee) Hill, 770 ft, near Augher, Co. Tyrone. Site of a passage-tomb but best known for citations in William Carleton (1794–1869).
korrigan (kohr-ee-gahn) A lusty creature of Breton folklore, also adept at building.
Kristof (krist-ohf) Small boy who removes the protective oak from the City of Ys.
La Tène (lah ten) Style of Celtic art, c.500–200 BC and after, named for archaeological site in Switzerland; known for swirling patterns.
Labraid Luathlám ar Claideb (lav-ree, lav-ră; loo-ăth-lawm ar klIth-ěv) [Ir. swift hand on sword] Ruler of Mag Mell, husband of the beautiful Lí Ban.
Láeg (loygh) Charioteer of Cúchulainn.
Lailoken (lI-loh-kěn) Scottish wild man of the woods.
Lallans (lal-ănz) The language of the Scottish Lowlands, related to English.
Landévennec (lahn-day-ven-ěk) Oldest abbey in Brittany, founded fifth century, 25 miles northwest of Quimper.
lavandeira nocturna [night washer] (lahv-ahn-dayr-ă nohk-toorn-ă) A Galician counterpart of the Irish and Scottish Gaelic washer at the ford.
Lebor Buide Lecáin (lev-or; Modlr. lyow-er; buith-ě lek-awn) Early codex of Irish literature, compiled c.1390. Known in English as the Yellow Book of Lecan. Contains an early version of the Táin Bó Cuailnge.
Lebor Gabála (lev-or ga-vawl-ă; Modlr. Leabhar Gabhála = lyow-er ga-wawl-ă) The Irish pseudo-history.
Lebor Laignech (lev-or, Modlr. lyow-er; lagh-nekh) Twelfth-century codex of Irish literature. Known in English as The Book of Leinster.
Lebor na hUidre (lev-or; Modlr. lyow-er; nah huth-rě). Earliest codex of Irish literature, compiled before 1106. Known in English as The Book of the Dun Cow.
Leborcham (lowr-khahv, lev-or-khav) Poet and confidante of Deirdre.
Lairgnéan (largh-nay-ăn) ‘Prince of the North’, i.e. Connacht, who is prophesied to marry a ‘Princess of the South’, Deoch, in the story of the children of Lir.
Lendabair (lenth-ăv-ar) Wife of Conall Cernach.
leprechaun (lep-rě-khawn) Solitary fairy, first seen as a water-sprite in the eighth-century Echtra Fergusa maic Léite.
Lí Ban [Ir. paragon of women] (lee von, lee bon) Woman of formidable beauty who seeks Cúchulainn’s help in fighting the enemies of her husband Labraid Luathlám ar Claídeb.
Liath Macha [Grey of Macha] (lee-ăth, Modlr. lee-ă; mahkh-ă) The more favoured of Cúchulainn’s two horses.
Liffey (lif-ee) River of eastern Ireland that runs through what is now Dublin.
Linn Féic [Fiac’s pool] (lin fayg) Spot along the River Boyne where Finnéces waits for the Salmon of Knowledge.
Lir (lir) Tuatha Dé Danann king, father of the swan children; not identical with the Lir implied in the patronymic of Manannán mac Lir.
Llassar Llaes Gyfnewid (llahs-ăr llis guv-nyoo-ĭd) Original possessor of the cauldron of regeneration; husband of Cymidei Cymeinfoll.
Lleu Llaw Gyffes (llI llow guf-es) Welsh hero, central figure of the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi. Often compared with the Irish Lug.
Lloegyr (lloi-gur) Welsh name for England.
Llwyd (llooeed) The enchanter who destroys the vegetation of southern Wales to avenge his friend Gwawl.
Llŷr (lleer) Shadowy father of Bendigeidfran, Manawydan and Branwen.
Loch Rudraige (lokh roo-ăr-ee) Dundrum Bay, Co. Down.
Lochlainn (lokh-lahn) Realm of dangerous invaders, often but not necessarily associated with Scandinavia.
Myths and Legends of the Celts (Penguin Reference) Page 43
