Lóegaire Búadach [victorious, triumphant] (loygh-ĭ-rě, lay-ghee-rě, layγ-ăr-ě, lee-rě; boo-ăkh) Ulster hero who competes for the champion’s portion with Conall and Cúchulainn.
Loingsechán (lin-shahkh-awn, ling-shahkh-awn) Loyal friend of Suibne, possibly a half-brother or foster-brother.
Lomna (lum-nă, lov-nă) Name borne by several fools in Irish literature, one of Conaire Mór, another of Fionn mac Cumhaill.
lón láith [light of the hero(?)] (lohn law) Name for the beam of light that projects from the head of Cúchulainn.
Lough Derraverragh [dairbhreach: with an oak plantation] (lok, loch der-a-ver-ă) Lake in what is now Co. Westmeath where the children of Lir were changed into swans.
Lough Lein (lok, loch layn) A lake near Killarney, Co. Kerry.
Luchta (lukh-tă) Carpenter god of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Lug Lámfhota [Long handed; of the long arm] (loo lawv-ohd-ă) A chief of the Tuatha Dé Danann and leading hero of the Mythological Cycle. Often compared to the Welsh Lieu.
Lugaid (Looy-ă) Son of Cú Roí who seeks vengeance upon Cúchulainn.
Lughnasa (loo-nă-să) (Oldlr. Lugnasad; Modlr. Lúnasa) Celtic summer festival, approximately 1 August or 15 August on modern calendar.
Lugus, Lugos (loog-ŭs) Likely Gaulish name for the god whom the Romans called Gaulish Mercury.
Mabon (mah-bon) Abducted child of divine origin in the story of Culhwch and Olwen.
MacAlpin, Kenneth See Cináed mac Alpín.
Mac an Lúin (mahk an loon) Sword of Fionn mac Cumhaill.
Mac Cécht, Mac Cuill, Mac Gréine (mahk kaykht, mahk kul, mahk grayn-ě) Three Tuatha Dé Danann kings who negotiate with invading Milesians. A hero named Mac Cécht is Conaire Mór’s champion at Da Derga’s Hostel.
Mac Da Thó (mahk dah thoh) Host whose guests fight over the division of his huge pig.
Mac Glass (mahk glahs) King Rónán’s unfortunate jester.
Macha (mahkh-ă) Ulster sovereignty goddess who appears in three manifestations, all linked with the establishment of Emain Macha; part of the trio Mórrígna with Badb and Mórrígan. (i) Ulster queen also known as Mong Ruadh. (ii) Queen of the Nemedians. (iii) Wife of Crunniuc who wins the footrace.
Macsen Wledig (mahk-sen oo-led-ig) Roman emperor who, according to Welsh legend, favoured British migration to Brittany.
Máel Dúin (mayl doon) Irish wayfarer to the otherworld in the eighth- to tenth-century narrative, Imram Curaig Maíle Dúin [The Voyage of Máel Duin’s Boat].
Máel Fhothartaig (mayl oth-ar-dagh) Handsome son of king Rónán, killed by his father.
Maelgwn Gwynedd (mil-goon gwin-eth) Historical sixth-century Welsh king in whose reign the fanciful adventures of Taliesin take place.
Mag Dá Cheó [Ir. plain of two mists] (magh, maγ, Modlr. moi; daw khyoh) Actual plain in Co. Roscommon, south of Medb’s fortress of Cruachain.
Mag Mell [Ir. pleasant plain] (magh, maγ, Modlr. moi; mel) An otherworldly realm in Irish tradition, a possible refuge for the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Mag Muirtheimne (magh, maγ, mur-hev-ně, mur-thev-ně) Cúchulainn’s home territory, a plain occupying much of present-day Co. Louth.
Mag Rath (magh, maγ, Modlr. moi; rath) Scene of an Irish dynastic battle, AD 637, where Suibne goes mad.
Mag Slécht (magh, Modlr. moi shlaykht) Plain in Co. Cavan, near present town of Ballymagauran thought to be site of worship of Crom Crúaich, perhaps a pagan idol.
Mag Tuired (ang. Moytura). (magh, maγ, Modlr. moi; tur-eth) Old Irish name for at least two expanses of flat land in northwestern Ireland; one was the site of the battle between the Tuatha Dé Danann and the Fomorians in Cath Maige Tuired [The (Second) Battle of Mag Tuired].
Maignis (moy-nay-ish) One of many wives of Fionn mac Cumhaill, reported deceased before he seeks out Gráinne.
Maine (mah-nyě, mah-ně) Name borne by each of the seven sons of Medb and Ailill mac Máta.
Malaliach (mal-ăl-yakh) A Partholonian thought to have brewed the first ale in Ireland.
Manannán mac Lir (mahn-ahn-awn, mah-naw-nahn mahk lir) Principal sea-deity and otherworldly ruler in Irish tradition.
Manapii (mahn-ap-ee-ee) A P-Celtic people of ancient Gaul.
Manawydan (mah-nah-wud-an) Title character and protagonist of the Third Branch of the Mabinogi.
Manching (mahn-ching) Fortified proto-city of the Vindelici people near what is today Ingolstadt, Bavaria. Its circular wall is four miles long.
Marie de France Twelfth-century Anglo-Norman writer who introduced Breton lai.
Mark King of Cornwall in the Arthurian legends, betrothed of Iseult.
Math (mahth) King of Gwynedd, brother of Dôn, and a leading figure in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi.
Matholwch (math-ohl-ookh) The King of Ireland in the Second Branch of the Mabinogi.
Mathonwy (mahth-ohn-wee) Father of Math.
Matrona (mah-trohn-ă) Gaulish goddess of the Marne River in what is now eastern France.
Matroniae Aufuniae (mah-trohn-eeay owf-oon-eeay) Probably divine mother figures whose second-century icon survives in what is now Germany.
Medb (mayv, methv) Vibrant warrior queen of Connacht (western Ireland) and a protagonist of the Táin Bó Cuailnge.
Mellifont Abbey (mel-ǐ-font) First Cistercian abbey in Ireland, founded 1142, 4.5 miles west-northwest of Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Men-an-Tol [holed stone] (men-an-tol) Annular standing stone at Morvah, Cornwall.
Menw (men-oo) Welsh member of King Arthur’s court, an illusionist.
Mercury, Gaulish Name given by the Romans to the principal Gaulish divinity; probable name Lugus/Lugos.
Merlin Arthurian sorcerer, anticipated by the Welsh Myrddin (G) wyllt.
Mes Buachalla [cowherd’s fosterling] (mes boo-ahkh-ahl-ă) Mother of Conaire Mór.
Miach (mee-akh) An Irish healing god, son of Dian Cécht.
Midac (mith-ag) Adversary of the Fianna Éireann from Lochlainn.
Mide (meeth-ě) A kingdom of early Ireland, coextensive with Co. Meath and portions of neighbouring counties; it is named for the druid Mide, who lit the first fire at Uisnech.
Midir (mith-ĭr, mid-ĭr, mĭ-yir, meer) Lover of the beautiful Étaín, much to the anger of his jealous wife, Fuamnach.
Míl Espáine (meel es-pawn-ě) ‘Soldier of Spain’, the leader of the Milesians, for whom they are named.
Milesians (mil-ees-yanz) The last and certainly mortal invaders of Ireland in Lebor Gabála Érenn; sometimes seen as synonymous with the early Gaelic people.
Miodhchaoin (miγ-kheen) Chief who owns a hill in Lochlainn; the Sons of Tuireann have their most dangerous task here.
Mo Cháemóc (mu khIV-ohg) Disciple of St Patrick who baptizes the 900-year-old children of Lir.
Modron (mohd-rawn) Mother of Mabon in Welsh tradition, derived from the ancient goddess Matrona.
Moling, Mo Ling, St (mu-ling) One of the ‘Four Prophets of Ireland’, thought to have baptized mad Suibne.
Mongán (mong-awn) Historical early king in Ireland thought to have been sired by a liaison between his mortal mother, Caíntigern, and the sea god Manannán mac Lir. Sometimes thought to be a reincarnation of Fionn mac Cumhaill.
Mór Muman (mohr muv-ăn, moon) Early territorial goddess of Munster.
Morann (mohr-ahn, mur-ăn) Son of the usurper Cairbre Cinn-Chait who returns sovereignty to the Milesians.
Morfran (mohr-vrahn) Ugly son of Ceridwen.
Mórrígan (mohr-ee-ghan, mohr-ĭ-γan, mohr-ee-ěn) The ‘great queen’, goddess of war fury in early Ireland; often named with the definite article, ‘the Mórrígan’; one of the trio Mórrígna with Badb and Macha.
Mórrígna (mohr-eegh-nă) Collective name for the trio of war goddesses, Badb, Macha, Mórrígan.
Morvah (mor-vah) Archaeological site in western Cornwall, known for distinctive standing stones.
Morvarc’h [horse of the sea] (mohr-vahrkh) Gradlon’s mighty steed.
mouros (moh-ros) Galician fai
ry folk associated with hidden treasure.
Moytura See Mag Tuired.
Mugain (muγ-ahn, moon, moo-gahn) Lubricious wife of Conchobar mac Nessa, who bares her breasts to tempt Cúchulainn.
muirdris (mur-drish) Generic name for the sea monster of Loch Rudraige; later known as sínach.
Muirenn Muncháem (mir-en mun-khIV) Mother of Fionn mac Cumhaill.
Murias (moor-eeas) One of the four magical cities of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Myrddin (G) wyllt (mirth-in [g]willt) Wild man of the woods in Welsh tradition, an anticipation of the Arthurian Merlin.
Naisi Alternative spelling for Noise.
Nantosuelta (nahn-tŏ-swel-tă) Cult partner of the Gaulish divinity, Sucellus.
Nechta Scéne (nekh-tă, nahkh-tă shkayn-ě) Mother of three supernatural sons who fight for Connacht and are killed by Cúchulainn the day he takes up arms.
Nechtan (I) (nahkht-ăn, nekh-tawn) Usual husband of Boand.
Nechtan (2) (nahkht-ăn, nekh-tawn) Sailor on Máel Dúin’s otherwordly voyage who longs to return to the land of mortals.
Néit (nayd) Irish war god; cult partner of Nemain.
Nemain (nev-in) Irish war goddess; cult partner of Néit. May share identity with Badb.
Nemedians (ně-meed-ee-ans; cf. Ir. Nemed: nev-ěth) Third invaders of Ireland in Lebor Gabála Érenn.
Nemetona (ne-me-tohn-ă) Shadowy Gaulish and British war goddess, a cult partner of Gaulish Mars.
Ness (nes) Manipulative mother of Conchobar mac Nessa.
Newgrange Passage-grave dating from c.3200 BC in the Boyne valley, five miles east of Slane, Co. Meath.
Niall Noígiallach (nee-al noi-γeeal-ăkh, noi-γahl-ăkh) Niall of the Nine Hostages, probably historical fifth-century Irish king, eponym of the Uí Néill dynasty that dominated early Ireland.
Niam (I) (neeăv, neev, cf. ang. neeăm) Beautiful maiden who lures Oisín to Tír na nÓg.
Niam (2) (neeăv, neev, cf. ang. neeăm) Wife of Conall Cernach, mistress of Cúchulainn.
Nisien [peaceful] (nis-eean, nisyen) Gentle, generous half-brother of Branwen.
Nodons (noh-dons) Early British god worshipped at the healing sanctuary of Lydney Park, Gloucestershire.
Noise (nee-shě) Lover of Deirdre.
Nuadu Airgetlám [of the Silver Hand/Arm] (nooă, noo-ă-hă, noo-ahth-ŭ ar-gad-lahv) Wounded king of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Nuadu Necht (nooă, noo-ă-hă, noo-ahth-ŭ nekht) Leinster double of Nuadu Airgetlám.
Nudd (nith) Legendary Welsh hero, one of the most generous men of Wales.
Ó Duibhgeannáin, Dáibhi (Modlr. oh dayg-nawn, oh div-ghan-awn, dawv-ee) Scholar (d. 1696) who composed the manuscript version of the Diarmait and Gráinne story in 1651.
ogham, ogam (oh-ăm, ohm, ohγ-ăm) An alphabet of incised parallel lines used to write early Irish; each figure is the equivalent of a Latin alphabet letter.
Ogma (oγ-mă, ohm-ă, ohm) An orator and warrior, one of the three principal champions of the Tuatha Dé Danann, along with the Dagda and Lug Lámfhota.
Ogmios (ohg-mee-ŏs) Gaulish god of eloquence.
Oisín (ush-een) Son of Fionn mac Cumhaill of the Fenian Cycle; adapted by James Macpherson as Ossian (1760–4); father of Oscar; Hiberno-English: Usheen.
ollam (ol-av) Poet of highest rank in early Ireland.
Olwen (ohl-wen) Beautiful lover of Culhwch.
Oonagh (oon-ă) ‘Wife’ of Fin M’Coul in William Carleton’s ‘Legend of Knockmany’ (c.1845).
Orlám (or-lawv) Son of Medb and Ailill killed early in the action of the Táin Βó Cuailnge.
Oscar (usk-ăr; cf. ang. osk-ăr) Hero of the Fenian Cycle, son of Oisín, grandson of Fionn mac Cumhaill.
Ossian (os-ee-ăn, osh-ăn) Adapted from Oisín by James Macpherson and made narrator of The Poems of Ossian (1760–4), bogusly claimed to be based on ancient texts.
Owain ap Urien (oh-win ap eer-eean) Sixth-century Welsh king eulogized by Taliesin.
P-Celts Division of Celtic family of languages, including Gaulish, ancient British, Welsh, Cornish and Breton.
Partholonians (par-thoh-lohn-eeănz; cf. Ir. Parthalán = por-hu-lawn) The second invaders of early Ireland in Lebor Gabála Érenn; an industrious and beneficent people.
Patrick, St The fifth-century evangelist of Ireland is depicted in the Fenian Cycle as holding dialogues with pre-Christian survivors, Caílte and Oisín.
Pisear (pish-ăr) A ‘king of Persia’, original owner of Gáe Assail, retrieved by the sons of Tuireann.
pixie Mischievous folk creature, derived from the Cornish piskie.
Polybius (po-lib-ee-ŭs) Second-century BC Greek historian, commentator on the Celts.
Pryderi (prŭ-der-ee) Son of Rhiannon and Pwyll who appears in all four branches of the Mabinogi.
Ptolemy, Claudius Ptolemeus (tol-em-ee, klawd-eeus tol-em-ay-us) Important geographer of the ancient world, second century AD.
Puck Playful figure in English folklore, also in Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream.
púca, pooka (pook-ă) One of many Irish fairies.
Pwyll (pooill) Prince of Dyfed, south Wales, who falls in love with Rhiannon.
Q-Celts Division of Celtic family of languages, including Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Manx.
Redg (reth-ěgh) Satirist of Medb and Ailill, killed by Cúchulainn, who jokes in death throes.
Reinheim (rIn-hIm) Burial site on the French–German border of a well-born fifth-century BC woman.
remscéla (rev-shkayl-ă) Foretales, e.g. the tales found at the beginning of the Táin Bó Cuailnge, that anticipate, if not introduce, the beginning of the action in the epic.
Rhiannon (rhee-ahn-όn) A female protagonist of the Mabinogi; portrayed as a mortal with suggestions of immortal antecedents.
Rhun (rhin) Casanovian Welsh prince.
ríastrad (reeăs-trath) Name for Cúchulainn’s empowering battle frenzy or fury, sometimes called warp spasm.
Richis (rikh-ish) Female satirist of Munster who strips naked before Cúchulainn in a failed attempt to have him killed.
rigfhéinnid (rig-hayn-ith) Captain or chief of a fianna.
Rígru Rosclethan (righ-rŭ ros-kleth-ăn) Wife of Dáire and queen of the otherworldly realm of Tír Tairngire.
Robin Goodfellow Playful spirit in English folklore; also known as Puck.
Roca Barraidh (rohk-ră bar-ră) Scottish Gaelic name for an otherworldly realm lying near the Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides.
Rónán (rohn-ahn) Fictional Leinster king who kills his son Máel Fhothartaig, probably based on the historical Rónán mac Áeda.
Rónán, St (rohn-ahn) Evangelizing clergyman who curses Suibne.
Rosmerta (rohs-mert-ă) Gaulish fertility goddess often linked with Apollo.
Ruad Rofhessa (roo-ă roh-es-ă, roo-ăth rohs-ă) Another name for the Dagda.
Ruadchoin (rooăth-khon) Brigands banished by Conaire Mór.
Rucht [boar’s grunt] (rukht) Swineherd whose squabble with his friend Friuch turns them both into bulls. Rucht becomes Finnbennach, the White-horned Bull of Connacht.
Sadb (sIV, soy-ĭv) The deer maiden, sleeps with Fionn mac Cumhaill to become the mother of Oisín.
Saingliu See Dubh Sainglenn.
Sainrith mac Imaith (san-rith makh iv-ahth) Mother of the Macha who wins the footrace at Emain Macha.
Saint See under Saint’s name, Brendan, Brigid, Patrick, etc.
Salmon of Knowledge Swims in either the Boyne or Erne River. Fionn mac Cumhaill receives esoteric knowledge by touching the salmon with his thumb.
Samain (sow-ĭn, sa-vĭn) Celtic New Year, 1 November on modern calendar.
Samildánach (saw-vil-dawn-ăkh, sahv-ĭl-dahn-ăkh) ‘Master of all the arts’, an epithet of Lug Lámfhota.
Santa Compaña [Holy Company] (sahn-tă kohm-pahn-yă) The Galician fairy procession.
Scáthach (skaw-thakh, skow-hă) Cúchulainn’s amazon-like teacher of martial arts, living on the Isle of Skye
Sceolang (skeeoh-l
ahng, shkeeoh-lahng) One of Fionn mac Cumhaill’s favoured dogs; the other is Bran.
Scota (skoh-tă) Daughter of the Pharaoh of Egypt who gives her name to the Scoti in Lebor Gabála Érenn.
Myths and Legends of the Celts (Penguin Reference) Page 44
