Dictionary of Celtic Mythology - (C)

C
C. The third letter of the modern English ed. Martin J. Ball et al. (Amsterdam, 1990),
alphabet was known as coll [*hazel] in the 297–332.
*ogham alphabet of early Ireland. Cadan, Cadhan [Ir., wild goose]. An early
Cabadius. Latinized variant of *Cathbad. hero whose wonderful dog killed a piast or
monster near Derry, Northern Ireland.
Cabal, Cafall, Caval, Cavall, Kawal. The
hound of King *Arthur. Cadfan, Saint [W cad, battle; ban, summit].
Sixth-century Welsh saint who established a
cabyll-ushtey. The Manx *each uisce or monastery on *Bardsey Island [W Ynyn Enlli],
water-horse. Not as dangerous or greedy as north Cardigan Bay.
its Highland counterpart, the Manx cabyll-
ushtey appears in relatively few folk narra- Cadi Haf. See  .
tives. It might seize cows and tear them to cadineag. Scottish Gaelic *fairy or weeper,
pieces, stampede horses, or steal children. See similar to the *bean nighe. It may be heard
also the Manx , Welsh  , wailing in the darkness near a waterfall before
and Scottish K and . Folk motif: catastrophe overtakes a clan; sometimes por-
B17.2.1. trayed in stories of the massacre at *Glencoe,
Cad Goddeu. Welsh title for a short, obscure north Strathclyde, formerly *Argyllshire
poem of great antiquity preserved in the (1692). Perhaps identical with the *caoineag,
*Book of Taliesin (13th cent.), known in Eng- *caointeach, and *caointeag.
lish as The Battle of the Trees or The Army Cadog, Cadoc, Catog, Catwg, Saint [W
of the Trees. The poem is set during a war var. of cadfael, battle-prince (?)]. Sixth-century
between *Arawn, king of *Annwfn, and Welsh saint, one of the most celebrated of his
*Amaethon, a ploughman, prompted by the nation, who founded a monastery at Llancar-
latter’s theft of a white roebuck, a whelp, and fan, Glamorganshire, and twenty other
a lapwing. Central to the poem is the magi- churches in south Wales, as well as others in
cian *Gwydion’s use of a staff of enchant- *Cornwall and *Brittany. A grandson of
ment to transform trees into fighting men. *Brychan, he was murdered by invaders c.577.
Although Cad Goddeu apparently contains Sometimes called Cadog Ddoeth [W, the
implications of powers attributed to different wise], he was the subject of many miraculous
trees, the larger meaning of the poem stories from the 11th and 12th centuries. The
remains unexplicated. Robert Graves, though ‘Wisdom of Cadog’ consisted of witty apo-
he professed to know no Welsh, ‘translated’ thegms that formed part of the lore to be
and rearranged the order of Cad Goddeu to learned by an aspiring *bard. By tradition
support his thesis about the origin of the Cadog was the teacher of *Gildas and *Talies-
alphabet, which in turn was central to his in. Feast-day 25 September.
‘grammar of poetic myth’ in The White God-
dess (New York, 1948); while Graves found a Cador, Cadwr, Kadwr. The duke of *Corn-
large lay readership, his views have been wall in *Breuddwyd Rhonabwy [The Dream of
scorned by learned commentators on Welsh Rhonabwy] and a nephew of *Arthur; he also
literature. figures prominently in the Arthurian chron-
The Welsh text of Cad Goddeu was edited icles of *Geoffrey of Monmouth (12th cent.),
by J. G. Evans, Book of Taliesin (Llanbedrog, Wace (10th cent.), and Layamon (12th cent.).
1910), 23–7; see the translation by Patrick K. He is killed in the last battle of Mount Badon.
Ford, The Mabinogi (Berkeley, Calif., 1977), Cadwaladr, Cadwalader [W cad, battle;
Copyright © 1990. Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
183–7. Commentary: Marged Haycock, Celtic gwalader, arranger]. Name borne by several
Linguistics: Readings in the Brythonic Languages, figures in early Welsh history, most notably
MacKillop, J 1990, Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, Oxford University Press, Available from: ProQuest Ebook Central. [25 September 2021].
Created from cit-ebooks on 2021-09-25 15:17:11.
Caer Llundain
the prince and saint of *Gwynedd, some- place-names. Sometimes anglicized as Kaer.
times called Cadwaladr Fendigaid [the Entries relating to Caer are given letter by
blessed], who died at Rome, ?664 or ?681. His letter, whether ‘Caer’ is a separate word or a
father was *Cadwallon. prefix.
Cadwallon [W cad, battle; gallon, scatterer Caercaradoc. Name for Salisbury in *Geof-
(?), ruler (?)]. Name borne by several early frey of Monmouth and other medieval
Welsh figures, most notably the 7th-century Arthuriana.
political leader who invaded Northumberland
Caerdroea. Welsh for Troy, Ilium.
(c.629) and drove the Irish from the north.
Father of *Cadwaladr. Caer Eiddyn. Variant form of *Din Eidyn,
the Welsh name for *Edinburgh.
Cadwr. See .
Caereni. A tribe of Roman-era Scotland,
Caeilte. Variant of *Caílte.
part of the Caledonian confederation. They
Cáel, Caol [Ir., slender]. The *Fenian hero occupied a territory coextensive with north-
and lover of *Créd/Credhe; he sometimes west Sutherland (until 1974) in the Highlands.
bears the agnomen An Iarann [Ir., of iron]
Caerfaddon. Welsh name for *Bath.
and cognomen Ua Nemhnainn. While court-
ing Créd in the company of the *Fianna, Cáel Caer Feddwid [W, city of carousal; court of
wins her by reciting a poem praising her pos- intoxication, etc.]. Name for an *other-
sessions. After Cáel is killed at the battle of worldly city in Welsh and Welsh Arthurian
Ventry Harbour [*Cath Fionntrágha] and his narratives. See also ;  .
body was washed ashore, Créd lies down in
Caerfyrddin. Welsh name for Carmarthen.
his grave beside him, so great is her grief. The
permanence of their love was cited by *Caílte Caer Iborm[m]eith. See  (1).
in *Acallam na Senórach [Colloquy of the
Caerleon, Caerleon-on-Usk. Anglicized
Elders] and has been the subject of a number
spelling of Caerllion ar Wysg, a residence of
of poems in Irish and English.
*Arthur, often identified with Camelot. The
Cáemgen, Cáomgen, Caoimhín, Cóemgen, Romans built the fortress Isca near the site of
Saint [Ir., beautiful born]. At least two saints the medieval walled city. Ruins of Isca seem
bear this name, anglicized as Kevin, the to have encouraged *Geoffrey of Monmouth
better-known of whom was the founder and (12th cent.) to favour Caerleon as Arthur’s
abbot (?498–618) of *Glendalough whose seat. Here Arthur is described as massing his
feast-day is 3 June. Cáemgen was celebrated forces for the battle of Bedegraine and cele-
for his chastity, and once resisted a temptress brating the subsequent victory. Caerleon Cas-
by falling propitiously into a bed of nettles–– tle has a flight of 208 steps leading to a room
or by kicking her out of his *cave so that she thought to be used by *Merlin. The modern
fell into a lake and drowned. His name Caerleon is a modest urban district in south
appears in a number of *Fenian stories. Monmouthshire on the Usk [W Wysg] River,
2.5 miles NE of Newport. Caerleon is some-
Caemhoch, Saint. Variant form of *Mo
times confused with the English city of Ches-
Cháemóc.
ter [W Caerllion Fawr].
Cáer [cf. Ir. cáer, globular mass, drop, mass
Caerliwelydd. Welsh name for Carlisle; see
of cast metal]. Beloved of *Angus Óg and a
 .
princess of *Connacht, a daughter of *Ethal
Anbúail. Angus suffers from an ailment that Caerllion, Caer Llion. Welsh for *Caerleon.
can be cured only by a woman he has seen in Caerllion Fawr is Welsh for Chester.
a dream. When he finds her they become
Caerlloyw, Caer Lloyw, Loyw. Welsh name
lovers; they are transformed into *swans and
for *Gloucester.
fly around a lake three times. She sometimes
has the agnomen Iborm[m]eith [*yew berry]. Caer Lludd, Ludd. An early Welsh name for
International tale type 400, the swan maiden. London, alluding to the belief that *Lludd
See   [The Dream of Angus]. had helped to rebuild the walls of the city.
Caer, Kaer. A Welsh word meaning ‘wall; Caer Llundain, Llundein. London, in more
fort, castle, citadel’ as employed in numerous recent Welsh.
67
Caer Loyw
Caer Loyw. Variant spelling of Caerlloyw: that the soul did not perish at the death of the
*Gloucester. body. His vision of a Celtic pantheon is more
troubling to modern commentators. Think-
Caer Luel. Carlisle. See . ing that Celtic conceptions differed little from
Caer Lundain, Lundein. Variant spellings of Roman, he assigned Roman names to native
Caer Llundain: London. gods, ranking them in order of perceived
preference: *Mercury, *Apollo, *Mars, *Jupi-
Caernach. Variant of Cernach; see  ter, and *Minerva. Although it is not sup-
. ported by any non-Roman evidence, Caesar
Caerphilly. A town in south Mid- enunciated clear differentiation of function
Glamorganshire, 7 miles N of Cardiff. In among different Celtic gods as well as the
Welsh oral tradition it is the home of the existence of a universal pantheon.
Green Lady of Caerphilly, a wraith who takes Cafall. Welsh form of *Cabal.
the form of ivy when she is not walking
through ruined castles. In more recent years Cahal. Anglicization of *Cathal.
the name Caerphilly has become better
Cahir More. Anglicization of *Cathaír Mór.
known for a distinctive cheese.
Cahirconree, Cahirconry, Caherconree
Caer Seint. One of *Bendigeidfran’s
[Ir. cathair, stone fort; chonraoí]. Iron-age
assembly sites in the *Mabinogi, a region in
stone fort on a 2,050-foot promontory, in the
*Gwynedd opposite the island of *Anglesey.
*Sliab Mis [Slieve Mish] mountains, *Dingle
Nearby are the Roman ruins of Segontium.
peninsula, Co. *Kerry, 8 miles SW of Tralee.
Caer Siddi, Sidi [cf. Ir. *sídh]. Another name The name of the fortress is thought to allude
for the otherworldly *Annwfn, especially to *Cú Roí. According to an oft-told story, Cú
when seen as an elysium. Sickness and old age Roí was betrayed by his wife *Bláithíne to
are unknown in Caer Siddi. Enchanting music *Cúchulainn at Cahirconree.
is heard there, and a fountain flows with a
liquid sweeter than white wine. *Gwair was Cai. Variant spelling of *Cei.
kept in a well-equipped prison here. Caer Caibell. The story of Caibell and his friend
Siddi is sometimes identified with the islet of Etar and the contest for their daughters
Grassholm off *Dyfed (until 1974, Pembroke- depicts an enigmatic war between pre-
shire), as is *Gwales. See also  . Christian divinities little understood by later
Caer Wydyr, Wydr [W, fortress of glass]. A scribes. Caibell and Etar are rulers of the
name for *Annwfn, the Welsh Otherworld. *sídh whose daughters are sought in marriage
See  . by two kings, who are offered a contest to
settle the match. The idea of battle would
Caesair. Variant spelling of *Cesair. pollute the sídh, however, and the sídh-folk
have no wish to be visible to mortals lest that
Caesar, [Gaius] Julius. Roman general, power be lost. The fight takes place at night,
statesman, and historian (100–44 ) whose therefore, and the sídh-folk take the form of
seven-volume Gallic War [De Bello Gallico] is a *deer. The struggle is so fierce that four hil-
much-cited source for information on early locks are made of the hooves and antlers of
Celtic ethnography and religion. Although the slain. Near the end, water bursts forth
much admired for his clarity of style, Caesar from a well and forms Lough Riach, which
cannot be accepted without qualification: not the storyteller says has the property of turn-
only did he rely on the reports of subordin- ing white sheep crimson, if they are cast in
ates, but he may have taken more from every seventh year at the proper hour. Of the
*Posidonius (c.135–c.51 ) than from his own combatants only Etar survives. This Irish
observations. As the conqueror first of the story survives in the Rennes [Brittany] Dind-
Gauls and then of the Britons, he had an shenchas; see the edition by W. Stokes, Revue
understandably patronizing view of the Celts, Celtique, 16 (1895), 273 ff.
finding them eager for battle but easily dashed
by adversity. He also found them supersti- Caicer, Caicher, Caichér. *Druid of the
tious, given to submitting to *druids for arbi- *Milesians in the *Lebor Gabála [Book of
tration in public and private affairs. As for Invasions] who prophesied that his people
religious beliefs, he was struck by their view would one day migrate to Ireland.
68
Cailleach Bhéirre
Cailbe, Cailbe. The ugly female seer in the Cailleac Buillia. W. B. Yeats’s spelling of
Irish story *Togail Bruidne Da Derga [The *Cailleach Bhéirre.
Destruction of Da Derga’s Hostel] who fore-
tells the death of *Conaire. The description cailleach, caillech, cailliach, callech.
of her monstrous form includes an allusion to Although the Modern Irish and Scottish Gael-
her sexual parts. When Conaire says that her ic word cailleach means literally ‘old woman’,
name is insignificant, she stands on one foot often in the pejorative sense, or ‘hag’, the
and chants thirty-two different names. word has many more connotations than this
simple gloss would imply. The OIr. caillech,
Cailitin, Calatin, Calatín. Irish wizard or from which cailleach derives, meant literally
*druid, perhaps of *Fomorian origin, friendly ‘veiled one’, and could denote a nun, widow,
to *Medb, who does battle with and is or old woman. Thus the Irish sovereignty fig-
defeated by *Cúchulainn. Cailitin travels with ure, *Cailleach Bhéirre, is best described by
his twenty-seven offspring, and may be called the resonant Irish term rather than the
‘Clan Cailitin’, but insists on being regarded unsatisfactory English translations ‘Nun’,
as a single warrior as all have sprung from a ‘Hag’, or ‘Old Woman of Beare’.
single body. They study sorcery in *Alba In both Ireland and Gaelic Scotland, cail-
[Scotland] and make every throw of their poi- leach also denotes the last sheaf of a harvest
soned spears a direct, lethal hit. Each is muti- and is the subject of many beliefs and prac-
lated, with the left hand and right foot miss- tices. In Ireland farmers hold races at harvest
ing. They almost succeed in drowning time so that industrious farmers may call
*Cúchulainn, before the *Connacht warrior their last sheaf the ‘corn maiden’ while only
*Fiachu mac Fir Fhebe rescues him. Later slower workers are given the cailleach as their
Cúchulainn dispatches him/them, but Cail- last sheaf, presumably a reproach for their
itin’s widow shortly afterwards gives birth to procrastination and dilatory ways. The cail-
sextuplets, three sons and three daughters, all leach is kept during the year; some is given to
hideous and pernicious-looking. Among the the cattle and some shaken on the land to
children is *Badb, who is sometimes called a assure fertility in the coming year. Farm girls
child of *Ernmas. Medb has the children avoid tying the cailleach for fear that they
trained in the black arts so that they may shall never have a husband. In Scotland the
wreak vengeance on Cúchulainn. This they cailleach is tied with a ribbon and hung up on
do by assuming different shapes and luring a nail until spring. On the first day of plough-
the hero into danger, including the battle in ing it is given to the horse as a token of good
which he is slain. Cailitin is a character in W. luck. On the Isle of Lewis the cailleach was
B. Yeats’s play The Countess Cathleen (1892). dressed as a woman and her apron filled with
bread, cheese, and a sickle. Comparable cus-
Caillagh ny Groamagh. [Manx, old toms of the old woman of the fields are
woman of gloominess, sullen witch]. A Manx found in Wales as well as in non-Celtic Euro-
weather-spirit and probable variant of the pean countries.
ScG *Cailleach Bheur. If 1 February (feast of
St *Brigid, Bridget, or Bride; pre-Christian Cailleach Beinne Bric [ScG, the old
*Imbolc) is a fine day she comes out to warm woman of speckled (trout, salmon, wolf,
herself, but if it is a wet day she stays inside. A badger) mountain]. A ScG counterpart of the
fine 1 February, therefore, is a bad omen for *Cailleach Bhéirre.
the rest of the year. The tradition is clearly
related to the American Groundhog Day, 2 Cailleach Bhéirre, Béirre, Béarra, Bheare,
February, centred in Pennsylvania. Her ill Bhéara, Beare, Beara, Bhérri, Calliagh Birra
humour is attributed to her either having fall- [Ir., old woman, hag, nun of Beare]. The Irish
en into a crevice on Barrule, a mountain *sovereignty figure, whose Scottish Gaelic
(1842 feet) on the Isle of Man, or having been counterpart is *Cailleach Beinne Bric. The
thrown out to sea, after which she drifted Cailleach Bhéirre is usually associated with
back. Another name for her is Caillagh ny *Munster, especially the *Beare peninsula in
Gueshag. south-western Ireland, between Bantry Bay
and the Kenmare estuary, in counties Cork
Caillagh ny Gueshag [Manx, the old and *Kerry; also known as *Dígde, Díge, and
woman of the spells]. Another name for *Duineach; a Connacht variant locates her at
*Caillagh ny Groamagh. Slieve Daeane, a hill 4 miles SW of Sligo
69
Cailleach Bheur
town. She also appears to be identical with Berry in *Ulster. Her watery form is known
*Buí or Boí, the wife of *Lug Lámfhota. As as Muileartach.
the allegorical sovereignty figure, she appears
to a knight or hero as an ugly old woman Cailleach Uragaig. The hag of isle of
asking to be loved. When she receives love, Colonsay, Strathclyde (until 1974, *Argyll-
she becomes a beautiful young maiden. The shire). A spirit of winter, Cailleach Uragaig
Cailleach Bhéirre passes through at least keeps a young girl captive and avoids the
seven periods of youth, so that each husband assaults of the girl’s lover by turning herself
passes from her to death of old age. She had into a permanently moist grey headland
fifty foster-children in Beare. Her grand- above the sea.
children and great-grandchildren were
peoples and races. A note in the Book of Lecan Caílte, Cailte, Caoilte, Caelte, Keelta, Kylta.
(c.1400) says that the Cailleach Bhéirre was of Name borne by several figures, seven of
the *Corcu Duibne, a people of south- whom were *Fenians, the best-known being
western Ireland in pre-Norman times. The Caílte mac Rónáin, sometimes described as a
notion that she is a nun who has taken the veil nephew of *Fionn mac Cumhaill, famous for
is a Christian fiction, probably dating from the his fleetness of foot. Caílte is a steward for
8th century. Fionn and once helps him catch two of every
The Cailleach speaks in her own voice in a kind of wild animal when *Gráinne asks for
well-known dramatic monologue, widely them. Caílte can kill *giants. He is also a
translated under different titles. In the poem golden-tongued reciter of tales and poems,
she says she is not the king’s but the poet’s and a favoured minstrel for an evening’s enter-
mistress, and that she admires the plain of tainment. In the *Acallam na Senórach [Col-
*Femen in Tipperary, which may have con- loquy of the Elders] Caílte survives until Chris-
trolled power and wealth. See Jo Radner, ‘The tian times and speaks on behalf of the old
Hag of Beare: The Folklore of a Sovereignty values to St *Patrick. Several poems celebrat-
Goddess’, Tennessee Folklore Society Bulletin, 40 ing nature and the older values are attributed
(1974), 75–81; Donncha Ó hAodha, ‘The to Caílte. In the 8th-century *Imram Brain
Lament of the Old Woman of Beare’, in [Voyage of Bran], Caílte discloses that Fionn
Sages, Saints and Storytellers: Celtic Studies was reincarnated by King *Mongán of the
in Honour of Professor James Carney, ed. *Cycle of Kings. In later ballads on this theme
Donnchadh Ó Corrain (Maynooth, 1989), Caílte is largely displaced by *Oisín. His
308–31. father-in-law was Barrán and his daughter was
The Cailleach Bhéirre has several counter- Suain. He is known as Derglas in some Scot-
parts in English, notably loathsome ladies in tish Gaelic lore; his counterpart in *Macpher-
the Child ballad ‘King Henry’ and Chaucer’s son’s Ossian is Co-alt. Some modern com-
Wife of Bath’s Tale. See Sigmund Eisner, A Tale mentators have asserted that the names Caílte
of Wonder: A Source Study of the Wife of Bath’s and Oisín might both have been originally
Tale (Wexford and New York, 1957). See also nicknames for Fionn, and that the personages
 ; ; ; - grew out of aspects of the older hero.
 . W. B. Yeats used the spelling
Cailleach Buillia for this figure, and may also Cain. This biblical figure appears in the
have implied her in his creation *Clooth-na- *Lebor Gabála [Book of Invasions], where he is
Bare. the first to see Ireland.
Cain Wyry. Welsh for Keyne (or Cain) Vir-
Cailleach Bheur [ScG, the genteel old lady, gin; see .
hag]. A personification of winter in Scottish
Gaelic folklore and a counterpart of *Cail- Cainche, Caince [Ir., melody; songbird;
lagh ny Gueshag of the Isle of Man. The blue- bough, branch]. Also known as Cébha. In
faced Cailleach Bheur was a daughter of the *Fenian ballads Cainche is the daughter of
pale winter sun of 1 November to 1 May. As *Fionn mac Cumhaill. She mates with the
she is born old and ugly (i.e. at the beginning enemy *Goll mac Morna to produce Feadha,
of winter) and ends her time young and beau- who is killed by Fionn. Goll cites this murder
tiful (i.e. as spring) she also presents a parallel as the reason for his final break with Fionn.
with the ever-renewing *Cailleach Bhéirre Her name is anglicized as Keeva (or Keva) of
and *Cailleach Beinne Bric. Known as *Cally the White Skin.
70
Cairbre Nia Fer
Cainder, Cainnear. Name borne by a Cairbre Lifechair [Ir., of the Liffey; Liffey-
daughter of *Medb as well as by a number of lover]. An *ard rí [high king] of Ireland in the
Christian saints. *Fenian Cycle, son of *Cormac mac Airt, and
Cainnlech, Cainnleach [Ir., shining, lustrous antagonist of *Fionn mac Cumhaill and his
(?)]. A daughter of Gamgelta, she was the men. At the beginning of Cairbre’s reign
foster-mother of *Cormac Connloinges, Fionn’s *Fianna has power to rival the king’s.
whose slaying caused her death from grief. When Cairbre’s daughter Sgiamh Sholais
[beauty of light] is to be married, the Fianna
Caíntigern, Caointiarn [Ir., gentle lady]. demand a tribute of twenty gold ingots,
Name borne by several female figures in early which, they say, is customarily paid to them
Irish narrative, most notably the wife of *Fia- on these occasions. Outraged, Cairbre seizes
chna mac Báetáin and mother of the hero this opportunity to rally his allies and crush
*Mongán. the Fianna. In doing so he splits apart the rival
Cainwen [W cain, beautiful; gwen, fair]. A factions of the clans *Baíscne and *Morna,
Welsh name for St *Keyne. the latter joining him. In the final conflagra-
tion, described in *Cath Gabhra [The Battle of
Caipre. Variant spelling of *Cairbre. Gabhair/Gowra], the Fianna are crushed but
Cairbar, Carbar. Character in *Macpher- Cairbre, mortally wounded by *Oscar, puts a
son’s Ossian (1760) borrowed from a number spear through Oscar’s heart, thus dispatching
of Irish and Scottish Gaelic figures. He pur- the greatest Fenian warrior. In other stories
sues *Dar-Thula (based in part on *Deirdre). the battle is named *Cnámross. His brother is
Often referred to as ‘Cairbar the Usurper’. He *Dóel, and his most notable son is *Eochu
was an antagonist of *Oscar the son of Doimlén, father of the rapacious three *Col-
Ossian. See also  -;  las; another son was *Fiachu Sraibthine. The
. story of his conception by Cormac upon
*Eithne Tháebfhota is told in *Esnada Tige
Cairbre, Cairbri, Cairpre, Caipre, Carbre, Buchet [The Melodies of Buchet’s House].
Carbry, Carpre, Coirbre, Coirpre, Corpre
[Ir., charioteer (?)]. A common male name in Cairbre Losc, Lusc [Ir., lame]. Father of
early Ireland, borne by scores of figures in *Daui Dalta Dedad.
both legends and histories, including several Cairbre mac Ethne, Étaíne, Éadaoine. Son
saints. The best-known character with this of *Ogma and *Étan (1), grandson of *Dian
name is probably *Cairbre Lifechair. Cécht, and resident satirist of the *Tuatha Dé
Cairbre 1. The son of *Niall Noígiallach [of Danann. In *Cath Maige Tuired [The (Second)
the Nine Hostages]. He was the founder of a Battle of Mag Tuired] he is treated rudely by
dynasty and gave his name to the barony of *Bres and so composes a satire that causes the
Carbury, Co. Kildare. king’s face to break out in red blotches, a dis-
figurement that allows a call for the latter’s
Cairbre Cinn-Chait, Caitchenn, Cat- resignation. Later his satires break the morale
tchenn [Ir., hard head (?), cat-head (?)]. of the *Fomorians in their battle with the
According to the *Lebor Gabála [Book of Inva- Tuatha Dé Danann. He has the power to
sions], when the Aithech-Túatha [plebeian inflict the *glám dícenn upon his enemies.
races] overthrow the *Milesians they set
Cairbre Cinn-Chait to rule over them, and he Cairbre Músc. Legendary ancestor of the
is sometimes therefore referred to as a usurp- Múscraige, people of Muskerry, the name of
er. During his reign there is only one grain on several areas in Munster, including east of
each stalk of wheat and one acorn on each Lough Derg on the *Shannon. He may also
oak, the rivers are empty of fish, and the cat- be known as Angus (Óengus) Músc.
tle milkless, as nature refuses to condone his Cairbre Nia Fer, Niafer, Niaper. King of
wrongful succession. None the less, he is an *Tara and antagonist of *Cúchulainn in the
ancestor of the *Érainn. After Cairbre’s death *Ulster Cycle, apparently because of a rivalry
his son *Morann, who could have succeeded over *Conchobar’s daughter *Fedelm
him, returns Ireland to the Milesians. Noíchrothach or Noíchride, whom he mar-
Cairbre Cuanach. An *Ulster warrior ries. Cúchulainn disdains *Emer’s older sister
drowned during a battle with *Cú Roí mac *Fial (2) because of her relationship with
Dáiri. Cairbre Nia Fer. Cúchulainn makes short
71
caird
work of him at Ros na Rígh. To avenge this the role. Within the play, however, Cathleen
killing *Erc (1) also engages Cúchulainn in describes herself as the Poor Old Woman; see
battle. Cairbre is celebrated for his twelve also - ;  ;
daughters; his full patronymic is mac Rosa . The name may also be transcribed
Ruaid. Cairbre’s attributed brother is *Find Kathleen O’Hoolihan, etc.
File, mythical king of *Leinster. The name Caitlín has also been applied to
the buck-toothed wife of *Balor of the Evil
caird. Variant spelling of *cerd. Eye in some texts, even though he could have
Cairell. A son of *Fionn mac Cumhaill who no associations with the Christian Catherine;
was killed by his father’s sometime rival, she wounds the *Dagda at the battle of Mag
*Goll mac Morna. Tuired; see   . See also
Rosalind Elizabeth Clark, Great Queens: Irish
Cairenn, Caireann [cf. L Carina]. Secondary Goddesses from the Morrígan to Cathleen Ní
wife, captured slave, of *Eochaid Mugmedón Houlihan (Gerrards Cross and Savage, Md.,
and mother of *Niall Noígiallach [of the 1990).
Nine Hostages] and thus an ancestress of
the *Uí Néill dynasty. Also called Cairenn Cala’ Me. Cornish for May Day; see 
Chasdub [of the dark curly hair]. She was a ; .
daughter of Sachall Balb [balb, stammerer, Caladbolg [Ir. calad, hard]. Also In Calad-
foreigner] of the Britons. Because she was bolg. The lightning sword belonging to sev-
hated by Eochaid’s queen, *Mongfhind, she eral early Irish heroes, notably *Fergus mac
had to draw water for the household in her Róich. With it Fergus chops off the tops of
pregnancy until she delivered Niall. See *Ech- three hills in *Meath. *Fergus mac Léti has a
tra Mac nEchach Muigmedóin [The Adventure sword much like it called Caladhcholg. Sev-
of the Sons of Eochaid Mugmedón]. eral commentators have seen it as an anticipa-
Cairpre. Variant of *Cairbre. tion of the Arthurian *Excalibur. See also
.
caisel, caiseal [cf. L castellum]. Although this
word is often translated as ‘castle’, in a nod to Caladfwlch. Variant spelling of
its Latin root, it more often describes any *Caledfwlch.
large, non-ecclesiastical building made with Calan Awst. Welsh counterpart of
drystone walls. Caisel Muman is the OIr. *Lughnasa.
name for *Cashel.
Calan Gaeaf. See ; ;
Cáit Ní Dhuibhir [Ir., Kate, daughter of .
darkness (?)]. A poetic personification of *Ire-
land. See also  . Calan Mai, Dydd Calan Mai, Galan Mai.
Welsh terms for May Day, celebrated as the
cait sith. See  . beginning of summer, although not to the
Caithbath, Caithbaid. In *Macpherson’s extent of the Goidelic *Beltaine. In early
Ossian (1760), the father of Semo and grand- Welsh literature *Gwyn ap Nudd and
father of *Cuthullin. He is based in part on *Gwythyr fab Greidawl were thought to con-
*Cathbad of the *Ulster Cycle. tend for the beautiful *Creiddylad each Calan
Mai. Until the mid-19th century, bonfires
Caitlín, Ceithlenn, Cethlenn, Ceithlionn, were built and ghosts were thought to wan-
Céthlionn. This Irish version (one of many) der the countryside. The power of the *dyn
of the French name Catherine has been borne hysbys [magician] would be stronger at this
by thousands of historical personages since time. Calan Mai was always thought oppor-
the 12th century. The best-known mythical or tune for courtship and for celebrating the
folkloric bearer of the name is Caitlín Ní regeneration of nature. In north-east Wales
hUallacháin [Ir., the proud], a family name the summer branch, a variant of the Euro-
known under many spellings from Kilkenny pean maypole, was carried from house to
to Clare. As a personification of Ireland house. Sometimes this procession would be
Caitlín Ní hUallacháin is fairly recent and has accompanied by the Cadi Haf [cadi, effemin-
been much influenced by W. B. Yeats’s play ate male; haf, summer], or Yr Hen Gadi [the
Cathleen ni Houlihan (1902), in which the tall, old cadi], a buffoonish figure with blackened
beautiful, and imposing Maude Gonne played face in a man’s coat and a woman’s petticoat
72
Camlan
who collected money in a ladle. Attempts by year of twelve months was adapted to the
the Christian Church to associate Calan Mai solar year by the intercalation of an extra
with St Philip and St James obscured much of month of thirty days every third year. Months
its pagan origin. See Trefor M. Owen, Old are indicated either MAT [good or auspicious]
Welsh Customs, 3rd edn. (Cardiff, 1974). or ANM [an abbreviation for anmat, not
good]; remnants of this usage can be seen in
Calatin. Variant spelling of *Cailitin. the Welsh *Triads which list certain events as
Caledfwlch, Caladfwlch, Caledvwlch [W mad [fortunate] or anfad [unfortunate]. See A.
caled, hard]. Name for *Arthur’s sword in sev- and B. Rees, ‘Light and Dark’, ch. 3 of Celtic
eral Welsh Arthurian narratives, one of many Heritage (London, 1961, 1973), 83–94; Kevin
anticipations of *Excalibur. In *Culhwch ac Danaher, The Year in Ireland: Irish Calendar
Olwen it is listed as one of Arthur’s most cher- Customs (Dublin, 1977); Paul-Marie Duval,
ished possessions and is used by Llenlleawg ‘Les Calendriers’, in Recueil des inscriptions
Wyddel to kill *Diwrnach Wyddel and his gauloises, iii (Paris, 1985); Garrett Olmsted,
men. See also the Irish . The Gaulish Calendar (Bonn, 1992).
Caledonii, Caledonians. A *P-Celtic people Calgacus. Name given by Tacitus to the red-
of ancient Scotland, part of the larger *Pic- headed, sword-wielding native leader
tish population, who occupied land from the defeated by Julius Agricola at Mons Graupius
Tay valley to the Great Glen and gave their in north-eastern Scotland (c.  78–84).
name to the Roman name for Scotland, Unless the name was invented by Tacitus, it is
Caledonia. The Caledonian confederation the oldest recorded for any Scotsman.
included peoples over an even wider area, as Callernish, Callanish. Archaeological site on
far north as Sutherland. As P-Celts, the Cal- the Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland,
edonii may have been more closely related to containing one of the best-preserved *dol-
the Britons, who are ancestors of the modern mens or ‘druidical circles’ to be found any-
Welsh, than they are to the *Q-Celtic Scots, where in Europe. It lies 16 miles W of Stor-
who came from Ireland. noway on the east coast of the island. In folk
Caledvwlch. Variant spelling of tradition the stones are thought to move and
*Caledfwlch. change their places when humans are not
watching. They are referred to in Lewis Gael-
calendar. The Celtic measurement of time ic as Tarsachan Chalanais [the giants of Callan-
appears to have assumed that darkness pre- ish], using a Norse word for ‘giant’.
ceded light. Thus the Celtic calendar of pre-
Christian times measured the year as begin- Calliagh Birra. *Ulster variant of *Cail-
ning with the onset of winter. The Old Irish leach Bhéirre.
name for the first day of the new year is Cally Berry. An Ulster version of the Scot-
*Samain, usually assumed to be 1 November tish Gaelic weather spirit *Cailleach Bheur,
in the Julian and Gregorian calendars (but 11 except that here she is more likely to be a
November in Gaelic Scotland). The beginning malignant, supernatural hag. See also -
of the light half of the year was *Beltaine, 1  .
May (or 15 May in Scotland). The dark half of
the year was further divided by *Imbolc, 1 or Calum Cille. See  .
2 February; and the light half of the year was
divided by *Lughnasa, 1 August (in Scotland Camelot. The fabled residence of King
sometimes as late as 29 September). *Arthur in medieval romances has been
Key to our understanding of the Celtic linked to many locations in England, Wales,
measurement of time are the bronze tablets Cornwall, and even Scotland. Among those
unearthed in 1897 at Coligny, 14 miles NNE with Celtic associations are *Caerleon, *Glas-
of Bourg-en-Bresse (Ain) in eastern France, tonbury, and *Tintagel Castle near Camel-
the most extensive document in the Gaulish ford, Cornwall. Sites in England often men-
language yet found (1st cent. ) and now tioned are Exeter and Cadbury (Somerset),
preserved at Lyons. They detail sixty-two con- where digs during the 1960s proved
secutive months, approximately equal to five inconclusive.
solar years. Months are thirty or twenty-nine Camlan, Camlann. *Arthur’s last battle,
days and are divided into halves. The lunar fought after the peace secured at Mount
73
Camulodunum
Badon, thought to be  537 or 539. The site sen argues for the parallel with Tristan in
has been variously identified: the Camel River Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie, 43 (1924), 385–
at Camelford, *Cornwall; the Cam near Cad- 404, but D. A. Binchy in a more recent edition
bury; near Salisbury; in Somerset; at Cambog- disagrees, Scéla Cano Meic Gartnáin (Dublin,
lanna in *Rheged on the western part of 1963). See also Myles Dillon, ‘The Wooing of
Hadrian’s Wall, now called Birdoswald. Becfhola and the Stories of Cano, Son of
Gartnán’, Modern Philology, 43 (1945), 11–17.
Camulodunum. Roman name, meaning
‘Fort of Camulus’, for two towns in occupied Canola. Legendary discoverer of the harp in
Britain, in Yorkshire and Exeter, the latter Ireland; she heard the sweet murmuring of
coextensive with the modern city of Colches- the wind through sinews clinging to a whale’s
ter, which was the most important port city at skeleton.
that time. See .
Canomagus. [L, hound lord]. Inscription
Camulus, Camulos [Gaul., powerful (?)]. found on a Romano-British shrine to *Apollo,
Important god of early Britain and Gaul, Nettleton Shrub, Wiltshire. See also .
especially among the *Belgae and the Remi.
The Romans equated him with *Mars; at cantref, cantred [W cant, hundred; tref,
Rindern, France, he was cited as Mars– dwelling-place]. A division of land, as seen in
Camulos on a stone with a corona of oak. early Welsh literature, containing 100 dwell-
Elsewhere he was portrayed with a *ram- ings of hamlets. A cantref comprises two or
horned head. Evidence of his popularity can more *commotes. Although the word ‘can-
be seen in several place-names notably tred’ is of Welsh origin, it has been used in
*Camulodunum. Attempts to link him with translations of Irish texts.
the nursery character Old King Cole and
*Fionn’s father *Cumhall have been rejected Cantre’r Gwaelod, Cantref-y-Gwaelod
by contemporary learned commentators. [W, lowland hundred; cf. gwaelod, bottom].
Canada. See  . Welsh *flood legend of great antiquity usu-
ally centring on the realm of *Gwyddno
Canejach. Anglicization of *Caointeach. Garanhir in what is now *Cardigan Bay. In
earliest versions of the story the land is called
Cano [Ir. cana, cano, wolf-cub; poet of the Maes Gwyddno, and is inundated when a
fourth degree]. A historical figure, son of a well-maiden named Mererid neglects her
Scottish king, known in chronicle as Cano duties. In the better-known version, dating
mac Gartnáin (d. 688), whose story seems to from the early 16th century, evidencing Neth-
anticipate that of *Tristan in the Arthurian erlandish influence, the legendary king
legends; in imaginative narrative his father’s *Gwyddno Garanhir reigns over sixteen cities
name is usually Gartnán. The story of his tra- ringed by an embankment with sluices. The
gic love is found in Scéla Cano meic Gartnáin drunken dike-keeper Seithenyn neglects his
found in the *Yellow Book of Lecan (14th duties and allows the waters to flood the land,
cent.). Cano was in exile in Ireland when he drowning all except the king. Yet the bell of
was received in honour by one King Diarmait, Cantre’r Gwaelod’s church is still thought to
whose daughter was already in love with him. be heard on quiet evenings. The legend is also
After she had saved him from danger, he was associated with other points of the Welsh
travelling and visited the house of Marcán, coast, such as Tyno Heylyg further north, and
whose young wife Créd also fell in love with bears striking similarities to the Breton legend
Cano. At a feast she drugged all present of the City of *Ys. Modern perceptions of the
except for Cano and herself and entreated his story are influenced by popular 19th-century
love. He refused to be her lover while he was retellings in English, such as T. J. Ll. Prichard’s
still an exile, but as a pledge he gave her a poem ‘The Land Beneath the Sea’ (1823) and
stone which contained his life. Their attempts T. L. Peacock’s novel The Misfortunes of Elphin
at a tryst were foiled by Créd’s stepson Colcu. (1829). See also Rachel Bromwich, ‘Cantre’r
After a last attempt at Loch Créde was again Gwaelod and Ker-Is’, in The Early Cultures of
frustrated by Colcu, Créd dashed her head North-West Europe, ed. Cyril Fox and Bruce
against a stone. Cano died three days later Dickens (Cambridge, 1950), 217–41; F. J.
after his return to Scotland. Rudolf Thurney- North, Sunken Cities (Cardiff, 1957).
74
Caradog
Canu Heledd [W, the song of Heledd]. One Caolte. Spelling favoured by W. B. Yeats for
of the longest and most unified of the early *Caílte mac Rónaín.
(9th or 10th cent.) narrative known as eng-
lynion, the oldest recorded Welsh metrical Cáomgen. Variant of *Cáemgen [Kevin].
form. The central character and narrator is Caomh, Cóem [Ir. caomh, gentle, noble].
Heledd, the last surviving member of the Legendary eponymous ancestor of the O’Ke-
royal house of *Powys, who laments the pass- effe family of Co. Cork and other counties of
ing of the kingdom, especially of King Munster. According to the stories, Caomh
*Cynddylan, who reigned in the early 7th was a great athlete, a warrior against the
century. Several commentators have posited Norsemen, and a lover, involved with both
the existence of an earlier version, which the *Clídna and *Aoibhil.
anonymous author of the present text applied
to the still lamentable conditions two centur- Caoránach, Keeronagh. Name given to the
ies later. A lost text might explain why Heledd monster banished to *Lough Derg (Co.
blames herself for the fall of Cynddylan’s *Donegal) by St *Patrick. Perceived as
court at Pengwern in *Powys. The character female, she was said to be the mother of
of Heledd may be a renewed instance of the *demons or devils. See also ;
Celtic perception that the land is personified .
by a goddess. The central poem of the cycle, Cape Breton Island. See  .
Stafell Cynddylan [Cynddylan’s Hall] is espe-
cially resonant. Ifor Williams included the Caractacus. Corrupt latinized version of
text, with notes, in Canu Llywarch Hen (Car- *Caradog (1).
diff, 1935). See also Jenny Rowland, Early Caradog, Caradoc, Cradog, Caradawg,
Welsh Saga Poetry (Cambridge, 1990). Caradawc, Caratach [Holinshed’s Chronicles,
Caoilte mac Rónáin. See . 1577], Craddocke [in English ballads], Kara-
doc, Karadawg [cf. W cariad, love, amiability].
Caoimhín. ModIr. spelling of *Cáemgen Name borne by several historical and imagin-
[Kevin]. ary figures of early Welsh tradition, of whom
caoineag [ScG, weeper]. A version of the *Caradog (1) is the best-known. See also the
*banshee known in the northern Highlands Breton *Karadoc.
and in the Hebrides. The caoineag of the Caradog 1. Welsh name for an ancient Brit-
MacDonalds was said to be heard wailing ish chieftain, the son of Cynfelyn, claimed by
after the massacre at Glencoe (1692). She may the Welsh as a national hero. Known to the
be identical with the *caointeach and Romans as Caractacus, he has been a char-
*cadineag. See also . acter in Welsh oral tradition only since the
caointeach, canejach [ScG, mourner, 16th century. Trained by the Silures to defend
whiner]. A version of the *banshee who may western Britain from the Romans, Caradog
also include elements of the *bean nighe as led his people into battle over a period of
localized in the southern Highlands, espe- eight years during the reign of Claudius (after
cially what used to be *Argyllshire (since  51). He was defeated on the slopes of a hill
1974, north Strathclyde). She has been in Shropshire still known as Caer Caradog.
described as a child or a very little woman in a After his defeat he fled to *Cartimandua,
short green petticoat with a high-crowned queen of the *Brigantes, who betrayed him.
white cap. She may also wear a green shawl. Caradog was taken to Rome, where his nobil-
A solitary *fairy, perhaps identical with the ity so pleased the emperor that he pardoned
*caoineag and *cadineag; see . A and released him. In much of Welsh oral trad-
Welsh counterpart is the *cyhyraeth. ition the name of Caradog is a byword for
bravery and nobility; sometimes called Colofn
caointeag. Name for the *caoineach in the Cymry, ‘Pillar of Wales/Cambria’. Under the
isle of Islay and nearby Kintyre. name Caratach (from Holinshed) he is a char-
Caol 1. ModIr. spelling of *Cáel. acter in Beaumont and Fletcher’s Bonduca
2. Another name for *Mac Lugach. (c.1619). Under the latinized form Caractacus
he is the title-character in a play by William
Ca-Olt. Hero in *Macpherson’s Ossian Mason (1725–97) and of a dramatic cantata by

(1760) based on *Caílte mac Rónáin. Sir Edward Elgar (1897).
75
Caradog Freichfras
2. Often spelled as Caradawg; the son of of the action of the *Táin Bó Cuailnge [Cattle
*Bendigeidfran in Branwen, the second Raid of Cooley] takes place. See M. G. Craw-
branch of the *Mabinogi. Caradog is chief of ford, Stories of the Carlingford Lough District
the seven stewards left by Bendigeidfran (Bran (Warrenpoint, Co. Down, 1913). Connected
the Blessed) during the expedition to Ireland. with Lough Neagh by the Newry Canal. The
He dies of grief when the invisible *Caswal- town of Carlingford lies on the south shore in
lon slays the other six. Co. Louth.
Caradog Freichfras, Breibras, Vreichvras Carman, Carmun. Malevolent female figure
[W short arms]. Welsh Arthurian figure, a son in early Irish tradition, perhaps a divinity.
attributed to *Llŷr. In *Chrétien de Troyes he Together with her three sons, Dian [violent,
became Karadues Breibraz and in Breton, fierce], Dub [dark, black], and Dothur
*Karadoc Brech Bras, Vreichvras [armstrong]. [wicked, evil], she blighted the crops of Ire-
Known to be an eloquent and bold speaker, land until the superior magic of the *Tuatha
he is also virtuous and proud. Although Dé Danann drove her sons across the sea. She
unquestionably of Welsh origin, he appears was held captive; later a festival, Óenach
more often in French legends and romances. Carman, localized in Wexford, was held in
Husband of *Tegau Eurfron, the paragon of her honour.
virtue.
Carmarthenshire, Caermarthenshire [W,
Caradog of Llancarfan. Twelfth-century Caerfyrddin]. Former (until 1974) maritime
Welsh historian, sometimes known by his county in south Wales, now the easternmost
patronymic ap Llefoed, who is cited as a con- third of *Dyfed. See   
temporary of *Geoffrey of Monmouth. If he .
completed Geoffrey’s work, the text has not
survived. He is thought to be the author of Carmun. Variant spelling of *Carman.
the Latin Vita Gildae, Life of Gildas, which Carn Galver, Galva. Gentle giant of a well-
includes much Arthuriana. Llancarfan is a vil- known Cornish place-name story. Carn Gal-
lage in Glamorganshire. ver is the playful and gentle giant protector of
Carantoc, Carannog, Crannog, Saint. two villages, Morvah and Zennor, when he
Sixth-century Welsh saint formerly venerated throws a stone and accidentally kills a small
in *Cardiganshire (now *Dyfed), his day boy. He pines for the boy for seven years and
being 16 May. He founded the monastery of dies of a broken heart; now commemorated
Llangrannog, travelled in Ireland, and was in a logan- or rocking-stone, 5 miles NW of
venerated in Brittany as St Karentec. His Penzance.
medieval hagiographers included elements Carnac. One of the most extensive archaeo-
from secular fabulous narratives. logical sites in any Celtic nation or all of
Carbar. Variant spelling of *Cairbar. Europe, near the village of Auray, Morbihan
Department, on the south coast of Brittany.
Cardiganshire [W Ceredigion, Caredigion]. The site includes an alignment of upright
Former maritime county (until 1974) of south megalithic blocks, among them *dolmens,
Wales, now the northernmost third of *cromlechs, and menhirs, extending almost 2
*Dyfed, bordered on the west by Cardigan miles in an approximately east–west direc-
Bay. Named for Ceredigion, a son of tion. Many of the larger uprights are from 11
*Cunedda. In Welsh legend a portion of Car- to 13 feet high. In Breton oral tradition Car-
digan known as *Cantre’r Gwaelod was nac is known as Ty C’harriquet [The House of
flooded to become Cardigan Bay. See also the Gorics], after the gnomes peculiar to the
; the Breton story of ffis; the Irish story area. In another Breton story, the pseudo-
of  . saint *Korneli created the monuments here
by transforming his pursuers into blocks of
Caridwen. Variant spelling of *Ceridwen. stone. See G. E. Daniel, Lascaux and Carnac
Carlingford Lough. Sea inlet, 10 miles long (London, 1955); Z. Le Rouzic, Carnac: Légen-
by 2 miles wide, between Co. Down in des, etc. (Vannes, 1924).
Northern Ireland and Co. Louth in the carpenter. See .
Republic of Ireland, 9 miles NE of Dundalk,

Ireland. It is adjacent to the area where much Carpre. Variant spelling of *Cairbre.
76
Caswallon
Carraig Clíodhna. See . of Roman Studies, 44 (1954), 50 ff.
Carras Dhoo, Carrasdhoo. Legendary Cas Corach, Cascorrach, Cas Corrach [cf.
robbers in Manx history who lured ships to Ir. cas, curled, skilled]. A harper of the
the rocky shores of Maughold Head on the *Tuatha Dé Danann who none the less is
east coast of the island in the hope they described as playing for St *Patrick. In the
would capsize. Although generally portrayed *Acallam na Senórach [Colloquy of the Elders]
as murderers and villains, they are sometimes he follows *Caílte to learn of the patriotic
romanticized. See Esther Nelson, ‘The Carras lore of the *Fenians.
Dhoo Men’, Island Minstrelsy (1837); Hall
Cashel [Ir. caisel, caiseal; L castellum]. The
Caine, The Manxman (1897).
200-foot acropolis of limestone known as the
Carrigcleena, Carrig-Cleena [Ir. carraig Rock of Cashel in central Tipperary is one of
Chlíodhna, Clídna’s rock]. Name given to two the best-known sites in Ireland, often men-
large rocks thought to be sacred to *Clídna. tioned in history and folklore, and visited by
The better-known of the two, 7 miles SSW of thousands of tourists annually. Actually, the
Mallow, Co. Cork, was once thought to be a place-name ‘Cashel’ is recorded elsewhere on
door to the Otherworld. In peasant belief still the Irish map, and the one in Tipperary was
current in the late 19th century, Clídna was once known as Caisel Mumhan [Cashel of
thought to reside in a greensward in a circle Munster] to distinguish it. The *Eóganacht
of rocks; her benevolence would spare the occupied the rock in perhaps the 5th century,
area from blighted crops, diseased cattle, mis- before the alleged visit of St *Patrick, whose
chievous spirits, etc. The second Carrigcleena, name is often associated with it. His first use
also associated with Clídna, is off Inch Strand, of the shamrock as a Christian symbol is
2 miles SE of Ross Carbery, Co. Cork. thought to have been here. In any case,
Cashel is the only Irish royal seat to have a
Carril, Carrill. Variant spellings of *Cairell.
Latin-derived name, and for all its reputation
Carrog [W, torrent]. Name given to the it lacks the antiquity of *Cruachain, *Tara, or
monster of the Vale of *Conway, *Gwynedd. *Emain Macha. The legendary founder of the
kingship of Cashel was *Corc mac Luigthig.
Carrowmore [Ir. ceathrú mhór, big quarter].
The site was given to the Church at the
Site in Co. Sligo, 2.5 miles SW of Sligo town
beginning of the 12th century. The celebrated
and 15 miles NE of Tubbercurry, known for the
Cormac’s Chapel, named for *Cormac mac
*Fir Bolg ‘burial mounds’, a field of megaliths.
Carthaig (d. 1138), was built there 1127–34.
Carthach [Ir., loving person]. Name borne The larger gothic cathedral, now roofless and
by many personages in early Ireland, both in disrepair, was begun in the 13th century. In
secular and ecclesiastical, of whom the best- folklore and history the use of ‘Cashel’ more
known was the founder and eponym of the often implies the rock, its earlier political
McCarthy [Mac Carthaigh] family in Munster. associations or later ecclesiastical ones, rather
than the small nearby town (pop. c.3,500) of
Carthon, Carthonn. The son of Clessam-
the same name.
mor and Maona in *Macpherson’s Ossian
(1760) who is slain by his own father in a sin- Cassivellaunus, Cassibela(u)nus. Roman
gle combat. He appears to be based on name for a British chieftain north of the
*Connla, who was similarly killed by Thames who commanded the forces resisting
*Cúchulainn. *Caesar’s second invasion (54 ). He was
defeated and sued for peace. Known as Cas-
Cartimandua. Chieftainess of the north
sibelen in Shakespeare’s Cymbeline (1610–11),
British people the *Brigantes at the time of
he may have contributed to the character of
Roman expansion (1st cent. ). She repudi-
*Caswallon in Welsh literature. Sometimes
ated her husband and took command of her
thought of as the brother of *Lludd.
people, but sought protection from the
Romans and became in a sense their client. Caswallon, Caswallawn, Caswallan. Son of
When *Caradog (Caractacus) fled to her in *Beli Mawr in the *Mabinogi/Mabinogion who
defeat, she betrayed him to the Romans. In conquers Britain in Bendigeidfran’s (Bran the
worship she invoked Brigantia––‘the high Blessed’s) absence, killing all but *Caradog (2)
one’. Often compared with *Boudicca. See and righting the wrongs of *Branwen. His
Ian Richmond, ‘Queen Cartimandua’, Journal cloak of invisibility or veil of illusion allows
77
cat
him to wield his deadly sword without being classifies them by theme. The following
seen. When he is crowned king in London, entries employing Cath are alphabetized
*Pryderi pays homage. His characterization word by word rather than letter by letter. Cf.
may have drawn from the historical figure Old Celtic calu; W cad, ‘battle’.
*Cassivellaunus. A brother of *Arianrhod and
sometimes a brother of *Lludd. Rachel Bro- Cath Cnucha. See   .
mwich (1954) has posited the existence of a Cath Fionntrágha, Finntrága. Irish title for a
lost saga dealing with Caswallon’s wars in narrative of the *Fenian Cycle known in Eng-
Britain. lish as The Battle of Ventry, The Battle of
cat. The domesticated feline has long played Ventry Harbour, The Battle of the White
a role in the Celtic imagination, although not Strand, etc. The text derives from 15th-
so prominent as that of the *dog or of several century recension, but references to it occur
large wilder animals. Cat features adorning as early as the 12th century; the narrative, of
ancient carved heads may imply fearfulness. little literary distinction, details at tedious
The cognomen of the Irish usurper *Cairbre length the invasion of Ireland by *Dáire
Cinn-Chait means ‘cat head’. There are sev- Donn, the ‘King of the World’, and his repul-
eral monster cats in Celtic tradition, including sion by *Fionn mac Cumhaill and his
the *cat sìth of the Highlands and the *cath *Fianna. The battle takes place at Ventry
Paluc of Wales. *Aíbill was changed into a Harbour, Co. *Kerry, 4 miles W of *Dingle.
white cat by *Clídna. The Shetlands were Dáire has been identified by different com-
known as Inisc Cat [Cat Islands] in earlier mentators as a late Roman emperor, an
Scottish Gaelic tradition. The former shire of emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, or even
Caithness was apparently named for an Charlemagne. He has invaded because (a) he
ancient people whose emblem was the cat. In wants to seek revenge for Fionn’s dishonour-
Scotland also, live cats were roasted in a bru- ing the French throne when he carried off the
tal divination rite known as taghairm. In Irish king’s wife and daughter, (b) he lacks further
folklore the *Kilkenny cats represented a worlds to conquer and so needs remote, poor
mutually self-destructive enmity in a story Ireland, or (c) he has heard of Fionn’s glory
that appears to have an origin in political and so wants to challenge the great hero. The
experience. Elsewhere in Irish tradition black battle rages on interminably and serves as an
cats were thought to be lucky, and the blood example of the motif folklorists call ‘the ever-
of a black cat was thought to cure St Antho- lasting fight’ (formula Z12, tale type 2300),
ny’s fire (erysipelas). See    . becoming an omnium gatherum of Fenian
ModIr. cat; ScG, cat; Manx kayt; W cath; energies. Variants of the narrative have been
Corn. cath; Bret. kazh. recorded in oral tradition, changing details
considerably. In some Irish versions Dáire
cat sìth. The fairy *cat of Scottish Gaelic Donn is the king of Lochlainn, and in a Scot-
tradition, described as being as large as a tish version (recorded 1524) he is the king of
*dog, black, with a white spot on its breast, Norway. The narrative may derive from an
with an arched back and erect bristles. High- earlier text, Cath Trága Rudraigi, in which a
landers commonly explained the cat sìth as a large body of Norsemen invade Ireland at
transformed witch, not a *fairy. The cat sìth Dundrum Bay, Co. Down. In a pseudo-
may be related to the demonic cat sometimes etymology, Rudraigi was thought to contain
known as ‘Big Ears’ summoned in the brutal the word ruad [red, ruddy], making a parallel
divination ceremony known as the taghairm, with Fionntráigi [white strand]. Texts have
in which cats were roasted alive for four days. been edited three times: anonymously (Bos-
See also  . ton, 1856); by Kuno Meyer (Oxford, 1885);
Catalin. Variant spelling of *Cailitin. and by Cecile O’Rahilly, using Rawlinson
B487 (Dublin, 1962).
Catan, Saint. Legendary saint of 11th-
century Scotland who gave his name to the Cath Gabhra [The Battle of Gabhair/
*Clan Chattan, a supra-organization of clans Gowra]. Narrative from the *Fenian Cycle. Its
claiming *Pictish origin. distinction within the cycle is that it portrays
the *Fianna in an unattractive light and shows
cath. An Irish word meaning ‘battle’ which their power coming to an end with the death
begins the title of many narratives and so of *Oscar. The reigning high king of Ireland,
78
Cath Maige Tuired
*Cairbre Lifechair [of the Liffey] refuses to Mag Tuired; the place-name ‘Mag Tuired’ has
pay a tribute to the Fianna when his daughter many variants: Mag or Magh Tuireadh,
Sgiamh Sholais [Ir., beauty of light] is Tured, Tuireadh, etc.; Moytura, Moytirra,
betrothed to be married. Cairbre resolves that etc. There are actually two battles associated
he would rather die in ridding the country of with Mag Tuired, and although their narra-
the Fianna than try to rule Ireland blighted by tives are confused, they are not identical, nor
their immorality. He provokes the final con- were they fought in the same place. The sec-
flict by killing *Fionn mac Cumhaill’s servant ond is by far the more important of the two
*Ferdia, obliging the Fianna to declare war. battles, and is the one more likely intended if
The bloodbath is at Gabhair, coextensive with only one is cited. From commentary in other
the modern Garristown in north-west Co. texts we judge that the battles were separated
Dublin; variant texts place the battle near by twenty-seven years (a magical number,
Skreen, Co. Meath. The pitched battle three times nine); the first took place on
includes all the Fenians as well as the family *Beltaine (1 May, the first day of summer),
of Sgiamh Sholais’s suitor, a prince of the while the second was on *Samain (1 Novem-
*Déisi (Co. Waterford). The climax of the ber, the first day of the Celtic year). The
action comes when a mortally wounded place-name Mag Tuired is usually translated
Cairbre casts his spear through Oscar’s heart. ‘Plain of Pillars’ (W. B. Yeats preferred ‘Plain
Fionn weeps for the only time at the death of of Towers’), and is most often identified with
any Fenian, and he is killed by Aichlech. Oisín an area still known as Moytirra near Lough
escapes. Some chronicles date the battle at  Arrow, in south-east Co. Sligo near the Ros-
284. A rival story of the death of Cairbre common border. The area is filled with
names the battle as *Cnámross. upright megalithic monuments, dating from
An early translation of the text of Cath Gab- 2000–2500 . The first battle should have
hra is vol. 1 of the Transactions of the Ossianic taken place near Cong, Co. Mayo (Mag
Society, by Nicholas O’Kearney (Dublin, 1853; Tuired Conga). Other suggested sites include
repr. New York, 1980); trans. into French by H. the Plain of Pillars north of Tuam, Co. Gal-
d’Arbois de Jubainville (Louvain, 1884). way, and Ballysadsare, Co. Sligo.
The lengthy narrative preceding the action
Cath Godeu. Corrupt form of *Cad Goddeu. of the two battles of Mag Tuired is given in
Cath Maige Mucrama, Muccrime. Irish the pseudo-history or fictionalized history of
title for a narrative known in English as The the *Lebor Gabála [Book of Invasions]. That
Battle of Mag Mucrama and part of the document details the successive invasions of
*Cycle of the Kings. The work has been Ireland by five groups: (1) under *Cesair, a
described by one commentator as a political granddaughter of the biblical Noah; (2) the
scripture, a mixture of genuine history with *Partholonians, who perished in a plague; (3)
symbolic fiction, whose function is to propa- the *Nemedians; (4) the *Fomorians, not a
gandize rather than to entertain. *Lugaid separate invasion but euhemerized deities
mac Con, returned from exile, defeats the characterized as demonic pirates who con-
kings of *Munster (his own brother *Eógan stantly prey upon settlers and appear in
(3)) and of *Tara, and himself becomes the strength at the Second Battle of Mag Tuired;
king of north and south. On the night before and (5) the *Fir Bolg, mythologized extrapo-
the battle, in which both men are slain, *Art lations of the *Belgae or Builg, the *P-Celtic
mac Cuinn fathers *Cormac mac Airt, one of people who did indeed have some settlers in
the most famous kings of early Ireland, and Ireland. The sixth invaders were the *Tuatha
*Eógan (3) fathers *Fiachu Muillethan, the Dé Danann, euhemerized deities who had
first of the *Eóganacht kings. Mag Mucrama learned the arts of heathendom in ‘the north-
is located west of Athenry, Co. Galway. See ern islands of the world’ before they arrived
the most recent edition of text by M. O’Daly, in Ireland.
Irish Texts Society, vol. 50 (London, 1975).
The First Battle of Mag Tuired, or The Battle of
Cath Maige Ráth [The Battle of Mag Rath]. Mag Tuired of Cong. The focus of the First
See  . Battle is the invasion of Ireland by the Tuatha
Cath Maige Tuired. Irish title for one of the Dé Danann and their overcoming of the Fir
key documents in the *Mythological Cycle Bolg. Although the text is later than for the
whose title in English is usually The Battle of Second Battle, the action is portrayed as
79
Cath Maige Tuired
happening twenty-seven years earlier. When narrative are found in Irish literature from the
the Tuatha Dé Danann land, they burn their 12th century on.
ships on the beach to forbid retreat. They The narrative begins with a recounting of
demand kingship from the Fir Bolg, who of some of the action from the First Battle of
course refuse, and enter into fierce battle. In Mag Tuired, followed by the story of Bres’s
the fighting the arm of *Nuadu, king of the conception. Bres was an odd choice to replace
Tuatha Dé Danann, is severed at the shoul- Nuadu as king of the Tuatha Dé Danann. He
der by *Sreng, a warrior of the Fir Bolg. To may have been ‘the Beautiful’, but his pedi-
replace the loss, the physician *Dian Cécht gree was strange. His father, Elatha, had been
with the help of the *smith *Credne makes reared among the Tuatha Dé Danann, but he
Nuadu a wonderful new arm of silver; was king of the Fomorians. Once king him-
henceforth the wounded king is known as self, Bres proves oppressive, and the country
Nuadu Airgetlám [of the Silver Hand, Arm]. falls under the sway of the alien Fomorians.
With only one natural arm Nuadu is no The great *Dagda is reduced to building a
longer fit to be king, and so the title passes to fort for Bres, and Ogma to fetching firewood.
*Bres, the son of a Tuatha Dé woman and the Worse, Bres lacks the most esteemed mark of
Fomorian king *Elatha. The Tuatha Dé a good king: generosity. The Danann chiefs
Danann sue for peace by offering the Fir complain that ‘their knives are not greased by
Bolg half of Ireland, but this is refused. him and however often they visit him their
When the battle is renewed *Eochaid mac breath does not smell of ale’. There is no
Eirc, king of the Fir Bolg, is overcome by entertainment in the royal household. When
thirst, but the rivers and streams are hidden the Danann poet *Cairbre comes to visit, Bres
from his vision by the druids of the Tuatha accommodates him in an outhouse. The poet
Dé Danann. While he is in vain search of responds with a satire that causes Bres to
water, the hapless Eochaid is slain with three break out in red blotches. At the request of
companions, setting back the Fir Bolg cause. Tuatha Dé Danann leaders, Bres renounces
The battle continues with great slaughter, his kingship and sets out to muster a Fomo-
greater for the Fir Bolg. At last Sreng, now rian army in his support.
king in Eochaid’s place, agrees to a peace Meanwhile the previous king, Nuadu, is
that will allow him only *Connacht of all reinstated, his silver arm seeming less of an
Ireland’s provinces, while the rest of the Fir obstacle now. One day a hero comes to his
Bolg scatter to distant islands, *Aran (or door, *Lug Lámfhota, here called Samild-
*Arran, *Scotland), Rathlin, Islay in the ánach [Ir., possessing many arts together].
Inner Hebrides, etc. When a doorkeeper tells Lug that he cannot
Learned commentators have not agreed on enter unless he has an art, he describes him-
the significance of the First Battle of Mag self as a carpenter, smith, champion, histor-
Tuired. John Rhŷs and Henri d’Arbois de ian, sorcerer, physician, cupbearer, and bra-
Jubainville thought the First to be only a zier. When Lug passes a test of his merit at a
retelling of the Second Battle of Mag Tuired. T. board-game, Nuadu relinquishes his throne
F. O’Rahilly thought the First was myth- so that Lug may lead the Tuatha Dé Danann
ologized history, i.e. that there was a histor- in battle. Under his direction the craftsmen
ical correlative to the story, while the Second fashion wondrous weapons, and sorcerers
was rationalized (by antagonistic Christian practise magic to be used in fighting.
scribes) mythology, i.e. a war of the Irish Once the battle begins, the slaughter is
gods. See T. F. O’Rahilly, Early Irish History great on both sides. The Tuatha Dé Danann
and Mythology (Dublin, 1946). gain an advantage when their dead are
restored to life by Dian Cécht and his three
The Second Battle of Mag Tuired. The focus of children. Lug is able to use some of his magic
the Second Battle is between the now domin- to aid the armies when he assumes the char-
ant Tuatha Dé Danann and the resurgent acteristic posture of the sorcerer. Balor is a
Fomorians [Ir. Fomoire]. Two of the principal formidable enemy, as his baleful gaze can des-
combatants were *Lug Lámfhota of the troy an army. His eyelid is so mighty that it
Tuatha Dé Danann and *Balor of the Fomo- takes four men to lift it (cf. the eyelids of
rians. The text is found in Harleian MS 5280, *Ysbaddaden in Wales). Balor has made short
but the language suggests composition in the work of Nuadu when he meets Lug on the
9th or 10th centuries. Cross-references to the battlefield. The resourceful Lug puts a sling-
80
Cathbad
stone through Balor’s eye which goes crash- provisions; later Eithne marries *Cormac
ing out through the back of his skull, killing mac Airt and bears his son, *Cairbre
twenty-seven Fomorians. The Fomorians are Lifechair. His son *Failge is the eponym of
routed and expelled from Ireland forever. Bres Co. Offaly in Leinster. Another daughter was
is captured, but hopes to save his life by prom- *Cochrann, the mother of *Diarmait Ua
ising that the cattle will always be in milk and Duibne. *Fionn mac Cumhaill is often reck-
that there will always be good harvests. His oned to have been born in his reign. The
offers are rejected, but he is spared in return name is often translated as ‘Charles’, with
for advice on the appropriate times for which it has no etymological link. See the
ploughing, sowing, and reaping. *Mórrígan poem of James Clarence Mangan, ‘The Tes-
announces the end of the battle, and the text tament of Cathaeir Mor’ (1847).
ends with the prophecy by *Badb, the war-
goddess, of the end of the world. Cathal, Cahal [Ir., strong in battle]. Com-
Elizabeth Gray edited and translated the mon name in Ireland of the early Middle
text for the Irish Texts Society, vol. 52 (Dublin, Ages, borne by hundreds of historical figures
1982) and published a study of it, Éigse, 18 in genealogies but not by figures in imagina-
(1981), 183–209; 19 (1982–3), 1–35, 230–62. tive narrative. The name is often translated as
See also Kim McCone, ‘A Tale of Two Ditties: ‘Charles’, with which it has no etymological
Poet and Satirist in Cath Maige Tuired’, in link.
Donnchadh Ó Corráin et al. (eds.), Sages, Cathal Crobderg, Crobhdhearg [Ir., of the
Saints and Storytellers (Maynooth, 1989), 122– (wine-)red hand]. A king of *Connacht (d.
43; William Sayers, Bulletin of the Board of 1224), thought to be the brother or son of the
Celtic Studies, 34 (1976) 26–40; J. Fraser, ‘The last high king of Ireland, Ruaidrí Ua Con-
First Battle of Moytura’, Ériu, 8 (1915), 1–63; chobair [Rory O’Connor]. Many legends have
Henry Morris, ‘[On] The First Battle of Magh attached themselves to Cathal. After his con-
Turedh’, Journal of the Royal Society of Anti- ception out of wedlock, his father’s legal wife
quaries, 58 (1928), 111–27; Padraic Colum, and queen tried unsuccessfully to thwart his
Moytura: A Play for Dancers (Dublin, 1963). birth. He was spirited away to a distant area,
Cath Paluc, Balug, Balwg [W, Palug’s cat]. A but he could always be identified by a wine-
monstrous *cat of Welsh tradition, known to red birthmark on his hand, which he covered
haunt Mona (*Anglesey) especially. According with a glove. When a passing stranger told
to the *Triads, nine score warriors fell to him that the throne of Connacht was vacant,
make food for the cat. Cath Paluc may serve Cathal ceased his hard farm labour, cutting
as a model for Chalapu of Arthurian trad- rye, and went to assume his throne by show-
ition. See also the   of Scotland. ing his birthmark. See James Clarence Man-
gan’s poem ‘A Vision of Connaught in the
Cathach Chatutchenn [Ir., bellicose, hard- Thirteenth Century’ (c.1845).
headed]. A *female warrior who loved
*Cúchulainn. Cathal mac Finguine, Fionghuine. Power-
ful *Munster king (d. 742), with a capital at
Cathair Chrofhind [Ir. cathair, fortress]. *Glendamain, who is portrayed in *Aislinge
An alternate name for *Tara, used by the Meic Con Glinne [The Vision of Mac Con
*Tuatha Dé Danann. Glinne] as having a body inhabited by a
Cathaír Mór, Catháer Már, Cathaoir Mór, demon of gluttony. In a verse composed
Catháeir Mór, Cahir More [see also Hiberno- many years after his death, Cathal was
Brittonic catu-tegernos, battle-lord]. A legend- thought to have been visited by *Mór
ary ancestral king of *Leinstermen, thought Muman, the *sovereignty goddess, but the
to have reigned just before *Conn Cétchath- author has confused him with his grand-
ach [of the Hundred Battles]. In the most father, also named Cathal.
common version of the story, Conn kills Cathaoir. ModIr. spelling of *Cathaír.
Cathaír and displaces him; in variants *Goll
mac Morna or others do the killing. In *Esna- Cathbad, Cathbhadh, Cabadius. Chief
da Tige Buchet [The Melodies of Buchet’s *druid of the court of *Conchobar mac
House], Cathaír’s daughter *Eithne Nessa and one of the leading figures of the
Tháebfhota is fostered to Buchet, while his *Ulster Cycle. He predicts the fate of *Deir-
twelve uncontrollable sons eat all Buchet’s dre before she is born. He teaches *Cúchu-
81
Cathleen
lainn, who overhears him saying that the symbolize both plenty and the powers of
youth who takes up arms on a certain day will resuscitation, and could have implied powers
become the champion of Ireland but will die over fertility. The ruler of the *Otherworld
young. His daughter is *Findchóem, mother characteristically has a cauldron in his role as
of *Conall Cernach. In some versions he is dispenser of feasts. The *Bruidne or feasting-
the real father of Conchobar. *Macpherson’s halls of Ireland were equipped with
character *Caithbath in Ossian (1760) seems inexhaustible cauldrons. Not surprisingly,
based on Cathbad. then, many commentators have seen links
between the cauldron of Celtic tradition and
Cathleen. Anglicized spelling of a name
the Arthurian Grail.
usually spelled *Caitlín in Irish. Cathleen Ni
There are many famous cauldrons in Celtic
Houlihan is W. B. Yeats’s rendering of
narrative. The cauldron of the *Dagda was
*Caitlín Ní hUallacháin. Cathleen’s Falls is
one of the treasures of the *Tuatha Dé Dan-
another name for *Assaroe.
ann. The cauldron of Gwigawd was one of
Cathubodua [raven of battle]. Gaulish god- the treasures of Britain. The *Partholonians
dess known only from an inscription in Haute of Brea had the first cauldron in Ireland.
Savoie in eastern France; thought to be an *Cúchulainn twice brought magic cauldrons
anticipation of *Badb, the Irish war-goddess. back from Scotland. *Ceridwen had a caul-
Perhaps identical with Cauth Bodva. dron of inspiration or wisdom from which
*Gwion Bach tasted before he became
Cathulla. King of Innistore in *Macpher-
*Taliesin. A cauldron of regeneration attracts
son’s Ossian (1760), whose residence was at
much attention in Branwen, the second
Carric-thura. He was the father of *Clatho,
branch of the Welsh *Mabinogi. *Bendigei-
the second wife of *Fingal.
dfran obtains it mysteriously in Ireland, and
Catoc, Catog. Variant spellings of *Cadog. gives it to Matholwch in compensation for the
mischief of *Efnisien. Other cauldrons
Catraeth [cf. L cataracto, waterfall]. Decisive
belonged to *Diwrnach of Ireland in the
6th-century battle in British history in which
Welsh story of *Culhwch ac Olwen; *Arawn,
Saxons crushed British (i.e. Welsh) chieftains.
king of *Annwfn; and the historical king of
The site of the battle is coextensive with the
early Scotland (Fifeshire), *Eochaid Buide.
ford of Catterick Bridge on the River Swale,
2.5 miles SE of Richmond, Yorkshire; remem- Cause of the Battle of Cnucha. See 
bered in the well-known Welsh poem, the  .
*Gododdin (6th cent.), attributed to *Aneirin.
Cauth Bodva. A Gaulish anticipation of
cattle. See ; . *Badb, the Irish war-goddess. Perhaps identi-
cal with *Cathubodua.
Cattle Raid of . . . . See  . . . .
Caval. Tennyson’s spelling of *Cabal.
Cattwg, Catwg. Variant spellings of *Cadog.
cave. The natural hollow in a mountain, hill,
Caturix [battle-king]. Sometime epithet of
or cliff has been the subject of much specula-
Gaulish *Mars.
tion in the Celtic imagination. It is often the
cauldron. The cauldron was widely used in realm of the *fairy or a route to the *Other-
the Celtic nations from ancient to medieval world. One tradition has *Oisín living in a
times, as abundant archaeological and literary cave for 300 years. Creatures who live in caves
evidence testifies. The best-known surviving include the ciuthach (see *cughtagh of Scot-
cauldron from ancient times is the ornately tish Gaelic tradition, the *buggane and
decorated silver one possibly made in Gaul *cughtagh on the Isle of *Man, and *Luchti-
and found at Gundestrup, Denmark, for gern in the famous cave of *Dunmore, Co.
which it is now named. It may be a Rosetta Kilkenny, Ireland. The name of *Forgall
Stone for interpreting both mythology and Monach’s fortress, Lusca, employs an old
literature; see  . Caul- word for cave. Caves were often entrances to
drons were used for domestic and sacrificial as the Otherworld. See John Rhŷs, ‘Welsh Cave
well as other ritual purposes. At the same Legends’, in Celtic Folklore (Oxford, 1891) 456–
time it is clear that the cauldron was a pres- 96. See also ’s ; ; 
tige possession and restricted for the most  (1). ModIr. uaimh; ScG uaimh; Manx
part to the homes of the rich. It could ooig; W ogof; Corn. fogo, gogo, ogo; Bre. kev.
82
Céis Chorainn
Caw o Prydyn, o Brydyn, Kaw (Bret.). and Mediaeval Romances’ (Dublin, 1969),
Hero of Welsh Arthuriana who came from 123–9.
Prydyn [Britain] in Scotland to join Arthur’s Ceallach. ModIr. spelling of *Cellach.
court. In *Culhwch ac Olwen Caw attacks the
great *boar *Ysgithrwyn Pen Beidd, splitting Cearb [ScG, cutting (?), slaughtering (?)]. A
its head in two and taking its tusks. He col- malevolent spirit in Scottish Gaelic folklore,
lects the warm blood of the black witch and widely cited but little explained; thought to be
so shaves the *giant *Ysbaddaden. a killer of men and cattle. Folk motif:
F402.1.11.
cawr. The Welsh word for *giant.
Cearmaid. ModIr. spelling of *Cermait.
Cayous. Variant spelling of Sir *Kay, the
Arthurian figure. Cearnach. ModIr. spelling of the cognomen
Cernach; see  .
Cé. A druid in the service of *Nuadu
wounded at *Cath Maige Tuired [The (Second) Ceasair. Variant spelling of *Cesair.
Battle of Mag Tuired]. *Cathaír Mór also had Céatach. Variant spelling of *Céadach.
a druid with that name.
ceatharn. ModIr. form of *ceithern.
Céadach, Céadach Mór, Ceudach, Cétach
[Ir., having a hundred (wiles)]. Familiar figure Cébhra. Variant form of *Cainche.
from Irish and Scottish Gaelic (where he is ceffyl dwfr, dŵr [W, water horse]. A
known as Ceudach) folklore, especially since malevolent horse-like creature inhabiting
the beginning of the 19th century. He is often streams and lakes in Welsh folklore; a coun-
an interloper in *Fenian tales, where he may terpart of the Ir. and ScG *each uisce/uisge,
disguise himself in skins. Although he always the Scottish *kelpie, and the Manx *cabyll-
appears to want to join the Fenians, his ushtey and *glaistyn; see also the .
reasons are unclear; he is often quarrelsome.
Céadach is his usual name, but he may have Cei, Cai, Che, Kei. Sometimes with the
many others, such as *Abartach. In a story patronymic ap Cynyr or vab Cynyr [son of
recorded on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Cynyr]. A character in Welsh Arthurian stor-
he gives himself the grand moniker Ceudach ies, a companion of *Arthur along with
Mac Rìgh nan Collach, ‘The Yearling Son of *Bedwyr, Cei is also the seneschal of Arthur’s
the King’. household and has a personality composed of
In one of the best-known stories about unequal parts of courage and buffoonery. In
him, Céadach is sent on a dangerous mission the early poetry, such as the 12th-century
where he is expected to be killed; he returns a *Black Book of Carmarthen, he appears to be a
hero. Against the wishes of his beautiful wife, great and admirable hero. In the later
Céadach agrees to accompany the Fianna to romances, however, he descends into a surly
war. The wife makes *Fionn mac Cumhaill steward characterized by cruel, sometimes
agree to hoist sails if her husband does not ridiculous behaviour. Even in the later
return. Although he leads the Fianna to vic- material he can still initiate action. He is clear-
tory, Céadach is stabbed in the last battle. ly a model for Sir *Kay in English Arthurian
Before dying Céadach warns Fionn not to narratives. See also  .
hoist the sails, because his wife’s breath will See Rachel Bromwich, Trioedd Ynys Prydain,
blow a blast that would destroy everything for 2nd edn. (Cardiff, 1978), 303–7, 547.
a hundred miles. When the wife receives the Ceingalad, Keingalet (Bret.), Grangalet,
body, she takes her husband to a desert island Gringolet, Guingalet (Fr.) [W, hard back (?),
where three brothers do daily battle with durable spine (?)]. Horse of the Welsh and
armies of *giants who return to life each Breton hero *Gwalchmai fab Gwyar, who
night. The wife asks the brothers to use their contributes to the figure known as Gawain in
magical power to restore Céadach, which English Arthurian romance and Gauvain in
they do. To repay them, Céadach kills all the French Arthurian romance.
giants and lies in wait at night to see how they
are revived. When he sees an ancient hag Ceinwen [W cain, beautiful; gwen, fair]. A
sprinkling the giants with drops from a Welsh form of St *Keyne.
churn, he beheads her, making the island for- Céis Chorainn, Chorrainn. A hill in Co.
ever safe. See Alan Bruford, ‘Gaelic Folk-Tales Sligo, much cited in *Fenian narratives.
83
ceisnoidhe Uladh
Known in English as Keshcorran, the hill See Kuno Meyer (ed.), Death Tales of Ulster
(1183 feet) is 4 miles SE of *Ballymote, near Heroes (Dublin, 1906); repr. in T. P. Cross and
Lough Arrow. *Diarmait asked for Céis Cho- C. H. Slover (eds.), Ancient Irish Tales (New
rainn as part of *Gráinne’s dowry. In some York, 1936, 1969), 340–3. See also ‘Celtchair
versions of their story, the fugitive lovers lived mac Cuthechair’, in M. E. Dobbs, Side-Lights
here for a number of years and raised several on the Táin Age (Dundalk, 1917); Kim
children. Here *Caílte mac Rónáin earned his McCone, ‘Aided Cheltchair maic Uthechair:
name, and *Fionn was bewitched by hags. Hounds, Heroes, and Hospitallers in Early
Irish Myth and Story’, Ériu, 35 (1984), 1–30.
ceisnoidhe Uladh [Ir., nine days’ affliction/
pangs of the Ulstermen]. See  . Celtic. A subfamily of the Indo-European
ceithern, ceithearn. OIr. word meaning family of languages. In antiquity, speakers of
‘band of fighting men’, yielding ceithernach, Celtic languages could be found in what is
ceathernach, anglicized as kern, kerne. today Turkey (the Galatians of St Paul’s let-
ModIr. ceatharn, ceatharnach. See also . ters), the Balkans, and most of central and
western Europe from the Danube valley to
Ceithlenn, Ceithlionn. Variant spellings of the British Isles, including large portions of
*Caitlín. northern Italy and the Iberian peninsula. In
modern times the living Celtic languages have
Céitinn, Seathrún. Seventeenth-century been Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx (now
Irish poet and historian usually known by his extinct) from the Goidelic or *Q-Celtic
English name, Geoffrey *Keating. branch, and Welsh, Cornish (now extinct),
Cellach, Ceallach [Ir., strife, contention (?); and Breton from the Brythonic, Cymric, or
frequenter of churches (?); bright-headed (?)]. *P-Celtic branch. Despite stereotypes, the
Name borne by many figures in early Irish Celtic languages have been spoken by a wide
history and legend. One was a nephew or son variety of physical types, from short and dark
of *Cormac mac Airt, who raped a *Déisi to tall and fair.
princess and was slain by *Angus (4) in Much controversy surrounds speculation
revenge. A second was the progenitor of the on the meaning of the word ‘Celt’. It appears
Kelly or O’Kelly family, Ir. Uí Chellaig, Ó to be derived from the Greek keltoí, used to
Ceallaigh, etc. denote a people north of what is now Mar-
seilles. Julius *Caesar also reported that the
Celliwig. Variant spelling of *Kelliwic. Gauls described themselves as Celtae. The
Celtchair, Celtchar, Celtar, Keltchar. Often perception that the Celtic languages were all
with the patronymic mac Uithechair, mac related was slow in coming, and thus the
Uthechar, mac Cuthechair, mac Uthidir, etc.; word ‘Celtic’ did not always denote all the
sometimes Celtchair Mór [the Great]. A lead- Celtic-speaking peoples. *Classical commen-
ing figure in the *Ulster Cycle, often included tators did not call the inhabitants of the Brit-
in catalogues of the most important fighters. ish Isles Celts, and the word ‘Celt’ has no
Several stories describe him as huge and grey. counterpart in Old Irish or Old Welsh, as
He may boast of his killing, but in *Scéla speakers of those languages did not see them-
Mucce meic Da Thó [The Story of Mac Da selves as forming a linguistic community. The
Thó’s Pig], Celtchair is humiliated when the term ‘Celtic language’ was not used in Eng-
warrior *Cet claims to have emasculated him lish with its present meaning until the begin-
in a previous encounter. He is the usual pos- ning of the 18th century, first popularized by
sessor of the lance known as *Lúin, whose Paul-Yves Pezron’s Antiquité de la nation, etc.
lust for blood was so great that if it were not (1706) and established the next year by
used it had to be dipped into a cauldron con- Edward Lhuyd in Archaeologia Britannica
taining black fluid or poison or its shaft would (1707). See Malcolm Chapman, The Celts: The
break into flames. He killed *Blaí Briugu for Construction of a Myth (London and New
sleeping with his wife, and later cleared the York, 1992).
country of pests, including (with the help of Celyddon. Welsh name for the Caledonian
his daughter Niam (2)) *Conganchnes mac Forest, i.e. Scotland.
Dedad and the black hound Dóelchu. One
drop of the slain hound’s blood ran along cenél, cenéoil (gen.), cenéuil (gen.), ceníuil
Celtchair’s spear and went through his body. (gen.). An OIr. word usually glossed as ‘race,
84
Cerne Giant, the
tribe, nation, or kindred’. It was used to Ceredig Wledig, Gwledig [W, kind; rustic,
describe an aristocratic descent group in both rural]. Sixth-century ruler of *Dumbarton in
early Ireland and Gaelic Scotland. Among the the kingdom of Strathclyde, Scotland. He
best-known groups under this distinction may be associated with the Coroticus who
were the Cenél Conaill or *Tír Chonaill (Tir- kidnapped St *Patrick’s early converts to
connell or *Donegal) and the Cenél Eógain Christianity.
of *Tír Eógain (Tirowen or Tyrone). Cf. W
cenedl [race, nation]. See ; . See Ceredigion. Welsh name for *Cardigan-
also T. M. Charles-Edwards, Early Irish and shire, a former maritime county of Wales,
Welsh Kinship (Oxford and New York, 1993). since 1974 part of *Dyfed. In the 8th century
Ceredigion joined with Ystrad Tywi to form
Cenn Abrat, Cend Abrat, Cenn Febrat. the kingdom of Seissyllwg. Named for Cere-
Site of legendary battle in early Irish history digion, a son of *Cunedda. A notable 9th-
in which *Lugaid mac Con is defeated by the century king was Arthen.
southern Irish forces of the *Eóganacht, led
by his brother *Eógan (3). Modern commen- Ceridwen, Cerridwen, Caridwen, Kerid-
tators have suggested that the legendary bat- wen, Kyrridwen [W gwen, white, blessed (?)].
tle may be based on a historical defeat of the A shape-shifting keeper of a *cauldron of
invading *Érainn by Eóganacht and their wisdom (called Amen) at the bottom of *Bala
*Múscraige allies. Cenn Abrat is coextensive Lake (or Llyn Tegid) in north Wales. Her
with the Ballyhoura mountains, Co. Lim- husband was Tegid Foel [W, the bald], and her
erick. Forced into exile in Scotland, Lugaid children included the beautiful Creirwy and
later returns to fight the decisive battle of the odiously ugly *Morfran (also called
Mag Mucrama; see    [The Afagddu). When three magical drops from
Battle of Mucrama]. See P. J. Lynch, Cenn the cauldron intended for Morfran fell instead
Abrat (Limerick, 1911); Myles Dillon, ‘Lecan on *Gwion Bach, giving him unique wisdom
Text of the Battle of Cenn Abrat’, PMLA 60 and insight, she pursued him. Both pursuer
(1945), 10–15; ‘Death of Mac Con’, PMLA 60 and pursued changed shapes, Gwion Bach
(1945), 340–5. into a hare, Ceridwen into a greyhound, etc.
Eventually Gwion Bach turned into a grain of
Cenn Cróich. Variant of *Crom Crúaich. wheat and Ceridwen swallowed him, becom-
ing pregnant as a result. Nine months later
Cenn Fáelad, Cennfáelad. Seventh-century the child born to her was *Taliesin. Ceridwen
warrior and poet thought to have completed is often perceived as a witch or an unpleasant
the writing of the *Brehon Laws. Sometimes hag. See also  ; ;
credited with the writing of *Auraicept na - ; the Breton story of
nÉces [Scholar’s Primer]. A member of the *Koadalan may present parallels. See Ystoria
*Uí Néill, he is the first poet to be quoted in Taliesin (=Hanes Taliesin), ed. Patrick K. Ford
the Annals. (Cardiff, 1992).
Cenn Febrat. Variant spelling of *Cenn Cermait, Cermat, Cearmaid [Ir., honey-
Abrat. mouthed]. Son of the *Dagda killed by *Lug
Lámfhota for his sexual transgressions with
ceó druídecta, ceo draoidheachte. See Lug’s wife. Cermait’s son *Mac Cuill later
 . avenged his father by spearing *Lug.
ceo síth. See  . 2. A name given to *Ogma, a god of poetry
and eloquence.
ceol síth. See  .
Cernach. Cognomen or epithet of *Conall
Cera, Ceara [Ir., red, bright red (?)]. One of Cernach.
the wives of *Nemed in the *Lebor Gabála
[Book of Invasions], the pseudo-history of Cerne Giant, the. Huge figure of a nude
Ireland. She is thought to have given her man cut in prehistoric times through turf to
name to Mag Cera [Carra], Co. Mayo. underlying chalk on a hillside near Cerne
Abbas, 7 miles N of Dorchester, Dorset.
cerd, caird. OIr. word meaning (a) crafts- Although of incalculable antiquity, the figure
man, artisan; (b) handicraft, art, skill, is often attributed to the British Celts who
accomplishment, feat. See . inhabited this region in pre-Roman times.
85
Cernunnos
The figure holds a club measuring 167 feet in memory with biblical history, Cesair is a
his right hand and extends his left arm. Cut in daughter of Bith, a son of Noah, and Birren
2-foot-wide ditches, the whole figure is 200 who escapes to Inis Fáil (Ireland) just before
feet from top to bottom; his erect phallus the Flood; she has left her homeland in dis-
measures 30 feet. In recent centuries the hill- grace because she was denied admission to
side and figure itself were sites of fertility fes- the Ark. An alternate version has her as the
tivals and May Day celebrations. See Stuart daughter of *Banba, one of the eponymous
Piggott, ‘The Cerne Abbas Giant’, Antiquity, goddesses of *Ireland. She lands in Ireland at
12 (1938), 323–31. *Dún na mBarc (Co. Cork) on Bantry Bay
with fifty women and three men, forty days
Cernunnos [L, the horned one]. An import-
before the *Flood. The three men divide the
ant (perhaps principal) god of the Continental
women among them, hoping to populate Ire-
Celts, a lord of nature, animals, fruit, grain,
land. Two of the men, including her helms-
and prosperity. He is portrayed as having a
man, Ladra, die, leaving the full task to *Fin-
man’s body and the horns of a *stag; his fig-
tan mac Bóchra, a patron of poets, who feels
ure is seen in a squatting position, and he
inadequate to it and flees in the form of a
wears or carries the sacred torc often associ-
*salmon. Abandoned, Cesair dies of a broken
ated with the Continental Celts. Although
heart. According to the text, the origin of
his name is known from only one inscrip-
many obscure place-names may be traced to
tion (and is there partially obliterated,
members of her retinue. Cesair is sometimes
‘––ernunnos’), the evidence for Cernunnos’
used as a poetic synonym for *Ireland. See
widespread worship is impressive; he is, for
John Carey, ‘Origin and Development of the
example, portrayed on the *Gundestrup
Cesair Legend’, Éigse, 22 (1987), 37–48.
Cauldron. More than thirty other representa-
2. Daughter of the ‘King of the Franks’
tions survive, dispersed from what is today
who marries *Úgaine Mór and bears him
Romania to Ireland. There are convincing
twenty-five children.
traces of him in the literary traditions of both
Wales and Ireland; and in later illuminated Cet, Cét, Cett, Ceat, Ket, Keth [Ir., old,
manuscripts, figures evoking Cernunnos are ancient, enduring]. A name borne by several
symbolic of devilish and anti-Christian forces. figures in early Irish narratives, most notably
The Breton pseudo-saint *Korneli, a patron the *Connacht warrior in the *Ulster Cycle
of horned creatures, also shows traces of whose patronymic is variously given as mac
Cernunnos. In Gaulish representation he has Mágu, mac Mágach, mac Maga, mac Matach,
a *ram-headed servant. Julius *Caesar identi- etc. In *Scéla Mucce meic Da Thó [The Story of
fied him with the Roman god *Dis Pater. Mac Da Thó’s Pig], he shames the Ulstermen
Later commentators have sought to link him by reminding them of how he has bested
with *Conall Cernach and the Hindu them in combat, emasculating *Celtchair, etc.
Pashupati, a ‘lord of the beasts’. His posture He appears to be most deserving of the
has also been compared to that of Buddha, hero’s portion until *Conall Cernach arrives.
but it may only reflect the fact that Contin- On another occasion he throws the calcified
ental Celts squatted on the floor and did not ‘brain ball’ of Mesgegra at *Conchobar mac
use chairs. See P. B. Bober, ‘Cernunnos: Ori- Nessa, severely wounding him. Cet himself
gin and Transformation of a Celtic Divinity’, was killed by Conall Cernach. Later rulers of
American Journal of Archaeology, 55 (1951), 13– Connacht claimed descent from Cet in
51; also the dissertation of Dorothea Kenny, genealogies.
‘Cernunnos’ (UCLA, 1975), Dissertation
Abstracts, 36 (1975), 3016A. Cétach. MidIr. spelling of *Céadach.
Cerridwen. Variant spelling of *Ceridwen. Cétchathach. Cognomen or epithet of
*Conn Cétchathach [of the Hundred Battles].
ces noínden [Ir., difficulty of nine]. See
 . Cethern, Cethren [Ir., long-lived, lasting
(?)]. Name borne by a number of figures in
Cesair 1, Cessair, Ceasair, Cesara, Kesair. early Irish narrative, of whom Cethern mac
Leader or queen of the first invasion of Ire- Fintain is the best-known.
land in the *Mythological Cycle. According to
the curious reckoning of the *Lebor Gabála Cethern 1. Another name for the god of the
[Book of Invasions], an attempt to mix Irish *Otherworld.
86
Chrétien de Troyes
2. Another name for *Cian, the father of might secretly substitute one infant for
*Lug Lámfhota. another is amply represented in Celtic oral
3. The father of the druid *Mug Ruith. tradition. Ir. corpán sídhe, síodhbhradh,
síofra; ScG tàcharan, ùmaidh; Manx lhiannoo
Cethern mac Fintain, Finntain. In the
shee; W plentyn a newidiwyd am arall. See
*Táin Bó Cuailnge [Cattle Raid of Cooley],
also  .
he is a fighter for the *Ulster forces, but
known as a man of generosity and a bloody chariot, charioteers. Warriors ride in cha-
blade. He has silver-grey hair and carries only riots in early Irish and Welsh narratives
a silver spike as a weapon. When he is because most of these were composed before
wounded, the *Ulster forces take him to their the saddle was introduced. A grave in which
camp. Although he kills the healers (fifteen or chariots were buried with their owners has
as many as fifty) who attempt to treat him, as been found at Waldalgesheim, Germany. The
he does not like their unfavourable diagnoses, Irish god most likely to be called ‘the chariot-
the other Ulstermen listen patiently when he eer’ is *Manannán mac Lir, but *Conall
explains how he acquired his many wounds, Anglonnach is also a charioteer. *Cúchu-
one of which came from *Medb. *Cúchu- lainn’s faithful charioteer was Láeg. The
lainn helps to restore him with bone marrow name *Cairbre might mean ‘charioteer’.
and animal ribs. He goes back into battle, kill- Chattan, Clan. Name for a loose federation
ing more Connachtmen before he himself of seventeen clans in Scotland that claimed
falls. Cethern is also a teacher of *Fionn mac *Pictish origin, mostly in Inverness, begin-
Cumhaill in the *Fenian Cycle. His father is ning in the 11th century. The clan takes its
*Fintan mac Néill. name from the title of the chief, Gilliechattan
Cethlenn, Céthlionn. Variant spellings of Mòr [Great Servant of St Catan], at Kilchattan
*Caitlín. Abbey, Isle of Bute.
Cethor. Alternate name for *Mac Gréine, Che. Variant spelling of *Cei.
the husband of *Ériu. chess. The usual but misleading translation
Cethren. Variant spelling of *Cethern. for several early board-games played in Ire-
land and Wales, including *fidchell, *gwyd-
Cétshamain, Cétsamain [Ir., proto-spring]. dbwyll, and *búanfach.
Alternate names for *Beltaine.
Children of Dôn, etc. See , etc.
Cett. Variant spelling of *Cet.
Children of Lir. See   
Ceudach. ScG spelling for *Céadach. [The Tragedy (or Exile) of the Children of
Ceugant, Ceugand [W ceugant, sure, true; Lir].
infinity]. The last and outermost circle in Children of Llŷr. An alternate title for Bran-
Llewelyn Siôn’s 16th-century *cosmogony. It wen, the second branch of the *Mabinogi.
is inhabited by infinity alone.
chough. A European bird of the *crow fam-
champion’s portion. The choicest portion ily, especially the red-legged or Cornish
[OIr. curadmír] of the meat, beef, or pork was chough (sp. pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax). Called
given to the hero of the hour, as described in An *Balores in Cornish, the chough has
several early Irish narratives. The antiquity of become a symbol of resurgent Cornish cul-
this tradition is attested by *Posidonius (1st tural identity. In narratives outside *Cornwall
cent. ), who said that in earlier times the the chough is often confused with the crow
bravest hero at a feast was given the thigh; if and raven.
another diner claimed the same piece of
Chrétien de Troyes ( fl. 1160–82). Earliest
meat, the two men immediately arose and
known writer of Arthurian romance, Erec et
engaged in a single combat to the death. Also
Enide (c.1170), Lancelot (c.1178), Perceval
known as the hero’s portion. ModIr. curadh-
(c.1182), etc. Probably a native of Cham-
mhír. See   [Briccriu’s Feast];
pagne, he almost certainly inherited most of
     [The Story of Mac
his characters and incidents from the oral
Da Thó’s Pig].
Celtic Arthurian tradition, but his portrayal
changeling. The widespread belief that of them, especially in matters of love and
*fairies or other malevolent spiritual forces courtly behaviour, was original to him.
87
Chuailnge
Chuailnge. Variant spelling of *Cuailnge; order of their grandfather, with only Lug
see also    [Cattle Raid of escaping.
Cooley]. Cian is himself a mysterious character,
although little attention is paid to him. He
Chwimlean, Chwibleian, Chwimbian, may also be known as *Cethern (2) or *Dáire
Hwimleian. Companion of *Myrddin [Mer- (1). He may be the son of *Dian Cécht or he
lin] and perhaps the model for such Arthurian may bear the patronymic mac Chainte. Born
figures as Viviane. See A. O. H. Jarman, Bul- with a caul on his head, he is transformed into
letin of the Board of Celtic Studies, 16 (1955), a pig as an infant by the stroke of a druidical
71–6. wand. He can always shift his shape to a pig
when he is in danger. In attempting to escape
Ciabhán, Keevan [cf. Ir. ciabhar, head of from the depredations of *Brian (1), Iuchar,
hair, locks (collectively)]. The mortal lover of and Iucharba (the sons of *Tuireann), he
*Clídna who brought her to Ireland. After changes into a pig once more, but it is in vain;
being expelled from *Fionn’s *Fianna for they stone him to death in human form. See
being too much of a ladies’ man, Ciabhán sets    [The Tragic
sail for distant lands. During a terrible storm Story of the Sons of Tuireann]. *Findchóem
at sea, a rider on a grey horse brings him to (2) is usually named as his wife.
safety in *Tír Tairngire [The Land of Prom- 2. One of the five famous poets of 6th-
ise], which includes the city of *Manannán. century Wales, of whom almost nothing is
While he is in the city, Ciabhán is invited to a known. He is also known as Gwenith Gwawd
great feast where some tricksters ask him to [W, wheat of song]. See also .
perform a seemingly impossible task of 3. The son of *Ailill Aulomm; he is cited in
throwing nine straight willow rods into the the genealogies of the O’Hara and O’Gara
rafters, catching them as they fall. To the families and others. His son is *Tadg mac
amazement of all, Ciabhán performs the trick Céin, who has a vision of *Clídna.
with ease. More importantly, Clídna, who has
Cian Cúldub [Ir., of the black hair]. A Lein-
been watching, becomes smitten with him. A
ster hero.
short while later she leaves with Ciabhán in
his curragh to return to Ireland, landing at Ciar [Ir., dark, black]. Love-child of *Fergus
Glandore on the south coast. While Ciabhán mac Róich and Queen *Medb, whose des-
goes inland hunting for a deer, Clídna lies cendants were thought to have founded
sleeping in the curragh, where a great wave *Kerry [Ir. Ciarraighe, Ciarraí].
rolls over her and drowns her. In folk-tales
Ciarán, Kieran [Ir., dark, black]. A name
Ciabhán’s name is often anglicized as Keevan,
borne by at least twenty-six Irish saints,
and he is given the epithet ‘of the curling
according to early sources, of whom St
locks’.
*Ciarán (1), founder of Clonmacnoise, is the
best known.
Cian, Kian [Ir., distant, enduring, long (time
and space)]. Name borne by several heroes in Ciarán, Saint 1. Founder of the monastic
early Irish narrative, of whom the most settlement of *Clonmacnoise on the Shan-
important is *Cian (1), the father of *Lug non whose feast-day is 9 September (d. ?556).
Lámfhota. There is also a Welsh Cian (See According to legend, St Ciarán copied down
 (2)). the text of *Táin Bó Cuailnge [Cattle Raid of
Cooley] from the dictation of *Fergus mac
Cian 1. The father of Lug Lámfhota and a Róich, who had returned from the dead. The
leading figure in the *Mythological Cycle. text was then written on hide thought to have
There are two stories about how he came to come from his beloved cow and thus called
father the hero. One is that his magical cow, the *Book of the Dun Cow; the task of copying
*Glas Ghaibhleann, has been stolen by the Táin is more usually assigned to *Senchán
*Balor, and in revenge Cian seduces Balor’s Torpéist.
daughter, *Eithne. In another version Cian 2. Of Seir or Saighir, sometimes called
wins Eithne through long negotiation with Ciarán the Elder, whose feast-day is 30 April;
the help of the *druidess *Birog in Balor’s Ciarán has been much venerated in west
household. Three children are born from the Cork, and is the patron of the diocese of
union, two of whom are drowned at the Ossory (Kilkenny).
88
Ciwa, Saint
Ciarnat [Ir., dark lady]. A mistress of name is often anglicized Kenneth MacAlpin,
*Cormac mac Airt of the *Ulster Cycle. and he is sometimes rather grandly called
Kenneth I.
Ciarraí, Ciarraighe. ModIr. spelling of
*Kerry. Cingciges, Cingcís [L quinquagesima, Pente-
cost, Whitsuntide, Whitsunday]. Irish words
Cichol, Cical [cf. Ir. cicul, astronomical for Pentecost or Whit Sunday, to which sev-
cycle]. Sometimes with the cognomen Grich- eral older beliefs have become attached; see
nos, Gricenchos, or Gricenchoss. A leader of  .
the *Fomorians in the early Irish pseudo-
history *Lebor Gabála [Book of Invasions], Circinn, Circenn, Girginn. One of the four
who suffers a rare defeat at the hands of the principal *Pictish kingdoms, roughly
invading *Partholonians. coextensive with the modern counties of
*Angus (Forfarshire) and Kincardine (since
Cicollius. Sometime epithet of Gaulish 1974, Tayside).
*Mars.
circumambulation. See  .
Cigfa. Wife of *Pryderi and daughter of
Gwyn Gohoyw in the *Mabinogi. After her cìrein cròin, cìrean [ScG, grey crest]. A *sea
husband’s disappearance, she fears *Manaw- monster in Scottish Gaelic folklore, thought
ydan’s sexual advances. to be the largest of all living creatures, cap-
able of making a meal of seven whales.
Cil Coed, Kilcoed. Father of *Llwyd the
Known in songs and legends under several
enchanter in the *Mabinogi.
titles: mial mhòr a’ chuain [the great beast of
Cill Dalua, Dálua, Dá Lua, Da Lúa. See the ocean]; curtag mhòr a’ chuain [the great
. whirlpool of the ocean]; uile bhéisd a’ chuain
[the monster of the ocean]. See also ;
Cilydd. The son of Celyddon Wledig and   ; :
father of *Culhwch. He sought a wife the
equal of his own station. See   cities. As the indigenous populations of Celt-
. ic nations were country people, there were no
metropolises founded by Celtic peoples. Most
Cimbáeth, Cimbaoth, Kimbay. Legendary cities in Celtic lands were established by for-
king of early Ireland, cited at the beginning eigners; the Romans built oppida in Celtic
of chronicle history and thought to have lived lands, and the Danes were the first inhabitants
c.  300. He ruled for a seven-year term as of Dublin. Despite this, there are a number of
part of a twenty-one-year cycle with his imaginary cities in the narratives of different
kinsmen (sometimes brothers, sometimes Celtic lands. The Bretons speak of the
cousins) *Áed Ruad and *Díthorba. Seven underwater city of *Ys. The Irish speak of the
magicians, seven poets, and seven lords of city belonging to *Manannán mac Lir in the
*Ulster saw to it that this agreement was Land of Promise as well as the four cities of
kept. When Áed Ruad died, his daughter the *Tuatha Dé Danann: *Falias, *Findias,
*Macha (2) was elected to rule. Cimbáeth and *Gorias, and *Murias. See also 
Díthorba opposed her at first, but Cimbáeth .
later made peace and married her, while she
killed Díthorba. Macha (2) dominated Cim- Ciudach. A cave-dwelling spirit in Scottish
báeth, and obliged him to build the royal fort Gaelic folklore also known on the Isle of Man
of *Emain Macha. and in parts of Ireland. Initially the character
may have been a kind of admirable *giant; in
Cináed, Cináeth, Cionaodh. A name borne stories recorded as far apart as Roscommon
by several figures in early Irish and Scottish and Inverness, *Gráinne has an affair with
Gaelic chronicle, of whom the best-known is Ciudach while she is on the run with
certainly Cináed mac Alpín of *Dál Riada. *Diarmait. In later stories the Ciudach is a
According to chronicle, Cináed mac Alpín cave-haunting monster. See also .
was the first king of Scotland, ruling from 844
until his death in 858. Cináed united the Ciwa, Saint. Legendary Welsh saint thought
Scoto-Irish invaders in *Argyll (since 1974, to have been suckled by wolves. She had a
Strathclyde), from his father’s family, with the great nail on one of her fingers and was called
native *Picts, from his mother’s family. His ‘the Wolf Girl’.
89
Clachnahrie
Clachnahrie, Clachnaharry. Site of a ‘bat- Elder, *Polybius, *Posidonius, *Ptolemy,
tle’ between the clans MacIntosh and Munroe *Solinus, *Strabo, and *Tacitus.
in 1454, sparked by a series of insults and
supposed insults, which has become the sub- Clatho. In *Macpherson’s Ossian (1760), the
ject of a large body of Scottish Gaelic folk- daughter of *Cuthulla and the second wife of
lore. Clachnaharry today is a north-western *Fingal. She bears the children Reyno, Fil-
suburb of the town of Inverness. lean, and Bosmin. Fingal’s first wife is
Roscrana.
Claidheamh Soluis, Claíomh Solais [Ir.,
sword of light]. A symbol of Ireland attrib- Cleena. Anglicization of *Clídna.
uted, in oral tradition, to *Cúchulainn. Clettig (gen.), e.g. Sídh Clettig, Sídh Chlet-
According to one story, an ugly *giant forced tigh, Clettech (nom.), Cletech. *Sídh or
a poor widow to find the Claidheamh Soluis enchanted residence of *Elcmar on the south
under the head of another giant. The bank of the *Boyne, near the pool of *Linn
unreformed ModIr. spelling Claidheamh Féic. Elcmar takes it in exchange for *Brug na
Soluis, preferred by P. H. Pearse and other Bóinne from *Angus Óg. Later also a resi-
rebels of the 1916 Rising, is still more often dence of *Muirchertach mac Erca.
seen than the reformed Claíomh Solais; also
Cruaidín Catuchenn. See caladbolg. Cliach. Harper, unsuccessful suitor of a
daughter of *Bodb Derg, who uses magic to
clan. The English borrowing of this word keep Cliach away from his door for more than
from Scottish Gaelic obscures the more pre- a year.
cise use of clann in both Irish and Scottish
Gaelic as well as the existence of several other Clídna, Clíodna, Cliodhna, Clíona, Cleena.
concepts of family and descent, such as An Irish goddess of great beauty, often called
*cenél, *dál, and *derbfhine; see also , ‘the shapely’, much associated with Co. Cork.
which may be glossed as ‘people’ or ‘tribe’, She is the counterpart of *Áine and *Aíbell
and is predominantly territorial in meaning. and is sometimes called ‘the Queen of the
In English, clan usually denotes a group with Munster Fairies’. According to the best-
a common ancestor. It implies kinship, not known story, she is one of three daughters of
territory. Its ultimate source is the Latin plan- *Manannán’s chief druid, *Gebann, and liv-
ta [plant, planting]. The OIr. clann is defined ing contentedly in *Tír Tairngire [the Land of
as ‘children, family, offspring; a single child; Promise] when *Ciabhán comes to win her
descendants, race, [and finally] clan’. The heart. He takes her back to the land of mor-
ModIr. clann is also defined first as ‘race’ or tals in Ireland, landing at Glandore [Ir. Cúan
‘children’. In ScG the first definition of clann dor, harbour of gold] harbour in southern Co.
is ‘offspring’ and ‘children’. The W llwyth Cork. While he goes inland to hunt, a great
translates ‘clan’ more in the sense of tribe, wave overcomes the sleeping Clídna, drown-
while tylwyth implies family or shared ances- ing her along with her fellow travellers,
try. Bret. koskoriad denotes family or shared among them Ildathach, who was in love with
descent while klan, apparently borrowed her. In another account she drowns when she
from Scottish Gaelic via English and French, is lulled to sleep by the musician Iuchna. The
denotes a tribe or larger family. Attached to wave is one of three mentioned under various
many a clan in Scotland is the sept [ScG cin- names in Irish tradition, and is still remem-
neach], whose blood link to a common ances- bered in Glandore harbour as *Tonn
tor may be either distant or questionable. See Chlíodhna. In *Tadg mac Céin’s vision of her,
also . Entries for individual clans, e.g. she is the noblest and most desirable woman
Clan *Baíscne, Clan *Chattan, Clan *Dedad, in the world; she has three brightly coloured
are found under their family names. See T. M. *birds that eat *apples from an *otherworldly
Charles-Edwards, Early Irish and Welsh Kinship tree and sing so sweetly as to heal the sick
(Oxford and New York, 1993). with soothing sleep.
Although the drowning separates Clídna
Classical commentators. Among the from her Ciabhán, she lives on and has a ser-
ancient writers most helpful in understanding ies of mortal lovers of high and low station.
Celtic culture, religion, and myth are: Among them are Earl Gerald FitzGerald (see
*Ammianus Marcellinus, Julius *Caesar, ),  (the eponymous progenitor

*Diodorus Siculus, *Eusebius, *Pliny the of the O’Keeffe family), and a poor man
90
Clothra
named Teigue on Red Loch Island. She was founded by St Ciarán on 25 January 545. In
also thought to be the seducer of many young the days of water transportation its location
boys at fairs. Her allure is associated with two on the east shore of the Shannon was highly
rocks named *Carrigcleena, one near Mallow accessible, but today it lies on a backroad in
and the other offshore near Ross Carbery. She Co. Offaly, 13 miles S of Athlone. As an
became the *fairy woman of the MacCarthy ecclesiastical centre Clonmacnoise was
family, and is credited with telling them the rivalled only by *Armagh, but it was peerless
secret of the *Blarney Stone. In the *Fenian as a focus of early Christian art and literature.
stories her pedigree is changed so that she is The great codex the *Book of the Dun Cow
one of the three beautiful daughters of Libra. [Lebor na hUidre] was produced here.
Among the representations of Clídna in lit- Although ravaged countless times by native
erature is R. D. Joyce’s ‘Earl Gerald and His and foreign enemies, Clonmacnoise was not
Bride’, in Ballads of Irish Chivalry (Boston, abandoned until sacked by English troops in
1872), 28–36. In this she steals the bridegroom 1552. Much remains, however, including por-
from his wedding. tions of nine churches, five high crosses, two
round towers, and more than 500 early grave-
Cloch Labrais, Labhrais, Cloghlowrish [Ir.,
stones, many with inscriptions. Seven *ard
speaking, answering stone]. The oracular
ríthe [high kings] were buried here, including
‘Answering Stone’ of Co. Waterford, located
Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair (d. 1198), the last of
near Ballykeroge, 6 miles NE of Dungarvan.
that line. In more recent literature, Clonmac-
According to legend, the rock split when it
noise is one of the most resonant names in
was asked to testify to a lie. A woman was
invoking the lost glory of pre-conquest Ire-
rightfully accused of adultery by her hus-
land; see T. W. Rolleston’s (1857–1920) ‘The
band. She claimed that she was no more
Dead at Clonmacnoise’, translated from the
guilty of sin with anyone than she was with a
Irish of Aongus Ó Giolláin. See also Doirin
man seen at a distance, who was in fact her
Doyle, Clonmacnois (Dublin, 1968).
lover. Although her rhetorical ploy was not an
untruth, the duplicity was more than Cloch Clonnach. A son of *Crom Crúaich, espe-
Labrais could bear. cially in later oral tales where the father is
Clonard [Ir. Cluain Ioraird/Eraird, Iorard’s known as Crom Dubh and thought to be a
meadow]. One of the great monasteries of pagan chief opposing St *Patrick rather than
early Ireland, founded by St Finnian (d. 549). an idol or god.
Clonard became proverbial for the number of Clontarf [Ir. cluain tarbh, bull meadow]. Site
saints it fostered. The buildings were sacked of the battle where *Brian Bórama (Boru)
many times, and most of the ruins disap- defeated the Danes on Good Friday, 1014.
peared in the early 19th century. Although Today Clontarf is a northern suburb of met-
Clonard is associated with the history of ropolitan Dublin. See A. J. Goedheer, Irish and
*Leinster, its site is today in Co. Meath, 4 Norse Traditions About the Battle of Clontarf
miles E of Kinnegad. The Iorard for whom (Haarlem, Netherlands, 1938).
the meadow is named may have been a pagan
chief who built the still-visible moat here. Clooth-na-Bare. W. B. Yeats’s trans-
Unrelated to other sites named Clonard mogrification of *Cailleach Bhéirre. Unlike
[Cluain Art, high meadow], e.g. Co. Dublin, her predecessor in Irish tradition, Clooth-na-
Co. Wexford. Bare is not a *sovereignty figure. Instead, she
seeks the deepest lake in which to drown her
Clonfert [Ir., meadow of the grave]. Monas- *fairy life as she has grown weary of it.
tery founded in the 5th century by St
*Brendan in east Co. Galway, 1 mile N of Clothach [Ir., famous, renowned]. The
Ballinasloe. Although the buildings were grandson of *agda, the ‘good god’. A Chris-
often sacked over the centuries, the surviving tian saint whose feast is 3 May also bears this
doorway of the cathedral is thought to be one name.
of the best works of the Hibernian
Clothra, Clothru [Ir., famous (?); clapper
Romanesque.
(?)]. One of the four daughters of *Eochaid
Clonmacnoise, Clonmacnois [Ir. cluain Feidlech whose siblings included *Medb,
moccu Nóis, meadow of the sons of Nós]. Ire- queen of *Connacht, *Eithne (5), and
land’s foremost early monastic settlement, *Mugain (2), all of whom were married to
91
cluricaune
*Conchobar at different times, and their his son *Eochu Doimlén. *Fionn mac Cum-
brothers *Finn Emna (the three Finns of haill and his *Fianna are described as assisting
Emain). She is the mother of the warrior the victors. Cf. the better-known story of
*Lugaid Riab nDerg by the three Finn Emna, *Cath Gabhra [The Battle of Gabhair/
and of *Furbaide Ferbend. Later she commits Gowra], in which Cairbre rids Ireland of the
a second incest with the incestuously begot- Fianna. Cnámross is coextensive with the mod-
ten Lugaid to produce *Crimthann Nia Náir. ern hamlet of Camross, near Barry’s Cross,
Her murder, while pregnant, by her sister Co. Carlow. The Fomorians of the Lebor Gabála
Medb is avenged by her son Furbaide. [Book of Invasions] defeat the Nemedians at a
Although thought to be an immoral woman different Cnámross, probably in Co. Wexford.
by Christian standards, incest only one of her
sins, her name is cited in many genealogies, Cnobga, Cnobgha, Cnoba. Irish forms of
including that of St *Declan. *Knowth.
Cnoc Áine [Ir., hill of Áine]. A hill, its name
cluricaune, cluricaun, cluricane. English anglicized as Knockainy, 3.5 miles E of Bruff,
names for the household sprite known in Irish south of *Lough Gur, Co. Limerick, thought
as clúracán, clúrachán, clutharachán. The clu- to be a dwelling-place of the fairy queen
ricaune is one of three kinds of solitary *fairy *Áine (1); nearby is a village of the same
in Ireland, the other two being the *lep- name. It is 7 miles from *Cnoc Gréine.
rechaun and the *far darrig. He appears to be
an Irish instance of the figure from European Cnoc Fírínne, Cnoc Frigrend [Ir., hill of
folklore known as the buttery spirit (folk ‘truth’ (?)]. A hill (949 feet) of volcanic origin
motif: F473.6.3). Although Dinneen’s Diction- in Co. Limerick, 2 miles E of Ballingarry,
ary (Dublin, 1927) defines the term only as known in English as Knockfeerina, Knockfi-
‘dwarfish sprite’, the cluricaune has been the erna, etc. The hill is one of the most cele-
subject of much commentary, the focus of brated otherworldly sites in *Munster, and
which has been to distinguish it from the formerly had an annual *Lughnasa assembly.
better-known leprechaun. The cluricaune is It was once thought to be the seat of a god
usually a withered little man, like the lep- named Donn Fírinne. Widely known in oral
rechaun, but he may have more of a pink tradition, the hill is the scene of many epi-
tinge to his nose. As a solitary fairy, he is more sodes in *Fenian narrative.
likely to be dressed in red than in green. He
shows no desire to do work of any kind and is Cnoc Gréine, Gréne [Ir., hill of Grian]. A
dressed like a weekend gentleman with silver hill in eastern Co. Limerick near Pallas Grean,
buckles on his shoes, gold lace on his cap, and thought to be sacred to Grian, a local pre-
blue silk stockings below his breeches. Like Christian divinity who may be *Macha in dis-
the leprechaun, he may know where gold is guise and who has associations with the sun.
hidden, but he may carry in addition the spré It was attacked by the five sons of *Conall (1)
na scillenagh [shilling fortune] or sparán na and later by Conall (1) himself. In some stor-
scillinge [purse of shillings], a purse flowing ies the hill is known as Cnoc na gCuradh, ‘Hill
with silver. The cluricaune likes to enter a rich of the Heroes’. It is 7 miles from *Cnoc Áine.
man’s wine-cellar and drain the casks, but he Cnoc Meadha, Mheadha. A hill, Castle-
will frighten away any servant who tries to hacket, west of Tuam, Co. Galway, thought
join him. Although he prefers to stay indoors, to be the residence of *Finnbheara, the king
he will, when venturing out, harness a sheep of the *Connacht fairies. Of two large cairns
or shepherd’s dog and ride it for his amuse- on the hill, one was thought to be the burial-
ment, leaving them panting and mud- place of Finnbheara and the other of Queen
covered. Classed as a solitary *fairy. *Medb, whose name may be transformed in
Clydno Eiddyn. A prince of north Britain the name Cnoc Meadha. Known on some
who came as a monk to Wales. His horse’s modern maps as Knockmagha, Knockma, or
halter was one of the treasures of Britain. Knock Ma.
Cnoc na gCuradh. See  .
Cnámross, Cnámhros. Battle described in
the *Book of Leinster in which Bresal Bélach Cnoc na Sídha. The ‘hill of the fairies’
led the Leinstermen against *Cairbre could be any of hundreds of hills in Ireland;
Lifechair, king of *Tara, and killed him and the one cited by W. B. Yeats appears to be in
92
Coel
Co. *Donegal, near the falls of *Assaroe. cing him to eat a mouse and its young, caus-
Cnoc Sídhe Úna. A prominent hill (699 ing the boy to lose the power of speech.
feet) in north Co. Tipperary, 2 miles E of Ball- Labraid returned from exile in Gaul and
ingarry. In folklore the hill is thought to be burned Cobthach alive in ‘an iron house’
sacred to *Úna, a queen of the fairies. Known along with thirty allies. Cobthach may have
in English as Knockshegouna or Knockshig- been one of the early *Uí Néill.
owna, the hill was once the site of *Lughnasa cochall, cochull. See  .
activities.
Cochrann [Ir., red lady (?)]. Daughter of the
Cnú Deireóil [Ir., little nut of melody]. legendary king of *Leinster, *Cathaír Mór,
The *dwarf *fairy harper of *Fionn mac and mother of *Diarmait uá Duibne and
Cumhaill in the *Fenian Cycle. He is *Oscar in the *Fenian Cycle. In ballads she is
described as a little man with golden known as *Cróchnat.
hair, perhaps 4 feet high, who claims to be
a son of *Lug Lámfhota. Although he is Cocidius [cf. W coch, red]. A god wor-
associated with delight and play in many stor- shipped in early Britain, especially in the
ies, his songs induce sweet slumber. north and west, whom the Romans compared
with *Mars. He is sometimes represented as
Cnucha [cf. OIr. cnuchae, hillock]. An early wearing a shawl or hood while at other times,
place-name coextensive with the modern in north Britain, he appears to have horns (cf.
Castle Knock, 4 miles W of Dublin’s city *horned god) and is associated with hunting.
centre, site of a great battle in the *Fenian His shrine at Bewcastle, Cumberland, implies
Cycle in which *Fionn’s father *Cumhall is that he was a soldier’s god. Cocidius may be
killed. See    [The Cause identical with *Segomo, the war-god of the
of the Battle of Cnucha]. Continental Celts, and he may be associated
coblynau, coblynnod [from Eng. goblins]. with *Teutates [the ruler of the people], who
Welsh mine goblins, not unlike the *knockers was worshipped in Britain. Even more tenta-
of *Cornwall. Although usually seen as quite tively, Cocidius may be associated with
ugly and standing only 18 inches high, they *Belatucadros [fair, shining one] and
are perceived as being friendly and helpful. *Mogons [the powerful one]. See D. B. Charl-
They know where rich lodes of ore may be ton and M. M. Mitcheson, ‘Yardhope, a Shrine
found. Sometimes known by the singular, to Cocidius?’, Britannia, 14 (1983), 143–53.
coblyn. Folk motif: F456.
cock. Portrayals of the cock or rooster with
Cobthach, Cobhthach, Cofach, Covac [Ir., Gaulish *Mercury may indicate that it was a
victorious]. A name borne by several legend- sacred animal among the Continental Celts.
ary figures from early Irish history, especially Large birds, perhaps cocks, are also found in
from the southern half of the island, of temples from northern Britain, here with
whom *Cobthach Cóel Breg is the best- human female figures. ModIr. coileach; ScG
known. This Old Irish name yields the family coileach; Manx kellagh ny giark; W ceiliog;
name [O] Coffey, among others. Corn. cülyek; Bret. kilhog.
Cobthach 1. One of the legendary ancestors Codal. Foster-father of *Ériu.
of the *Eóganacht, an important family of
*Munster. Coed-Alun. See .
2. Father of Meilge who was responsible Coel [W, trust]. A 6th-century British (i.e.
for the death of *Aige and is satirized by Welsh) king of Aeron (Ayrshire, Scotland)
*Faifne. who is mentioned by *Taliesin. He has two
Cobthach Cóel Breg [Ir., the slender of agnomens, Hen [old] and Odebog [adulterous
Breg]. A leading figure in that portion of Irish (?), hawkwood (?)]. By long-standing popular
legendary literature known as the *Cycle of assertion he is the original for the Old King
Kings. Cobthach seized power to become Cole of the nursery rhyme. In popular ety-
king of *Tara by killing his brother *Lóegaire mology he is the eponymous founder of Col-
Lorc, his brother’s son *Ailill Áine, and send- chester. Pious medieval legend asserts that he
ing Ailill Áine’s son *Labraid Loingsech into is the father of *Elen (2), purported Welsh-
exile. Many stories portray Cobthach as treat- born St Helen, mother of Constantine, 3rd-
ing Labraid with wanton cruelty, such as for- century Christian emperor.
93
Cóel Cróda
Cóel Cróda. Variant spelling of *Coil sometimes has the agnomen Cennfhata.
Cróda.
Coinneach Odhar Fiosaiche. ScG for
Cóelrind, Well of. See ’ . ‘Sombre Kenneth of the Prophecies’, a nick-
Cóemgen. Variant spelling of *Cáemgen name of the *Brahan Seer (Kenneth
[Kevin]. MacKenzie, 17th cent.).
Cofach. Variant spelling of *Cobthach. Cóir Anmann. Irish title of a document that
may be known in English as the Fitness of
cohuleen druith, cohullen [cf. Ir. cochall, Names or the Elucidation of Names. The
hood]. In Irish folklore, a magical hood or cap treatise elucidates the significance and associ-
worn by mermaids (or merrows) in order to ations of many personal names from early
survive under the waves. It is thought to be Ireland in much the same way as the *Dind-
red and covered with feathers. If it is stolen, shenchas deals with place-names. The title is
the mermaids cannot return beneath the also an epithet of *Ana. See Whitley Stokes,
water. Irische Texte mit Übersetzungen und Wörterbuch,
cóiced, cóigeadh, cúige [Ir., fifth]. A ‘fifth’ of ser. iii, no. 2 (Leipzig: S. Hirzel, 1897), 285–444.
Ireland, i.e. one of the five provinces before Coirbre. Variant spelling of *Cairbre.
the English conquest; e.g. Cóiced Ulad: the
fifth or province of Ulster. These included Coire Brecain. See .
*Leinster, *Ulster, *Connacht, and *Munster; Coirpre. Variant spelling of *Cairbre.
the fifth is usually *Meath (coextensive
with the modern counties of Meath and Colann gun Cheann, Coluinn gan Ceann,
Westmeath) including *Tara, but sometimes etc. [ScG, body without head]. A headless
Munster is counted as two. *bòcan of Scottish Gaelic folklore, thought to
be a kind of tutelary spirit of the Macdonalds
Coil Cróda, Cóel Cróda, Cródha [cf. of Morar in the western Highlands (until
ModIr. cródha, brave, valiant, heroic; OIr. 1974, Inverness-shire). The creature was
cródacht, bloodthirstiness, cruelty]. A member thought to haunt a mile-long path from the
of *Fionn mac Cumhaill’s *Fianna, some- river of Morar to Morar House. He was
times called ‘Hundred Slayer’. extremely hostile to people outside the family,
Coila. A spirit or muse of the poet’s native but would not harm women or children. Folk
Ayrshire addressed by Robert Burns in ‘A motif: E422.1.1.
Vision’ (c.1790). Colcu, Colga. Name borne by several figures
Coillnamham Fort [cf. Ir. coill, wood, for- from early Irish tradition, including a few
est; náma(e), enemy]. Name for *Dún saints. Perhaps the best-known Colcu was the
Aonghusa in the Aran Isles used by Liam stepson of *Créd, who thwarted her plans for
O’Flaherty (1896–1984) and other Anglo-Irish an amorous dalliance with *Cano.
writers. Colgán, Colga [cf. Ir. colg, sword]. A villain-
Coimperta. Plural form of *Compert. ous king of *Lochlainn in several *Fenian stor-
ies, including *Bruidhean Chaorthainn [The
Coinche(a)nn, Conchean. Slew *Áed (7) Hostel of the Quicken Trees], where his son
for having seduced his wife, and was later Midac plays a leading role.
forced to carry the murdered man’s corpse
until he had found a stone big enough to Coligny. Village in the department of Ain,
cover it. Burgundy, eastern France, 14 miles NNE of
Bourg-en-Bresse, where the Calendar of Col-
Coinchenn, Coinchend [Ir., dog-headed].
igny was found in 1897. The bronze plates of
The monstrous, man-killing wife of Morgán
the calendar are some of the most extensive
and mother of the lovely *Delbcháem in
writings we have in any Continental Celtic
*Echtrae Airt meic Cuinn [The Adventure of
language, and provide important evidence in
Art Son of Conn]. She correctly fears that she
understanding the early Celtic perception of
will die if ever her daughter is wooed, and so
time. See .
she decapitates each suitor who comes to her
daughter’s door and decorates the bronze Colla [Ir., great lord (?), chief (?)]. Name
fence in front of her fortress with their heads. borne by many shadowy figures from early
*Art kills her and puts her on a spike. She Irish history, most notably the ‘Three Collas’,
94
Colum Cille
three brothers of the 4th century bearing the Colptha, Colpa [cf. Ir. colpthae, stout, sturdy,
same name: Colla Uais [Ir., noble, dis- stalwart]. Fourth son of *Míl Espáine and
tinguished, well-born], Colla Menn [notable *Scota, brother of *Amairgin and *Donn
(?); stammering (?)], and Colla Fo Chríth or mac Míled, who drowned at the mouth of the
Dachrích. All were the sons of *Eochu *Boyne, giving the place-name *Inber Colp-
Doimlén, the son of *Cairbre Lifechair. The tha to that locale.
brothers murdered their uncle *Fiachu and
Coluinn gan Ceann. Variant spelling of
established the kingdom of *Airgialla (Oriel)
*Colann gun Cheann.
in north-eastern Ireland. They also attacked
*Emain Macha, eliminating it as a centre of Colum Cille, Columb Cille, Columcille,
political power. In Scotland the Clan Donald, Colmcille, Collumcille, Colmkil, Calum Cille,
or MacDonald Lord of the Isles, traced its etc. [L columba, dove; Ir. cill, church, cell].
descent from both (1) Colla Uais, an Irish Although there are thirty-two saints named
prince who ruled Scotland before the coming Colum/Columba, the best-known is the pat-
of *Dál Riada, and (2) *Conn Cétchathach ron saint of Scottish Gaelic Christianity,
[of the Hundred Battles]. T. F. O’Rahilly c.521–97; he is also the third most celebrated
thought that Colla was but a nickname for saint in Ireland, after St *Patrick and St *Brig-
each of the three sons of *Niall Noígiallach id. Colum Cille has a fixed place on the calen-
[of the Nine Hostages], e.g *Conall Gulban, dar of saints, 9 June, but a number of legends
*Énna (3), and *Eógan (1). See Early Irish His- have accrued to his name in both *Scotland
tory and Mythology (Dublin, 1946), 230–1. and Ireland. Born of the powerful *Uí Néill
kindred in Gartan, Co. *Donegal, Colum
Collen, Saint. Legendary 7th-century Welsh Cille was descended from *Niall Noígiallach
saint and eponym of Llangollen who was [of the Nine Hostages]; his ancestor was
thought to have visited fairyland. After having *Conall Gulban, who gave his name to the
been an abbot at *Glastonbury, Collen resigns region, Donegal [Ir. Tír Conaill, Conall’s land],
and becomes a hermit nearby. After rebuking as well as to *Ben Bulben [corrupted from
two men for speaking of *Annwfn, which the Beinn Ghulbain]. Through his mother,
good saint considers infernal, Collen is invited *Eithne, he claimed descent from *Cathair
to visit for himself. As he is not misled by the Mór, king of *Leinster. He was baptized
apparent grandeur of the place, he refuses to Crimthann but, according to one version,
eat fairy food, denounces what he sees, and took the name Colum Cille through angelic
dashes all present with holy water. The scene intervention.
disappears and Collen finds himself alone Although a less than pious youth, he took
again. Folk motifs: D2031; F160.0.2; F382.2. holy orders and studied at Moville and
Colloquy. See . *Clonard. While still a deacon, but not yet a
priest, he studied classical Irish poetry under
Colloquy of the Ancients, Old Men. See the chief poet of Leinster. After ordination he
  . lived in seclusion at Glasnevin, which is now
Collumcille. Spelling used by W. B. Yeats within the northern city limits of *Dublin.
and other Anglo-Irish writers for *Colum After a plague devastated his community
Cille. (c.544) he returned to his own region, found-
ing a new community at *Doire [Derry, Lon-
Colmán [Ir., woodpigeon, ring-dove, dim. of donderry], known for many centuries in Irish
L columb, dove]. Popular name in early Ireland as Doire Choluim Chille in his honour; this
borne by at least 234 saints, not to mention a was to be but one of thirty-eight monasteries
host of shadowy figures in genealogies and he would establish in Ireland alone. His mon-
chronicles. Suibne’s father, though not a asteries are associated with the copying of
Christian, is named Colmán. A 6th-century manuscripts.
poet was Colmán mac Léníni. Also known in Why he left Ireland is uncertain. He may
Wales. have been involved in a dispute over the copy-
Colmcille, Colmkil. Variant spellings of ing of manuscripts, or the dispute may have
*Colum Cille. been over the rights of sanctuary; for two
years a war had raged of which he was
Colofn Cymry [W, the pillar of Wales/ thought to be the instigator. For whatever
Cambria]. An epithet of *Caradog. reason, Colum Cille led a group of followers
95
Colum Cúaillemech
to found a monastery at *Iona (563), off the St Columba’s Day, 9 June, is celebrated in
west coast of Mull, Strathclyde (until 1974, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and New Zea-
*Argyllshire). The island, previously known land. The Scottish and English personal
simply as Í [isle], became Í-Choluim Chille, names Calum and Colin and the Irish per-
later anglo-latinized to Iona. In part he sonal name Colm are forms of Colum/
wished to minister to the Irish-speaking set- Columba.
tlers of *Dál Riada, as well as to evangelize
the *Picts. Among his converts was Bridei or Colum Cúaillemech [cf. Ir. cúaille, stake,
Brude of the Great Glen, Scottish Highlands pole, post]. A *smith of the *Tuatha Dé Dan-
(until 1974, Inverness-shire). ann. See also .
Among the legends attached to his name is Columba, Saint. Latin name meaning
an early encounter with a *Loch Ness mon- ‘dove’ borne by thirty-two saints, of whom
ster; the open-jawed creature was thought to the most notable is known as *Colum Cille in
have submerged at his command. He is also Irish and Scottish Gaelic traditions.
thought to have killed the *suileach, a many-
eyed eponymous monster of Lough Swilly, Columban, Columbanus, Saint. An Irish
Co. *Donegal. *Mongán went to heaven saint (d. 615) who became a missionary on
under Colum Cille’s cowl. According to a the Continent, founding abbeys at Luxeuil
prophecy attributed to Colum Cille, Ireland (near Fontaine, France) and Ebovium (mod-
would be destroyed by the Broom of Fanait ern Bobbio, Italy). Although sometimes called
when the festival of St John the Baptist fell on ‘the Younger Columba’, he should not be
a Friday, which it did in 1096––without confused with *Colum Cille (St Columba).
catastrophe. Columcille. See  .
Colum Cille returned to Ireland twice after
settling at Iona, in 575 to serve as an inter- Comala. In *Macpherson’s Ossian (1760),
mediary between Dál Riada and Irish princes, the daughter of the villainous Starno, who
and in 585 to speak on behalf of the bardic falls in love with *Fingal.
order then threatened with extirpation. In 597
he died and was buried at Iona, and in 878 his Combert. Variant spelling of *Compert.
bones were returned to Ireland. The Danes Comgall, Comhghall, Saint. Name borne
stole them in 1127 but later restored them, by at least ten Irish saints, of whom the best-
after which they were lost. known was the founder (d. 603) of the mon-
Colum Cille’s earliest biographer was St astery in *Bangor, Northern Ireland. Comgall
*Adamnán, who wrote a century after his was known for his austere life; seven of his
subject’s death. In the 20th century Colum followers died of cold and hunger on his
Cille’s career has been the subject of scholarly regimen. He may also have founded a monas-
dispute, notably by W. D. Simpson, The His- tery on the Scottish island of Tiree. In Irish
torical St. Columba (1927), who doubted the legend he is thought to have offered King
claim that the saint had been the apostle of *Fiachna mac Báetáin the choice between
northern Scotland. Two more recent studies victory in battle and eternal damnation or
are Ian Finlay, St. Columba (London, 1982) and defeat in battle and eternal happiness.
Máire Herbert, Iona, Kells, and Derry (Oxford,
New York, 1988). The mournful eulogy Amra Comhal. Character in *Macpherson’s Ossian
Choluimb Chille [Colum Cille, the Wonderful (1760), the father of *Fingal. Early in the
Person], is often thought to be the oldest sur- action he is killed by the tribe of Morni.
viving work of Irish literature; see Whitley Apparently based on *Cumhall of the
Stokes, ‘The Bodleian Amra Choluimb *Fenian Cycle.
Chille’, Revue Celtique, 20 (1899), 30–55, 132– commote, commot [W cwmwd]. In Wales,
83, 248–89, 400–37; and Vernam E. Hull, a territorial and administrative division, usu-
‘Amra Choluim Chille’, Zeitschrift für celtische ally subordinate to a *cantref or cantred. Two
Philologie, 28 (1961), 242–51; see also Fergus or more commotes might make a cantref.
Kelly, ‘A Poem in Praise of Columb Cille’,
Ériu, 24 (1973), 1–34. Robert Farren’s poems Compert, Combert, Coimperta (pl.) [Ir.,
This Man Was Ireland (New York, 1943) and conception, act of begetting, procreation].
The First Exile (London, 1944) both deal with Name for a genre of tales on the conceptions
Colum Cille. and births of heroes.
96
Conall Cernach
Comrac Liadaine ocus Chuirithir. Irish *Mac Cécht (2) for slaking his thirst. Apart
title for the 9th-century poem often known in from the story, the Gaelic-speaking settlers in
English as ‘The Meeting of Liadain and *Dál Riada claimed to be the ‘seed of Conaire
Cuirithir’. See . Mór’.
Conachar. Variant spelling of *Conchobar. Conall [Ir. con, conda, wolfish]. A very old
and widely dispersed name borne both by
Conaill, Clann or Cenél. See  ;
legendary and by shadowy historical figures
 .
in early Irish history, of whom *Conall Cer-
Conaing [OE cynyng, king]. A name borne nach is probably the best-known. The name is
by several figures in early Irish genealogies as sometimes confused with the unrelated name
well as secular and ecclesiastical history. Some *Connla, Conlae, and it is anglicized as
commentators confuse Conaing with that of Connell.
*Conand, the *Fomorian leader.
Conall 1. A legendary warrior, the son of
Conaire Mór, Már; Conare, Conary [cf. cú, *Eochaid (4), who gives his name to the
hound, i.e. warrior]. Legendary high king of place-name Carn Conaill in Co. Limerick.
early Ireland, the leading figure of the story When Conall’s five sons attack the *sídh of
*Togail Bruidne Da Derga [The Destruction of Grian at *Cnoc Gréine, she pursues them and
Da Derga’s Hostel]. Conaire’s birth was high- changes them into badgers, after which they
ly unusual. His mother is normally thought to are hunted, killed, and eaten by Cormac
have been *Mes Buachalla, the abandoned Gaileng. Hearing this, Conall goes to Cnoc
stepdaughter of *Étaín Óg, who was fostered Gréine and does battle with Grian. Then she
by a poor cowherd. Her beauty does not go pauses and asks Conall’s true identity. ‘Come
unnoticed, and she is visited by a divine fig- here,’ she says, ‘that I may make a gift of
ure, who gets her with child. Mes Buachalla is prosperity to you.’ She sprinkles magic dust
betrothed to *Eterscél, because it has been on him, upon which he wanders off and dies
prophesied that a woman whose family is at Carn Conaill, nearby.
unknown to him will bear him a child; 2. A tale-telling traveller in oral tradition.
Conaire therefore sometimes bears the patro- When his sons accidentally kill one of his
nymic mac Eterscéle. An alternate version, king’s sons, Conall is sent in quest to *Loch-
found in *Tochmarc Étaíne [The Wooing of lainn [Scandinavia]. Once there he is obliged
Étaín] has *Eochaid Airem impregnate his to tell three tales, Scheherazade-like, to save
daughter in unknowing incest; the child of himself. One story employs the motif of an
that union is described as mating with Eter- encounter with a *one-eyed *giant. The third
scél to produce Conaire. story reveals that he once saved the life of the
Regardless of his parentage, Conaire is fos- king of Lochlainn, and so Conall himself is
tered by *Donn Désa, whose own sons, Fer saved. In English versions of his story he
Lé, Fer Gair, and Fer Rogain, become danger- bears the agnomen Yellowclaw.
ous marauders. When Eterscél dies, a *bull
Conall Anglonnach [Ir. anglondach, war-
feast is held which determines that Conaire
like, valiant]. One of the great charioteers and
will be the next king. On his way to accept the
chariot fighters of the *Ulster Cycle.
kingship, Conaire is visited by a man in bird
form who gives his name as Nemglan and Conall Cernach, Cearnach [Ir., of the vic-
describes himself as ‘king of Conaire’s tories, triumphant]. A leading hero of the
father’s bird troop’. Nemglan warns Conaire *Ulster Cycle, approaching *Cúchulainn in
of a series of ‘observances’ [Ir. airmitiu], chief power and resolve. He was a foster-brother
among them that he should give birds a priv- and virtual twin of Cúchulainn, his frequent
ileged place because he is of their kind, and companion in adventure and whose death he
also that he should not pass *Tara on his right avenged. Together with Cúchulainn and
hand nor *Brega on his left (i.e. not make a *Lóegaire, Conall is one of the three first
right-hand or *sunwise turn around Tara). champions of Ulster. Conall appears in sev-
But before he is the guest at Da Derga’s Hos- eral important narratives of the Ulster Cycle,
tel, Conaire has broken all the observances. including *Scéla Mucce meic Da Thó [The Story
Marauders including his foster-brothers of Mac Da Thó’s Pig], in which he takes a
invade the house and decapitate him. At the leading role; the *Táin Bó Cuailnge [Cattle
end of the story his severed head thanks Raid of Cooley], where he suffers the pangs
97
Conall Corc
inflicted by Macha; he assists *Fráech in Táin Conan, Conán. A name found with differing
Bó Fraích, *Fled Bricrenn [Briccriu’s Feast], etc. associations in three Celtic lands. In Ireland it
Conall’s father is *Amairgin the poet, and his is: Conán [hound, wolf] and is borne by two
mother is *Findchóem. Some commentators characters in the *Fenian Cycle, *Conán mac
have suggested that Conall may be a Morna and *Conán mac Lia, as well as by six
euhemerized *horned god. He was given his saints and scores of minor characters in nar-
name in an assault by his uncle that nearly ratives. In Wales it is: Conan [to grumble, to
killed the boy. His usual wife is *Lendabair, mutter (?)] and is the name of Tegid Faol [the
daughter of *Eógan mac Durthacht; else- bald]. In Brittany Conan is the name for
where *Niam (1) is his consort; his son Rath- *Cynan, the British invader of the country; it
end is drowned when fleeing with his father was also borne by four counts of Rennes who
from *Ercol. *Fedelm Noíchrothach [the nine reigned from the 10th to the 12th centuries.
times beautiful] eloped with Conall, abandon- Despite much conjecture, there does not
ing her husband *Cairbre Nia Fer; their love seem to be a link between any of the Celtic
child was *Fiachna (1). Conall is capable of figures named Conan and the Conan of the
some extraordinary feats, such as swallowing pulp adventure fiction series of Robert E.
a *boar whole, one that is so large as to Howard (d. 1936). Distinguish from *Conand.
require sixty oxen to pull it. He can be a killer.
On *Medb’s prompting, he kills *Ailill as he is Conán 1. King of *Cualu [Wicklow] and
committing an infidelity. In addition, he kills father of *Medb Lethderg.
*Anluan and Mesgegra, whose brain he Conán mac Lia, mac an Léith Luachra. The
makes into the ball that *Cet throws at *Con- lesser-known of two Conáns in the *Fenian
chobar. In seeking vengeance on *Lugaid for Cycle. The son of *Liath Luachra, from
the death of Cúchulainn, he is especially bru- whom Fionn gained the *crane bag. Conán
tal. According to oral tradition, Conall is him- was a marauder opposing the Fenians for
self killed by Connachtmen including Cet at many years, but when he was overcome one
the town of Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan, which day in Munster, he changed his allegiances
claims to take its name from him. and joined Fionn and his men, becoming a
keen and hardy fighter. In some stories he
Conall Corc. Another name for *Corc mac mistreats Finnine, the sister of *Ferdoman,
Luigthig. sometimes while described as her husband.
To avenge his sister’s honour, Ferdoman
Conall Gulban [Ir., beak, sting]. Son of engages Conán in a duel in which they both
*Niall Noígiallach [of the Nine Hostages] and die.
a founder of the kingdom of *Tír Chonaill
(Co. *Donegal). Conall and his two brothers, Conán mac Morna. The better-known of
*Eógan and *Énna (3), were, according to T. the two Conáns in the *Fenian Cycle. He is
F. O’Rahilly, identical with the three *Collas often cited with the agnomen Máel or Maol,
who razed the *Ulster capital of *Emain which is usually translated as ‘the Bald’. OIr.
Macha; see Early Irish History and Mythology máel and ModIr. maol usually mean ‘bald’ but
(Dublin, 1946), 230. On his own Conall head- may also mean ‘shorn’. In OIr. máel often
ed the Clann Conaill. The establishment of implied servility, as servants would have their
two kingdoms in north-west Ulster, Tír Cho- hair shorn or cropped. When applied to
naill by Conall and Tír Eógain [Tyrone] by his things, máel and maol imply bluntness.
brother Eógan, were signal events in early Within the Fenian Cycle, Conán is often
Irish history. According to oral tradition, portrayed as the most comic figure, although
Conall Gulban gave his name to *Ben Bulben he is not often a buffoon. His character has
[corrupted from Beinn Ghulbain], Co. Sligo, something in common with Thersites of the
when he was killed pursuing a giant who had Tale of Troy, in that he is filled with bluster; in
abducted *Eithne Uchtsholas, daughter of her retelling of the Fenian stories Lady Gre-
the king of Leinster. His descendant was gory called him ‘Conan of the Bitter Tongue’.
*Colum Cille. Sometimes reputed to be living In that he is also a trouble-maker, he has
at the falls of *Assaroe. something in common with Loki of Norse
mythology. As he is fat and sometimes fool-
Conall mac Luigthig. Another name for ish, he has been compared with Shakespeare’s
*Corc mac Luigthig. Falstaff, except that he never runs from a
98
Conchobar mac Nessa
fight. Mean and greedy, he is often detested tion is Conor, as commemorated in the
by the bulk of the Fenians, but once he allies common family name O’Connor, which
himself with Fionn the two of them are often exists in six distinct divisions, each with its
seen together, sometimes almost as a team. own eponymous progenitor. Since the 15th
Although bald, Conán has the fleece of a century Conchobar has been equated with
black sheep running down his back. Some the Latin name Cornelius, with which it has
stories describe him as wearing a black fleece no etymological connection.
as a wig. Often seen as the brother of *Goll
Conchobar Abratruad [Ir., of the red eye-
mac Morna. In *Feis Tighe Chonáin [A Feast at
lashes]. An early king of the *Lagin, ancestors
Conán’s House], Fionn is entertained at
of the Leinstermen of eastern Ireland. In
Conán’s house and tells many tales of the
early pedigrees he is confused with the better-
adventures of the Fenians. Ed. M. Joynt (Dub-
known *Conchobar mac Nessa.
lin, 1936).
Conchobar mac Nessa, Nes. King of
Conand, Conann, Connan. The *Fomorian *Emain Macha and thus of *Ulster during
leader who resided on Tory Island (off Co. most of the action of stories in the *Ulster
*Donegal), where his fortress was a great Cycle. In some translations, stories of the
glass tower, Tor Conaind. He levied a tribute Ulster Cycle are called ‘Red Branch’ after
on the *Nemedians; they, in turn, attacked Conchobar’s principal residence or palace,
the island and stormed the tower. *Fergus *Cráebruad. Although usually an attractive
Lethderg the Nemedian killed Conand before figure, Conchobar is the creature of
the Nemedian escape to Britain. Distinguish unsavoury lusts in his pursuit of the unwilling
from *Conaing. *Deirdre in Longas mac nUislenn [The Exile of
Conar. A king of Ireland in *Macpherson’s the Sons of Uisnech]. Conchobar becomes
Ossian (1760). He was the father of the king of Ulster through the machinations of
*Cormac dethroned by *Carbar. As he was his mother, Ness. His treatment of the Sons
also related to *Fingal, he drew the Scottish of Uisnech causes his son *Cormac
hero into many Irish wars. Connloinges to abandon Ulster and join the
forces of *Medb of *Connacht in *Táin Bó
Conarán. A chief of the *Tuatha Dé Dan- Cuailnge [Cattle Raid of Cooley].
ann who appears in the *Fenian Cycle. At his The story of Conchobar’s birth and boy-
bidding, his three ugly daughters punish hood fuses different early narratives that are
*Fionn mac Cumhaill and some companions often included as foretales or rémscéla to the
for hunting by using three holly-sticks to *Táin Bó Cuailnge. His birth and conception
entrap them in a cave. Fionn’s former enemy set him apart from other men. Conchobar’s
*Goll mac Morna comes to the rescue by kill- mother Ness, daughter of *Eochaid Sálbuide,
ing two of the sisters and forcing the third to is impregnated by the druid *Cathbad who
release the Fenians. Later, when the third sis- answers her question about what the hour
ter tries to avenge her sisters, Goll kills her was lucky for; ‘Begetting a king upon a
too. In gratitude Fionn awards Goll the hand queen’ is his reply. A rival version asserts that
of his daughter. In some versions of the story, *Fachtna Fáthach is both Conchobar’s father
Conarán’s daughters are named Camóg [Ir., and Ness’s husband. Some commentators
curl], Cúilín [curl at the back of the head], suggest that Conchobar is named for the river
and Iarnach [iron instrument]. where Cathbad sat, denying the more usual
explanation given above. The boy Conchobar
Conary Mor. Anglicization of *Conaire is reared by Cathbad until a new king of
Mór. Ulster, *Fergus mac Róich, seeks Ness for his
Conchean. Variant of *Conche(a)nn. wife. Before giving her consent, Ness asks
that Fergus give up the throne for a year and
Conchobar, Conchubar, Conchobhar, allow Conchobar to reign so that he may call
Conachar, Conchúr, Conor, Connor [Ir., his son the ‘son of a king’. Conchobar
wolf-lover (?), lover of hounds (?)]. A name becomes king, but at the end of a year Ness
borne by thousands of Irish figures over cen- makes it difficult for Fergus to regain his title
turies of whom the best-known was the king and so he departs. Despite his unusual access
of *Ulster in the times of the Red Branch, to royal power, Conchobar becomes a popu-
*Conchobar mac Nessa. The usual angliciza- lar king, celebrated for his prudence and wise
99
Condatis
judgement. Following the wishes of his Condatis [waters meet (?)]. A god wor-
subjects, he sleeps with each bride of the shipped in Roman-occupied Britain, much
kingdom on the first night of her marriage. associated with the confluence of rivers. His
Conchobar has three residences or palaces, shrines have been found between the Tyne
of which *Cráebruad [Red Branch], named and Tees rivers, Northumberland, Cumber-
for a beam across the ceiling, is best known. land, and Durham, in the north of what is
Red implies royalty, and Conchobar sits here now England. His name is commemorated in
most often. Cúchulainn is bred here. Téte Brec many place-names, some as far away as Gaul.
[Twinkling Hoard] houses the twinkling gold Condatis may be equated with *Mars.
of his swords and other weapons. *Cráebderg
Condere mac Echach. An *Ulster warrior
[Ruddy Branch] houses severed heads and
known for his good sense and eloquence. He
other spoils of battle.
is the first to face the mysterious *Connla, the
Because Conchobar suffers from the debili-
unacknowledged son of *Cúchulainn. When
tating pangs of the Ulstermen, Ces *Noínden
Connla says he could deal with Condere eas-
Ulad, inflicted by *Macha, he recedes from
ily, the Ulster warrior backs off.
much of the action in Táin Bó Cuailnge. In
some variants, Conchobar may have brought Cong [Ir. Conga; cf. OIr. cuing, isthmus].
about the pangs by goading Macha to race, Monastery in Co. Mayo at the north-east end
although her husband, *Crunniuc, is more of *Lough Corrib, established by St Féichín in
often the culprit. He is almost killed by Fergus the 6th century and rebuilt by the Austin
at the end of the Táin. The better-known canons in the 12th. It was reckoned to be on
story of his death has *Cet mac Matach an isthmus in that it is between Lough Corrib
wound Conchobar with the calcified brain and Lough Mask. Sometimes associated with
ball of Mesgegra. The wound, sewn up on the nearby plain known as *Mag Tuired
the advice of physician *Fíngein, is not fatal [Moytura]. The last high king of Ireland,
until much later, when the brain ball shakes Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, entered this monas-
loose. Later Christian interpolation has him tery in 1183 and died here in 1198. The cele-
dying on Good Friday after a druid tells him brated Cross of Cong, housed in the National
of the death of a just man. Museum of Ireland, survived the destruction
Accounts of Conchobar’s family are not of the buildings. The ruins, partially restored
consistent. His metronymic is ‘mac Nessa’ in the 19th century, are in the south-east por-
because Ness is always cited as his mother, tion of the village of Cong.
but his father may be Cathbad or Fachtna
Congal, Conghal [Ir., conflict, fight, attack].
Fáthach. His sisters include *Deichtine, the
Name borne by several figures from early
beloved of *Lug Lámfhota, and *Findchóem,
Irish history and legend, most notably Congal
the mother of *Conall Cernach. Among
Cáech [*One-eyed], a shadowy but historical
Conchobar’s many wives are the four daugh-
7th-century king of *Ulster. Congal was a
ters of *Eochaid Feidlech, first *Medb
leader of *Dál nAraide, a petty kingdom east
[Maeve], a mismatch, *Eithne (5), *Clothra,
of Lough Neagh, who became king of Ulster
and later *Mugain (2), who is most often
but was killed by the high king, *Domnall (1),
named as his wife. Conchobar’s sons include
at the Battle of Mag Rath [Moira] (637); cf.
the aforementioned Cormac Connloinges as
the account of Mag Rath in *Buile Shuibne. Sir
well as *Cúscraid Menn [the stammerer];
Samuel Ferguson dramatized this obscure
Furbaide Ferbend, the slayer of Medb; Fol-
ruler’s reign in Congal (1872), the only epic
lomain, his youngest, who leads the boy-
poem in Anglo-Irish literature, much in the
corps in the Táin Bó Cuailnge; and *Glaisne.
manner of George Chapman’s Elizabethan
Among his daughters are *Bláithíne, the faith-
translation of the Iliad. Another Congal was
less wife of *Cú Roí, and *Fedelm
the foster-brother of *Máel Fothartaig in
Noíchrothach [the nine times beautiful] or
*Fingal Rónáin [How Rónán Killed His Son].
Noíchríde [fresh heart], the wife of *Cairbre
Nia Fer. Conganchnes mac Dedad, Dáire [Ir.,
Several commentators have suggested that horn-skinned]. Described as the brother or
Conchobar may be one of many Celtic uncle of *Cú Roí. He avenges that hero’s
models for King *Arthur. His sword is Gorm ‘death’, but he is really Cú Roí revivus. Later
Glas [Ir., blue-green]. His chief poet and the figure known as Conganchnes is slain by
entertainer is *Ferchertne (2). *Celtchair mac Uthechair. *Niam (2), Celt-
100
Conn Cétchathach
chair’s daughter, agrees to marry Con- also the eponymous ancestor of the *Goidels
ganchnes to learn the secret of his seeming of the midlands who named the province of
invulnerability: that he can be killed only by *Connacht (Connaught, Connachta, etc.)
having spear-points penetrate the soles of his after him.
feet and the calves of his legs. Later the blood Conn’s grandfather was the illustrious
from Conganchnes’ dog Dóelchu kills *Tuathal Techtmar, but his father is variously
Celtchair. named, most often Fedlimid Rechtaid (or
Rechtmar) or Óenlám Gaba; his mother may
Conla, Conláech, Conlaí, Conlán, Con-
be *Medb Lethderg. The precocious Conn
laoch, Conle. Variant spellings of *Connla, a
becomes king at *Tara by seizing power from
name borne by several figures in Irish history
*Cathaír Mór; by later interpolation he is
and legend.
aided by the *Fianna of *Fionn mac Cum-
Conmac, Conmacc, Conmhac [Ir., wolf’s haill. Once in Tara, he mounts the ramparts
son]. The eponymous founder of *Con- each day lest the people of the *sídh or the
nemara [Ir. Conmaicne Mara] is thought to be *Fomorians should take Ireland unawares. In
Conmac. Sources disagree whether this was his early reign he is often at war with the
Conmac, the by-blow of *Medb and *Fergus petty kingdom of *Dál nAraide to the east of
mac Róich, or *Lugaid Conmac, also known Lough Neagh; here he earns his epithet of
as Lugaid mac Con. ‘Hundred Battles’ or ‘Hundred-Fighter’. His
greatest rival is *Eógan Mór (also Mug Nua-
Conmaicne. A people of early Ireland, per-
dat) of *Munster, with whom he divides Ire-
haps related to the *Lagin, who were dis-
land. The division is made along a ridge of
persed to various parts of *Connacht and
low mounds, known as *Eiscir Riada, running
north-western *Leinster. The branch that set-
from Dublin to Galway Bay. Territory north
tled west of *Lough Corrib, Co. Galway, the
of that line is known as Leth Cuinn: Conn’s
Conmaicne Mara [of the sea], gave their
half, and south of the line is Leth Moga Nua-
name to *Connemara. It was among the
dat: Mug Nuadat’s (Eógan’s) half. Invading
Conmaicne Réin, in eastern Galway, that the
Munster, Conn defeats Eógan, who then flees
*Tuatha Dé Danann first appeared. T. F.
the country; Conn instals two rulers, Conaire
O’Rahilly’s assertion (1946) that the Con-
and Maicnia, more disposed towards him.
maicne was non-*Goidelic is not widely
Eógan returns, stirs up a revolt against Conn,
accepted.
and is defeated and slain at the Battle of Mag
Conn [Ir., wisdom, sense, reason (?), cf. W Léna (near Tullamore, Co. Offaly). Stories of
*Pwyll; pet-form of cú/con, wolf, hound (?)]. Conn’s own death differ. He may have been
A name borne by dozens of figures in early killed by thirty Ulstermen, led by Tiobraide
Irish history and legend, especially among the Tíreach, dressed as women.
ranks of powerful families, perhaps in evoca- We read of Conn’s adventures in some
tion of *Conn Cétchathach. well-known texts. In *Baile in Scáil [The
Phantom’s Frenzy], Conn learns of the future
Conn 1. One of the Children of Lir, the twin
of his line from the Lia Fáil, and meets a
brother of *Fiachra in *Oidheadh Chlainne Lir
beautiful woman who is the *Sovereignty of
[The Tragic Story of the Children of Lir].
Ireland. In *Echtrae Airt meic Cuinn [The
2. The son of Febal, and a member of the
Adventure of Art Son of Conn], the fields of
*Fianna of *Fionn mac Cumhaill.
Ireland will bear no harvests and the cows will
Conn Cétchathach, Céadchathach [Ir., of give no milk because Conn is mated with the
the Hundred Battles, the Hundred-Fighter]. disreputable *Bé Chuma. Previously, when he
Shadowy king of Irish pre-history and ances- was married to the virtuous *Eithne
tor, perhaps ancestor-deity, of Irish kings. Tháebfhota, daughter of Cathaír Mór, there
Although described in the annals as having were three harvests a year. When Conn’s men
lived in the 2nd century, Conn bears a name kill *Eochaid Bélbuide, he compensates
sometimes applied to rulers of the *Other- Eochaid’s protector, *Fergus mac Léti, with a
world. He is the first to hear from the *Lia tract of land seized from the nobly born
Fáil [the Stone of Prophecy], allowing him to mother of one of the assassins, Dorn, who
foresee how many of his line will occupy the becomes Fergus’s slave.
kingship as well as the coming of St *Patrick. Conn is often mentioned in the *Fenian
Along with his special role in kingship, he is Cycle, although the stories there appear to be
101
Connacht
of later composition. Fionn mac Cumhaill is the barony of Moycullen, now reckoned to be
usually thought to have been born during the a part of *Connemara. See also The Annals of
reign of Conn or that of his predecessor, Connacht, ed. A. Martin Freeman, Revue Celt-
Cathaír Mór. In some versions, Conn killed ique, 50 (1933), 1–23, 117–42, 272–88, 339–56;
*Cumhall, Fionn’s father, for his abduction of 51 (1934), 46–111, 199–301; also Annála Con-
*Muirenn, Fionn’s mother. Despite this, nacht (Dublin, 1944).
Fionn and his Fianna are often seen as Conn’s
Connan. Variant spelling of *Conand.
allies. Among Conn’s children are the afore-
mentioned Art mac Cuinn as well as *Connla, Connemara [Ir. Conmaicne Mara, *Con-
who is seduced by a *fairy princess in *Echtrae mac’s people of the sea; Iarchonnacht, western
Conli [The Adventure of Connla]. A daughter Connacht]. A region of west Co. Galway,
is Sárait, mother of three Cairbres. His grand- west of *Lough Corrib; originally Con-
son is the celebrated king *Cormac mac Airt. nemara was roughly identical with the bar-
His druid was Máel or Corán. In Gaelic Scot- ony of Ballynahinch, but it is now reckoned
land the *Lord of the Isles of the Clan Don- informally to include portions of the barony
ald proudly claimed descent from Conn as of Moycullen to the east and Ross (‘Joyce’s
well as from *Colla Uais. Country’) to the north. Because Connemara
contains the largest surviving Gaeltacht [Irish-
Connacht, Connaught, Connachta, Con- speaking community], many commentators
naght [Ir., descendants of Conn (?)]. A prov- have felt, rightly or wrongly, that the area is
ince of Ireland, the most westerly and small- one of the most characteristic of traditional
est (6,610 square miles) of the four (the others Irish culture. Despite exploitation by the tour-
being *Leinster, *Munster, and *Ulster) ist industry, Connemara remains a living res-
whose borders were drawn in the 17th cen- ervoir of folk culture that has been tapped by
tury. In pre-conquest times, as Cóiced Con- many collectors. In the early 20th century
nacht, it was one of five, when *Mide/ James Berry (1842–1914) reshaped many of
*Meath is counted separately or Munster is the narratives of Connemara, something in
counted as two. Within its borders are the the manner of William Carleton; see G. M.
counties of Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, and Horgan (ed.), Tales of the West of Ireland (Dub-
Roscommon. In the Irish epic *Táin Bó lin, 1964); see also Tim Robinson, Connemara
Cuailnge [Cattle Raid of Cooley], the ruler of (Galway, 1990).
Connacht is Queen *Medb [Maeve], whose
Connla, Conla, Conláech, Conlae, Conlaí,
royal residence is at *Cruachain (Co. Ros-
Conlaoch, Conlán, Conle, Condla, Cúnla [Ir.,
common). For much of the narrative ‘Medb’
great lord (?), great chief (?)]. Name borne by
and ‘Connacht’ are almost synonymous.
dozens of figures from early Irish legend and
Elsewhere in the *Ulster Cycle, which
history, including characters in heroic narra-
includes the Táin, the great hero of Connacht
tives and ecclesiastics. One Connla is the hero
is Cet mac Mágtach.
of a bawdy modern Irish ballad. The name
Roughly coextensive with the region
appears to be related to *Colla, and is some-
known as Nagatae in *Ptolemy’s geography
times confused with *Conall, to which it is
(2nd cent. ), Connacht is usually thought to
not related.
be named for *Conn Cétchathach [of the
Hundred Battles]. In mythic narrative, Con- Connla 1. The son of the Amazonian *Aífe
nacht is given to *Sreng as part of the settle- in Scotland, fathered by *Cúchulainn. The
ment after the defeat of the *Fir Bolg at the well-known story of Connla’s death at his
First Battle of Mag Tuired; see   father’s hands is told in *Aided Óenfhir Aífe
. Other notable rulers of Connacht [The Death of Aífe’s Only Son]. Scottish
include: *Cathal Mór ‘of the Wine-Red Gaelic traditions tell of Connla’s nurturing at
Hand’, a personification of the province; Dunsgàthaich, Isle of Skye. James *Macpher-
*Crimthann Cass; *Eógan (2); *Guaire; and son retells the story as ‘Carthon’ in his Ossian
*Lairgnéan. The king of the Connacht fairies (1760). In W. B. Yeats’s poem ‘Cuchulain’s
is *Finnbheara, who resides at *Cnoc Fight with the Sea’ (1892), Connla is known as
Mheadha [Knockmagha], near Tuam, Co. Finmole.
Galway. Alenecma is the name for Connacht 2. The son of *Conn Cétchathach [of the
in *Macpherson’s Ossian (1760). In Irish the Hundred Battles] seduced by a *fairy woman.
phrase Iar [remote, west] Chonnacht refers to His well-known story is told in *Echtrae Conli
102
Corc mac Luigthig
[The Adventures of Connla]; the title is some- Contrebus [L, co-habiter (?), he who dwells
times translated to include the epithets ‘the among us; cf. treba, dwelling]. A minor god
Bold’, ‘the Fair’, or ‘the Red’. Connla leaves worshipped in Roman-occupied Britain; a
the land of the living when the fairy woman dedication to Contrebus survives at Overbor-
promises him escape from old age and death; ough, Lancashire.
he will not return even with the promise of
his father’s crown. His story was retold by Conway [W Conwy]. Waterway of north
James Cousins in the play The Sleep of the King Wales, starting from Lake Conway and run-
(Dublin, 1902; Chicago, 1973). ning north to Beaumaris Bay in *Gwynedd;
3. He for whom *Connla’s Well is named. until 1974 it formed the boundary between
the now extinct counties of Denbigh and
Connla Cóel. Lord of an *otherworldly Caernarvon. Near the town of Conway, at the
island visited by *Cúchulainn. west of the river’s mouth, lies the site of
Degannwy, court of the 6th-century king
Connla’s Well. A source of inspiration and *Maelgwn Gwynedd. The waters of the
knowledge in early Irish mythology, some- Conway are thought to evoke the dying
what comparable to the well of Mimir in groans of *Dylan, the Welsh aquatic hero.
Norse tradition. The location of the well
changes from text to text, and the identity of Cool. Anglicization of *Cumhall, father of
the Connla for whom it is named is not clear. *Fionn mac Cumhaill.
It may be under the sea, in *Tír na nÓg [The cooleen, coolun. Anglicizations of *cúilín.
Land of Youth], or in *Tír Tairngire [The
Land of Promise]. One *Dindshenchas [lore Cooley [Ir. Cuailnge]. A peninsula in north-
of place-names] cites a Connla’s Well near east Co. Louth, between Dundalk Bay and
Tipperary. Over the well, whatever its loca- Carlingford Lough. It is here that many of the
tion, were nine *hazel trees whose nuts con- climactic scenes in the Irish epic *Táin Bó
tained wisdom, *knowledge, and inspiration. Cuailnge [Cattle Raid of Cooley] take place.
The nuts dropped into the well, and the copóg Phádraig [Ir., leaf of Patrick]. Irish
*salmon swimming in it ate the nuts. The name for the plantain or water-plantain
number of spots on each salmon indicated (genus plantago), which was thought to ward
how many nuts it had eaten. Wisdom, know- off *fairies.
ledge, and inspiration came to the person
who drank the water of the well or ate the Corán. The *druid of *Connla.
salmon or the nuts. All were forbidden to visit
the well except *Nechtan and his three cup- Coraniaid, Coranians [cf. W còr, corrach,
bearers. *Sinann [Shannon], the grand- dwarf]. A magical and demonic people who
daughter of the sea god *Lir, went to the well invade and harass Britain in *Cyfranc Lludd a
seeking wisdom. Although it is not clear Llefelys [The Story of Lludd and Lleuelys].
which protocols she may have neglected, Sin- They have been identified in a general way
ann did not receive wisdom. Instead, the well with *fairies, but are far more malevolent
rose up and drowned her. Her body washed than the *tylwyth teg of Welsh oral tradition.
up on the banks of the *Shannon, which was One of three invaders that threatened the
named for her. Connla’s Well may be identi- kingdom of Lludd, they could hear sound
cal with the Well of *Segais, and is called the carried on the wind.
Well of Cóelrind in some texts. Magic wis- Corb, Corbb [cf. Ir. corbbaid, defiles]. A god
dom gained from drinking the waters of a of the *Fomorians of the *Lebor Gabála [Book
certain well is folk motif D1811.1.2. of Invasions].
Conor. Anglicization of *Conchobar. Corc mac Luigthig, Corcc mac Luigdech.
[Ir. corcc, heart]. Also known as Conall Corc,
Conquests, Book of. Non-standard transla- Conall mac Luigthig. Traditional founder of
tion of the Irish title *Lebor Gabála. the kingship of *Cashel, the fortress of Co.
consuriwr. The Welsh word for conjurer; Tipperary, and ancestor of many kings of
see  . *Munster, about whom many legends have
gathered. A swineherd foretells his coming to
Contortion of Cúchulainn. See ríastrad Cashel and to the kingship. During an initi-
under *Cúchulainn. ation rite by his foster-mother *Fedelm (3) his
103
Corca
ear becomes magically singed, giving him his their territory. One of the highest concentra-
name, Corc, which some early writers mis- tions of stones bearing *ogham inscriptions is
takenly thought meant ‘red’ or ‘crimson’. found in land once occupied by the Corcu
Later he is sent to the king of the *Picts in Duibne. Among the Corcu Duibne also was
Scotland, with a secret *ogham message on Gleann na nGealt, a valley filled with wild
his shield that he should be killed. Fortu- men.
nately, a scholar whom Corc had rescued
Corcu Loígde, Lóegde, Laígde, Laoidhe.
from slavery alters the characters so as to
People of what is now south-western Co.
provide a favourable introduction. Corc is
Cork, who lived between the River Bandon
warmly received and later marries the daugh-
and the sea in the southernmost area in Ire-
ter of the Pictish king. On his return to Ire-
land. The ancient geographer Ptolemy (2nd
land he founds two dynasties, first at *Femen,
cent. ) may have identified the Corcu
second and more importantly at Cashel.
Loígde with the people he named *Iverni.
According to tradition Corc, while trapped in
They were a dominant power in south Mun-
a snowstorm, beholds a vision of a *yew bush
ster before the rise of the *Eóganacht. In the
growing over a stone with angels flying up
pseudo-history *Lebor Gabála [Book of Inva-
and down before it. His druids tell him that
sions], they are described as descending from
the person who kindles a *fire on that stone
Lugaid son of Dáire and thus from *Ith.
will be king of Munster forever. The kingship
of Cashel is controlled for many centuries by Corleck Hill. Sometimes known in Irish as
the *Eóganacht [the people descended from Sliabh na Trí nDée, Sliabh na nDée Dána [Ir., hill
Eógan, he who was born of the yew]. of the three gods], a promontory near
Drumeague, Co. Cavan, once known as ‘the
Corca, Corco. Variant spellings of *Corcu.
pulse of Ireland’. A stone head of *Brigit was
Corcaguiney peninsula. See . once worshipped here, and the hill was the
site of pagan worship on the feasts of
Corcomroe. Tribal name lending itself to a
*Imbolc, *Beltaine, *Lughnasa, and *Samain.
barony and to a Cistercian abbey, founded
The three gods of the Irish name are probably
1180, now in ruins, in north Co. Clare, 2 miles
*Conn, *Dagda, and *Ogma, although earlier
S of the *Burren, 5 miles W of Kinvara. The
commentators suggested *Brian, *Iuchair,
locality is cited in many stories, not always
and *Iucharba. Near *Dub Chomar.
with Christian associations. Máel Dúin, for
example, consults a druid here when he first Cormac, Cormacc, Carmac [Ir. corbbaid,
pursues his father’s murderers (see *Imram defiles (?); mac, son of]. Common Irish name
Curaig Maíle Dúin). borne by many figures both legendary and
historical, including kings, ecclesiastics, and
Corcu, Corco, Corca. An Old Irish word for
saints. The best-known Cormacs are probably
population groups and, by extension, for the
the legendary king Cormac mac Airt; the
territories they occupied. It may be translated
glossator of *Sanas Cormaic [Cormac’s Gloss-
as ‘clan’.
ary], Cormac mac Cuilennáin; and Cormac
Corcu Baiscinn, Baiscind, Bascinn. A mac Carthaig, for whom ‘Cormac’s Chapel’
people settled north of the Shannon estuary at *Cashel is named. There does not appear
in what is now Co. Clare, especially the south- to be one progenitor for the Irish and Scottish
western peninsula of the county, from earliest families named McCormick, MacCormack,
recorded history up to the 12th century. etc.
People of the Corcu Baiscinn were famous as
Cormac 1. Son of a king of *Ulster named
sailors. The poet James Liddy titled one of his
Lachtighe, grandfather of *Conaire Mór. He
collections Corca Bascinn (Dublin, 1977).
married *Étaín Óg but put her aside when
Corcu Duibne. People of western Co. she proved unable to bear sons. His daughter
*Kerry, especially on both the north and the from a previous marriage, whom Étaín Óg
south shores of *Dingle Bay. In some writings sought to have killed, grew up to be *Mes
Corca Dhuibhne denotes the Dingle peninsula Buachalla, wife of *Eterscél. He may be iden-
specifically. The *Cailleach Bhéirre [Old tical with *Cormac Connloinges.
Woman of Beare] was of the Corcu Duibne, 2. A character in *Macpherson’s Ossian
but their (perhaps divine) ancestress may have (1760) described as the ‘king of Ireland’. His
been Dob[h]inia. *Cú Roí had his fortress in daughter Ros-Cranna married *Fingal. The
104
Cormac mac Airt
son of *Arth, also king of Ireland, Cormac *Medb (Maeve) Lethderg [half-red or red side;
was dethroned and murdered by *Cairbre. not to be confused with Medb of Connacht].
The root of his characterization appears to be Medb, whose name appears to mean ‘intoxi-
borrowed from *Cormac mac Airt. cating’ [cf. W meddw, drunk; Eng. mead], is
described as having been the ‘wife’ of nine
Cormac mac Aililla. Another name for
Irish kings, including Conn’s father and
*Cormac Cas.
Conn’s son Art. She is a more specific
Cormac mac Airt. Also known as Cormac instance of the *Sovereignty of Ireland figure
Ulf[h]ada [Ir., long beard] and Cormac Ua seen in many stories; see   [feast of
Cuinn (acknowledging *Conn Cétchathach, Tara];   [marriage of kingship].
his grandfather). A legendary early king of *Esnada Tige Buchet [The Melodies of
Ireland at *Tara, perhaps the most famous of Buchet’s House] tells how Cormac begets
all early kings, and the first cited as having his *Cairbre Lifechair upon *Eithne Tháebfhota,
seat at Tara. In the Annals he is described as the daughter of *Cathaír Mór.
reigning for forty years, with interruptions, In perhaps the best-known story about
 227–66. Cormac was thought to be so wise him, Echtrae Cormaic [The Adventure of
and just that during his reign calves were born Cormac], the young king accepts a magical
after only three months’ gestation, every sleep-inducing bough from a warrior who is
ridge produced a sackful of wheat, the rivers later revealed to be *Manannán mac Lir. In
abounded with salmon, and there were not return for the magical bough, the mysterious
enough vessels to hold the milk from the warrior makes demands on Cormac, includ-
cows. Most of the episodes in the *Fenian ing the surrender of his wife, which the king
Cycle occur during Cormac’s reign, and cannot accept. When Cormac pursues the
*Fionn mac Cumhaill is sometimes described warrior he finds himself in a castle, where the
as being a part of his soldiery. In a sense, warrior presents him with a wondrous golden
Fionn could be described as being a part of cup that can be split apart with lies and put
Cormac’s cycle, especially as several non- together again only with truths.
Fenian stories centre on Cormac, including In the Fenian stories Cormac is represented
the magical and enticing *Echtrae Cormaic as having a fairly close relationship with the
[The Adventure of Cormac]. Convinced that central figure of the cycle, Fionn mac Cum-
Cormac was unhistorical, T. F. O’Rahilly haill. Cormac accepts Fionn’s hospitality at
(1946) argued that he was an idealization of feasting. In some versions he is Fionn’s father-
the first *Goidelic king of *Tara. None the in-law, the married daughter being either
less, several important families of medieval *Ailbe Gruadbrecc or *Gráinne. Gráinne’s
Ireland, notably the *Uí Néill, claimed des- betrothal to Fionn is very much to Cormac’s
cent from Cormac. approval, but later, when she flees from Fionn
Cormac was described as the grandson of with *Diarmait, Cormac shows restrained
the illustrious *Conn Cétchathach [Ir., of the sympathy for the young lovers. The relation-
Hundred Battles]. Conn’s son *Art mac ship between Cormac’s son and successor,
Cuinn fathers Cormac upon one *Étaín, the Cairbre Lifechair, and the Fenians is much
daughter of a *smith, before the battle of poorer.
Mag Mucrama, in which Art is killed. Follow- Cormac’s power is sufficiently great to
ing Art’s instructions, Étaín travels to *Con- establish his half-brother Nia as king of
nacht in her pregnancy so that the infant may *Connacht. But it is not sufficient to retain
be fostered by Art’s friend there. But as she is Cormac’s kingship once he is disfigured. The
near term, Étaín delivers Cormac in a brush- episode is provoked when Cormac’s nephew
wood along the way, during a thunderstorm. or son, *Cellach, rapes a maiden from the
Shortly after his birth Cormac is spirited away *Déisi. Seeking revenge, *Angus (4), the Déisi
by a wolf, who suckles him in its lair. The chieftain, spears Cellach and puts out Cor-
motif of the death of both parents is also mac’s eye with the butt. Cormac is then
found in Cormac’s *Munster contemporary, obliged to abdicate in favour of Cairbre.
*Fiachu Muillethan. Eventually, Cormac is Among the *Dál nAraide of northern Ireland,
fostered by *Lugaid mac Con, whom he the story was told that their eponym, *Fiachu
replaces in the kingship by the power of his Araide, had driven Cormac from Tara, but
better judgement. But it is said of him that he that *Fiachu Muillethan of Munster had
will remain a lad until he has slept with helped to restore him.
105
Cormac Cas
Later stories, interpolated by Christian Cormac mac Carthaig. Twelfth-century
commentators but widely popular in oral king of *Munster who authorized the build-
tradition, portray Cormac as somehow pres- ing of the Romanesque church at *Cashel
cient about Christian values. In one story called ‘Cormac’s Chapel’ in his memory. Slain
Cormac refuses to be buried on pagan in 1138.
ground. Cormac appears to be the basis of Cormac mac Cuilennáin. Late 9th-
James *Macpherson’s character named Cor- century (d. 908) scholar and king-bishop of
mac (see  (2)) in Ossian (1760). See *Cashel who is said to have compiled *Sanas
Tomás Ó Cathasaigh, The Heroic Biography of Cormaic [Cormac’s Glossary]. Although
Cormac mac Airt (Dublin, 1977); Vernam Hull Cormac could be an uncritical euhemerist,
(ed.), ‘Echtra Cormaic mac Airt, ‘The Adven- believing that all characters were historical,
ture of Cormac mac Airt’ ’, PMLA 64 (1949), his Glossary is an invaluable source of infor-
871–83. Andrew J. Offutt used the heroic per- mation on early Irish tradition.
sona to create eight volumes of popular
adventure fiction, the Cormac Mac Art series Cormac Ua Cuinn. Another name for
(New York, 1979–86). *Cormac mac Airt.
Cormac Cas. Shadowy historical king of Cormac Ulfhada, Ulfhota. Variant names
*Munster of the late 7th century and legend- for *Cormac mac Airt.
ary ancestor of such *Dál Cais (or Dál gCais) Cormac’s Adventure in the Land of Prom-
families as the O’Briens and the McNamaras. ise. See  .
He was a grandson of *Eógan Mór (Mug Cormac’s cup. This golden cup could be
Nuadat) and a son of *Ailill Aulomm, and split apart with lies and welded together with
thus sometimes bears the patronymic mac truths. A mysterious warrior, later revealed to
Aililla. Slain by the invading Déisi at Carn be *Manannán mac Lir, gives it to *Cormac
Feradaig near the present city of Limerick,  mac Airt in *Echtrae Cormaic [The Adventure
713. of Cormac].
Cormac Connloinges, Conn Loingeas, Cormac’s Glossary. See  ;
CondLonges, Conloingeas. A son of *Con- named for *Cormac mac Cuilennáin.
chobar mac Nessa, king of *Emain Macha, Cormar. An attendant of *Cumhal in
who goes into voluntary exile to protest the *Macpherson’s Ossian (1760). His name is
treacherous killing of the sons of *Uisnech, proverbial for a knowledge of the sea.
whose surety in passage he had been. In the
epic *Táin Bó Cuailnge [Cattle Raid of Cormoran. *Giant of Cornish folklore
Cooley], he travels with the invading army of credited with building St Michael’s Mount, a
*Connacht under Queen *Medb [Maeve]. rocky islet near Marazion, 3 miles E of Pen-
Later he prevents *Fergus mac Róich from zance. Cormoran begins his work with white
killing Conchobar. Later still, Conchobar on granite, but as he is lazy and dozes off, his
his deathbed sends for Cormac to replace wife, Cormelian, begins to build with green
him in the kingship. As Cormac starts this stone as it can be carried from a shorter dis-
journey of reconciliation he is murdered by tance. When Cormoran awakes he kicks
a band of Connachtmen returning from a Cormelian, who drops the green stone, form-
raid in *Ulster. He is sometimes thought ing the causeway to the mainland. The name
to have married *Niam (2), daughter of Cormoran is also given to the giant in the
*Celtchair, after her treacherous marriage to English folk-tale of ‘Jack the Giant-Killer’.
*Conganchnes. According to genealogical Cornavii. Name recorded by Ptolemy (2nd
tracts, he later takes *Étaín (1) as a wife, cent. ) for a people living in what is now
presumably after the death of her usual mor- Caithness in northern Scotland. Speculation
tal husband, *Eochaid Airem. Also a char- on the implications of the name include:
acter in *Togail Bruidne Da Derga [The people of the promontory, people of the
Destruction of Da Derga’s Hostel]. He may horn, and people of the horned god.
be identical with Cormac (1), husband of
*Étaín Óg. Cornouaille. Petty kingdom in *Brittany
from early Christian times; region retained
Cormac Gelta Gáeth. Legendary ancestor the name until the Napoleonic redivision
of *Leinstermen. of local governments. The territory of
106
cosmogony
Cornouaille ran south of the River Elorn to The language was spoken until the mid-
the Elle, in what is today the south-west 18th and has been ‘revived’ by enthusiasts in
Department of *Finistère. While the name is the 20th. Collections of lore from Cornish
similar to *Cornwall, Cornouaille does not tradition did not appear until the mid-19th
appear to have been settled by Cornish emi- century, with Robert Hunt’s Popular Romances
grants, although Cornouaille does appear to of the West of England (London, 1865) and
be coextensive with the ancient British petty William Bottrell’s Traditions and Hearthside
kingdom of *Cornubia. Bret. Kernev. Stories of West Cornwall (Penzance, 1870). Sev-
eral sites in Cornwall, such as *Tintagel and
Cornovii. Ancient British tribe occupying
*Kelliwic, have rich Arthurian associations;
much of the valleys of the Severn and the
and Cornwall is also the reputed home of
Dee near what is today the Welsh border. As
King *Mark and *Tristan. See Bibliography
their territory was often under attack and dif-
under ‘Cornish’ for collections of Cornish
ficult to defend, the Cornovii worked more
traditions. Ir. An Corn; ScG A’ Chòrn,
closely with the Romans than did other
Cornghall; Manx Yn Chorn; Bret. Kernev-
peoples; they were the only British people
Veur.
who gave their name to a unit in the Imperial
auxiliary troop. They may have given their Coronation Stone. Another name for the
name to *Cornwall. Stone of Scone; see  .
Cornu. Legendary great black bird that lived Coronians. Variant spelling of *Coraniaid.
in St Patrick’s Purgatory on *Lough Derg.
According to oral tradition, Cornu was first a Corotiacus. See  (Corotiacus).
demon that St Patrick turned into a bird. Coroticus. See  .
Cornubia. Ancient British kingdom in
Armorica, the Breton peninsula, in Roman Corpre. Variant spelling of *Cairbre.
times. It occupied a territory coextensive with corrbolg. An Irish word for *crane bag.
the later petty kingdom of *Cornouaille,
south of the River Elorn to the Elle. Less fre- Corrib. See  .
quently, Cornubia is a latinized name for early Corrievreckan, Corry Vreckan [Ir. and
*Cornwall. ScG coire brecáin, cauldron of Brecáin (per-
Cornwall. [Early Brit. Cornovii; Germ. -wall, sonal name)]. Name given to two whirlpools,
foreigner; late Brit. Cornouia, latinized to the more celebrated of which is between the
Cornubia; cf. Corn. Kernow, W Cernyw; archaic islands of Jura and Scarba in the Inner Hebri-
Eng. Kernyu]. A county, earlier duchy, occupy- des; the second is between Rathlin Island and
ing 1,369 square miles on a peninsula in south- the mainland of north Northern Ireland. The
western England; with a population of about Scottish Corrievreckan is named for Brecáin,
450,000, Cornwall is the fifth largest Celtic Brecon, or Brechin, a hero described in the
culture in Europe. The region was a part of *Book of Ballymote as having perished here
the kingdom of *Dumnonia in the 8th cen- with fifty ships. Both are known popularly as
tury. Prior to the 6th century Irish freebooters ‘the cauldron of the old woman’, a possible
raided the peninsula, leaving settlements, and association with *Mórrígan.
Irish missionaries later evangelized it. As the
Duchy of Cornwall in medieval and early corrigan. Variant spelling of *korrigan.
modern times, divided from England by the Corroi map Dayry. Welsh spelling of *Cú
Tamar River, the region retained Celtic lan- Roí mac Dáiri.
guage and customs in spite of its powerful
Saxon neighbours. The Cornish language Corry Vreckan. Variant of *Corrievreckan.
[Corn. Kernewek] is *Brythonic and closely Córus Cerda. See  .
related to Welsh and to Breton (compare the
words for ‘oak’: W derwen; Corn. derowen; cosmogony. Also known as creation myth;
Bret. dervenn). Some Cornish names appear a mythological explanation for the creation
as glosses in early Latin gospels. The gospels and evolution of the universe. Several ancient
themselves began to be translated into Cor- commentators, including Julius *Caesar, test-
nish as early as the 10th century, and mystery ify that the Celts had a cosmogony, but except
plays in Cornish survive from the 15th. for a line quoted in *Strabo (1st cent. ) that
107
cosmology
the Celts believed in the indestructibility of Continental goddess *Damona and the ety-
the world, no traces survive, although Irish mology of *Boand, goddess of the *Boyne.
and Welsh flood legends imply a re-creation The Welsh *Triads speak of three prominent
of the universe. Some tantalizing echoes of a cows of Britain, implying a legend about
cosmogony appear in the Scottish Gaelic of cows not known to us.
Cape Breton; see ‘A Gaelic Tale of the Milky Important female figures having strong
Way’, recited by J. N. MacNeil, ed. and trans. associations with cows are Boand, *Brigit,
J. Shaw, Cape Breton’s Magazine, 19 ( June *Flidais, *Mórrígan, and *Verbeia. The
1978), 31. magical cow of Irish folk tradition was *Glas
Of lesser note are the purported bardic Ghaibhleann, and its counterpart in Scottish
beliefs recorded by Llewelyn Siôn in Barddas Gaelic tradition was *Glas Ghaibhnann. The
(late 16th cent.). Siôn’s vision contains elem- hornless fairy cattle of the Scottish Highlands
ents borrowed from Christianity as well as are the *Crodh Mara. The fairy cattle of
from gnostic and probably also from Oriental Wales are known as *gwartheg y llyn. Oth-
traditions. Although Barddas has been erworldly or fairy cows are usually thought to
scorned by learned commentators as repre- be white with red ears.
senting the views of only one idiosyncratic The Druimin Donn Dílis: The Faithful
individual, its text has been edited and trans- Brown, Whitebacked Cow, is a poetic name
lated by J. A. Williams ap Ithel, Society for the for Ireland. According to Irish place-name
Publication of Ancient Welsh Manuscripts, legend, three cows once emerged from the
No. 7 (Abergavenny, 1862). sea, Bó Finn [white cow], Bó Dub [black cow],
and Bó Derg [red cow]. They scattered across
cosmology. See . the island, the black going south, the red
Country of . . . A translation of the Irish tír. going north, and the white going straight
For the Country of Youth, see   . across; this accounts for the many Irish town
names beginning ‘Bó- ’. The word for cow in
Couril. A gnome of Brittany, much like the both Old and Modern Irish is bó; ScG bò;
*goric, found especially around the ruins of Manx booa; W bu, buwch; Corn. bugh; Bret.
Tresmalouen. ejen [the animal], bevin (the meat of the ani-
Courtship of . . . See  . . . mal). See also .
Covac. Anglicization of *Cobthach. Cowshra Mend Macha. Anglicization of
*Cúscraid Menn.
Coventina. Name for a British goddess wor-
shipped during the Roman occupation. A well Craddock, Cradog. Variant spellings of
was dedicated to her near Hadrian’s Wall at *Caradog.
what is now Carrawborough, south North- Cráebderg [Ir., ruddy branch]. One of three
umberland. Surviving reliefs portray her as a royal residences of *Conchobar mac Nessa.
kind of water-nymph. Excavations at her well Severed heads and spoils of war were kept
in 1876 uncovered a cache of 14,000 ancient here. See also .
coins.
Cráebruad, Cráeb Ruad, Craobh Ruadh,
cow. The mature female of cattle appears Craob Rua, Crave Rua, Crevroe, etc. [Ir., red
often in Celtic narrative and visual art, branch]. One of three royal residences of
although not so differently from other Euro- *Conchobar mac Nessa, and the one most
pean traditions. If cattle were once wor- often used for large assemblies. The hall
shipped, as we believe, their earlier status appears to have taken its name from the large
attaches more to the male of the species; see roofbeam or ‘branch’ which may have been
. Cattle were always valued possessions, painted. Weapons were not allowed in the
among both human and otherworldly society; hall, to reduce the incidence of contests
this was especially true of herding societies, between those assembled; instead, weapons
such as that of early Ireland. The agnomen of were kept in the residence known as Téte
*Brian Bórama (Boru) testifies to his wealth Brec [Twinkling Hoard]. The usual English
[Ir. bórama, cow-countings (?), i.e. tribute]. A translation is Red Branch (cf. the third
bóaire [cow-noble, stock owner] was a free- residence, Cráebderg [ruddy branch]). In
man. No evidence of a cult of the cow sur- 19th-century texts, the phrase ‘Red Branch’
vives, although it is suggested in the minor might indicate both the royal residence and
108
crane
the warriors or ‘knights’ most often seen he is sometimes credited with the discovery
there. ‘Red Branch Cycle’ was sometimes used of the harp, which he fashioned from a wil-
as a substitute for *Ulster Cycle. See Tomás Ó low tree. Craiphtine is much associated with
Broin, Éigse, 15 (1973), 103–13. The townland of *Labraid Loingsech, a legendary early invader
Creeveroe or Creevroe, Northern Ireland, may of Ireland, and may be, as some commenta-
echo the name of Cráebruad. tors have suggested, a double for him. By
playing his harp, Craiphtine cures Labraid
Craftine, Craftiny. Variant spellings of
Loingsech of dumbness; he also reveals the
*Craiphtine.
secret of Labraid’s deformity of equine ears.
craftsman. In the Celtic countries the con- Craiphtine’s music lulls to sleep the garrison
cept of craftsman [Ir. ceardaí, saor; W crefftwr] at *Dind Ríg, allowing the capture of that
would include artisan, carpenter, potter, or fortress. Earlier Craiphtine sets music to the
wright, but does not always include smith [Ir. love-lay of *Muiriath and carries it to Labraid
gabha; W gof]. The craftsman or carpenter of in exile. Craiphtine’s own wife, Scenb, is
the *Tuatha Dé Danann in Ireland is *Luchta, unfaithful.
who frequently works with *Goibniu, a
weaponmaker, wright, or smith, and crane. The large wading bird with long legs,
*Credne, a metalsmith. Goibniu was known neck, and bill of the family Gruidae has wide-
as *Gobbán Saor [Ir., Gobbán the wright or spread representation in Celtic tradition. It
craftsman] in folk-tales. *Partholón in the appears to have been perceived as a trans-
*Lebor Gabála [Book of Invasions], is the chief formed human, usually a woman. Carved fig-
of every craft. The epithet of *Lug Lámfhota ures of cranes appear on Gaulish monuments
is *Samildánach [possessor of many talents or dedicated to *Esus. The ancient Britons,
crafts]. Llassar Llaes Gyfnewid, the possessor reported Julius *Caesar (1st cent. ), refused
of the *cauldron of regeneration in Manaw- to eat the bird’s flesh for fear that it had been
ydan, the third branch of the *Mabinogi, was human in an earlier life. Giraldus Cambrensis
known for his craftsmanship. (12th cent.) observed the same taboo in Ire-
land. Representations of the crane appear in
Crageevil, Craglee. Anglicizations of
Celtic iconography as early as the *Urnfield
*Craig Liath, the fairy residence of *Aíbell.
period (c.800 ), although the nature of pos-
Craiftine. Variant spelling of *Craiphtine. sible early cults is imperfectly known. The
crane of the Continental Celts may have had
Craig Liath, Crageevil, Craglee, Craiglee,
associations with healing. Those cranes not
Creag Liath [Ir., grey rock]. A 40-feet rock
thought to be transformed humans were per-
about 1 mile from Killaloe, Co. Clare, with
ceived as parsimonious and unpleasant. To
rich associations in Irish folklore. It was long
see a crane was thought to be ill luck to a
thought to be the fairy palace of *Aíbell.
battle-bound warrior. In some representations
Craig y Ddinas [W, rock city, fort (?)]. Place- the crane is confused with the *egret, also
name given to two ruins in Wales: (1) a celebrated in Celtic tradition but with differ-
Roman camp 7 miles SW of the town of ent associations.
Caernarfon, *Gwynedd; (2) a British fort, 5 A number of cranes are known in Celtic
miles N of Barmouth, Gwynedd (until 1974, narratives, of whom the most important is
Merionethshire). The name has Arthurian probably *Aífe (3). She was transformed into
associations, and is a supposed burial-site of a crane by a jealous rival, and *Manannán
the faithless *Blodeuedd. mac Lir, sometimes described as her ‘hus-
band’, used her skin to make the *crane bag.
Craignish. [ScG, rocky place]. A region on
*Midir of Brí Léith owned three cranes. A
the west coast of north Strathclyde (until
lone crane lives on the isle of Inishkea near
1974, *Argyllshire), just south of the modern
Erris, Co. Mayo, and will remain there until
town of Kilmelfort that was once a reservoir
the end of time. *Fionn mac Cumhaill is
of folklore; includes peninsula, loch, and cas-
associated with cranes in several stories from
tle. See Craignish Tales, the first volume of
oral tradition, and is the inheritor of the
Waifs and Strays in Celtic Tradition, ed. A.
crane bag. St *Colum Cille was described as
Campbell (London, 1889).
having transformed two women into cranes
Craiphtine, Craiftine, Craftine, Craftiny. A when he was evangelizing Scotland.

widely known harper of early Irish narrative; The *glám dícenn [Ir., poet’s execration],
109
crane bag
an extempore satire, required the speaker to Créd 1. Fairy lover of the *Fenian hero
stand on one foot with one arm extended and *Cáel. A daughter of Cairbre, king of
one eye closed, i. e. like a crane. The word for Ciarraige [*Kerry], she is wooed by Cáel,
crane in Old Irish is corr; ModIr. corr mhóna; who wins her with the excellence of his poet-
ScG còrra-mhonaidh; Manx coar; W garan; ry. Before *Cath Fionntrágha [the Battle of
Corn. garan; Bret. garan. See Anne Ross, Ventry], she presents each of the Fenians with
Pagan Celtic Britain (London, 1967), 279–92. a special battle-dress. They are ineffective,
though, and Cáel is killed. When Créd sees
crane bag [Ir. corrbolg]. The celebrated bag
her lover in his grave, she takes her own life
of Irish tradition was made by *Manannán
by lying beside him at his burial. Many love-
mac Lir and contained many treasures. Aífe
songs are attributed to her, and one is
(3) is transformed into a crane by a jealous
recounted in *Acallam na Senórach [The Col-
rival, Iuchra; she subsequently spends 200
loquy of the Ancients].
years in the household of Manannán mac Lir.
2. The mistress of *Cano mac Gartnáin, a
When she dies, he uses her skin to hold things
king of Scotland. A daughter of *Guaire, king
precious to him. These included his knife and
of *Connacht, and wife of *Marcán, king of
shirt, the king of Scotland’s shears, the king
*Uí Maine, she is smitten with Cano when he
of *Lochlainn’s helmet, the bones of *Assal’s
pays a visit to the kingdom. After her tryst
swine, and the girdle of the great whale’s
with Cano is thwarted, she dashes her head
back. At high tide the treasures are visible in
against a rock at Lough Crede. In later times
the sea, but at ebb tide they vanish. Modern
the O’Connors of Connacht claimed her as an
commentators have speculated that the bag
ancestress.
contained the letters of the *ogham alphabet
used in writing before the introduction of Credne, Creidne, Creidhne. Often with epi-
Christianity. The ogham ciphers may have thet, Credne Cerd [Ir., craftsman, artisan]. A
been suggested by the legs of flying cranes. divine artificer of the *Tuatha Dé Danann,
The bag has many owners, including *Lug usually working in bronze but also in brass
Lámfhota and *Liath Luachra (1), from and gold. Together with *Goibniu, the
whom it is obtained by *Fionn mac Cumhaill. *smith, and *Luchta, the wright or carpenter,
Crann Buí, Buidhe [Ir., yellow tree]. The he was a part of na trí dée Dána [the three
yellow-hafted spear, one of three spears of craft gods of the Danann]. The three of them
the hero *Diarmait. make the weapons with which the Tuatha Dé
Danann defeat the *Fomorians. Credne
crannóg 1. [Ir. crann, tree, timber]. Ancient makes rivets for spears, hilts for swords, and
fortified lake dwellings built on pilings or an bosses and rims for shields. See also
island, found in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. .
There are more than 300 crannógs at Lough
Gara, Co. Roscommon. See also ; ; Creiddylad, Creuddylad, Creidylad,
. Creudylad, Crieddlad, Kreiddylat. Daughter
2. Variant spelling of (St) *Carantoc (or of *Lludd Llaw Ereint, and sometimes called
Carannog). by the patronymic Ferch Lludd. In *Culhwch
ac Olwen she is referred to as ‘the most majes-
Craobh Rua, Ruadh. ModIr. spelling of tic maiden who ever lived’. Each *Calan Mai
*Cráebruad. [May Day] *Gwythyr fab Greidawl and
Crarae. Chambered cairn or tombs on the *Gwyn ap Nudd contest for her. This came
west side of Loch Fyne, north Strathclyde about because Gwynn had abducted her
(until 1974, *Argyllshire), the most impressive before she had a chance to sleep with Gwyth-
to be found in Scotland. Excavated 1955–7. yr, her intended. Gwyn’s being the son of
*Nudd (a double for Lludd) is never an issue
Crave Rua, Rue. Anglicizations of in the story. *Arthur, disgusted with the
*Cráebruad. enmity between Gwyn and Gwythyr, con-
creation myths, legends. See . demns them to continual combat. The Latin
equivalent of her name is Cordelia.
Créd, Créde, Crédh, Credhe, Créidhe. A
name borne by many famous ladies of Irish Créide. Also known as Créide Fírálaind [Ir.,
narrative and history, most notably by two Créide the Truly Beautiful]. Daughter
unrelated tragic lovers. See . of Fidech, she aids *Art in his search for
110
Crimthann Nia Náir
*Delbcháem in *Echtrae Airt meic Cuinn 2. A king of *Leinster raised to power by
[The Adventure of Art Son of Conn]. May be *Conn Cétchathach [Ir., of the Hundred Bat-
the same name as *Créd. tles]. *Cumhall, *Fionn’s father, makes war
Creidhne, Creidne. Variant spellings of on both Conn and Crimthann, provoking the
*Credne. battle of *Cnucha.
Creidylad. Variant spelling of *Creiddylad. Crimthann Cass. A king of *Connacht,
the father of *Lóegaire, cited in *Echtrae
Creirwy. Daughter of *Tegid the Bald and Lóegairi [The Adventure of Lóegaire].
his wife *Ceridwen, she was described as ‘the
loveliest nymph of the earth’. Her brothers Crimthann mac Énna. King of the *Lagin
were the ugly *Afagddu and the handsome who expanded his power over neighbouring
*Morfran. See also . peoples in the 5th century. His father was
Énna Censelach. According to the Annals,
Cremthann. Variant spelling of Crimthann was slain in either 483 or 485.
*Crimthann.
Crimthann mac Fidaig. See 
Creones. Variant spelling of Cerones; see   .
.
Crescent, Bloody. See  . Crimthann Már. Variant spelling of
*Crimthann Mór mac Fidaig.
Creuddylad, Creudylad. Welsh spellings of
*Creiddylad. Crimthann Mór. Legendary ancestor of
the Osraige [*Ossory], occupying a territory
Crevroe. Anglicization of *Cráebruad. coextensive with the modern county of Kil-
Crích Cualann [Ir. crich, boundary, terri- kenny. Distinguish from *Crimthann Mór
tory, etc.]. Name in Old Irish narratives for mac Fidaig.
*Cualu, running from the River Liffey to Ark- Crimthann Mór mac Fidaig. Also
low, roughly coextensive with the modern Crimthann Már, Crimthann mac Fidig,
county of Wicklow, south-east of Dublin. Crimthann mac Fidhaigh, etc. Shadowy king
Cridenbél, Cridhenbhéal. An ugly, blind sat- of pre-Patrician Ireland, third in line before
irist in the household of the *Dagda, as the *Lóegaire who disputes with the evangel-
described in *Cath Maige Tuired [The (Second) ist. He is described as being of *Munster
Battle of Mag Tuired]. When Cridenbél stock and unrelated to other kings at *Tara;
demands the three best bits of Dagda’s food, he would have just preceded *Niall Noígi-
the ruler’s health suffers. Dagda gives him allach [Ir., of the Nine Hostages]. Although
three gold coins instead, and Cridenbél dies. his name appears in many Irish records,
When the satirist is cut open and the gold Crimthann’s historicity is, in the words of T.
coins are found, the Dagda is presumed not to F. O’Rahilly, ‘unworthy of credence’. His
have poisoned him. reputed sister *Mongfhind is clearly super-
natural. He perishes through the sorcery of
Crimhthann. Variant spelling of another supernatural woman. The cannibal-
*Crimthann. istic *Eithne Uathach [Horrible, Dreadful] is
Crimthann, Crimthan, Criomthann, Crio- sometimes described as his daughter. The
fan, Crimhthann, Cremthann, Criomhthann fortress built by the Irish near the River Dee
[Ir., fox]. One of the most popular names in in Britain, *Dind Traduí, sometimes carries
early Ireland, borne by many kings of *Mun- the name *Dún Crimthainn in allusion to
ster, at least ten figures in the *Fenian Cycle, Crimthann Mór mac Fidaig. This should be
and at least one saint. The best-known is distinguished from another fortress named
probably *Crimthann Mór mac Fidaig, the Dun Crimthainn at *Howth named for
pre-Patrician king. In addition, *Colum Cille *Crimthann Nia Náir. See also Aided
was named Crimthann before he adopted a Chrimthaind Maic Fhidaig [The Death of
Christian name. Crimthann mac Fidach], ed. Whitley Stokes,
Revue Celtique, 24 (1903), 172–89.
Crimthann 1. Fosterling of *Diarmait, the
king of *Tara. Diarmait’s wife *Becfola lusts Crimthann Nia Náir [Ir., honourable
after Crimthann and plans to elope with him, champion (?), reticent nephew (?), Nár’s man
but cannot when he will not travel on Sunday. (?)]. Son of *Lugaid Riab nDerg [Ir., red
111
Criofan
stripes], incestuously begotten with his bloody crescent, crook], also known as Cenn
mother *Clothra, who had lain with her Crúaich, etc. [bloody head, chief (?); lord of
brothers *Finn Emna to produce Lugaid; the mound (?)]. The chief idol of pagan Ire-
before this conception she visited the *Oth- land as described in Christian accounts of pre-
erworld and ate divine food. In another story Patrician history. It was thought to stand in
he is slain when he attempts to kill *Cúchu- *Mag Slécht [the plain of adoration or pros-
lainn. A fortress at *Howth, *Dún trations], in Co. Cavan, near the present vil-
Crimthann, was named for him; distinguish lage of Ballymagauran; often associated with
from another of the same name in Britain the Killycluggin Stone from Cavan, now in
named for *Crimthann Mór mac Fidaig. the National Museum, Dublin. The central
idol was gold, surrounded by twelve others of
Criofan. ModIr. variant spelling of
stone. First worshipped by a shadowy king
*Crimthann.
known as *Tigernmas, Crom is described as
Crion. Breton gnomes thought to inhabit the principal god of every Irish people before
the ruins at Tresmalouen. They appear to be the coming of St *Patrick. To him was sacri-
related to the better-known *gorics. ficed on each *Samain the first-born of every
family and the first-born of every livestock.
Croagh Patrick, Cro Patrick; also Cru-
Although St Patrick and other evangelists
achán Aigle [Ir. Cruach Phádraig, Patrick’s
are described as smashing stone idols, the lat-
stack or cone]. Ireland’s Holy Mountain, a
ter are not always named as Crom Crúaich.
quartzite ridge, 2,510 feet high, rising above
The portrayal of the cruel idol demanding
Clew Bay, 6 miles WSW of Westport, Co.
human sacrifices may be an echo of the scrip-
Mayo. Popularly called ‘The Reek’, Croagh
tural accounts of Tophet and Moloch, as Eoin
Patrick has long been the site of an annual
MacNeill has suggested. Nevertheless, certain
pilgrimage held the last Sunday in July, a day
stones are still accorded magical powers in
associated with the *Lughnasa festival but
isolated parts of the Celtic world. The name
locally called Domhnach Chrom Dubh
‘Crom’ lends itself to a mild oath, comparable
[Crom Dubh’s Sunday]. *Patrick is thought to
to ‘by Jove’ or ‘by Jingo’, in both spoken Irish
have fasted forty days at the summit, and
and English. In oral tradition Crom Crúaich
while there to have banished the serpents
was euhemerized to *Crom Dubh. The
from Ireland. Lough na Corra near the south
smashing of the idol is associated with both
base of the mountain is thought to have been
the last Sunday in July and the first Sunday in
formed by a demon named Corra driven
August, called the *Lughnasa, Garland Sun-
there by St Patrick. Several sites on the moun-
day, or Domhnach Chrom Dubh.
tain are thought to be sacred to the saint.
Crom Dubh, Cromm Dubh [Ir., black cres-
Cróchan. Variant spelling of *Cruachain.
cent]. A legendary pre-Christian Irish chief-
Cróchnat, Cróchnait [cf. Ir. cróch, saffron, tain as euhemerized in oral tradition from
red]. The mother of *Diarmait and *Oscar in *Crom Cruaich. According to the stories, St
*Fenian ballads. Elsewhere the mother of *Patrick overcomes Crom Dubh in evangel-
Diarmait is *Cochrann. izing the island. The defeat of Crom Dubh is
commemorated in the naming of Domhnach
crodh mara [ScG, cattle of the sea]. The
Chrom Dubh: Crom Dubh’s Sunday, another
Highland fairy cattle or sea cattle, thought to
name for *Lughnasa, or Garland Sunday, the
inhabit fresh and salt water on the west coast
last Sunday in July or the first Sunday in
of Scotland. They are less dangerous than the
August.
*each uisce. Hornless, they are generally of
dun colour; those near Skye may be red and cromlech [W crom, bent, bowed; llech, flat
speckled but described as black. The bulls of stone; Ir. crom, stooped; leac, flagstone]. Pre-
the crodh mara may mate with mortal cows ferred Welsh and Cornish word for the pre-
and will improve the stock. See also - historic structure found in all Celtic countries
  , the fairy cattle of Wales. Folk consisting of a large flat stone supported by
motifs: B184.2.2.2; F241.2. three or more upright stones; called *dolmen
in English descriptions of sites in Ireland and
Croghan. Variant spelling of *Cruachain.
Brittany. The word ‘cromlech’ may also
Crom Crúaich, Cromm Crúaich, Cróich, describe a dolmen of more circular construc-
Cruach, Crooach, Kerman Kelstach [OIr., tion. When the word is borrowed into French
112
Cruachain
usage, it may also describe a squared or circu- Cruacha 1, Cróchan. The maidservant of
lar assemblage of dolmens, as at *Carnac in the elder *Étaín, who accompanies her mis-
*Brittany. tress when she is abducted by *Midir. The
cave of *Cruachain in *Connacht is named
Crónánach [OIr., humming, purring, for her, according to some commentators.
crooning; a performer of crónán, crooning, 2. The mother of *Medb and therefore
droning, humming, buzzing]. In the *Fenian consort of *Eochaid Feidlech. The fortress of
Cycle, an enormous, black, misshapen churl *Cruachain may have been named for her,
who comes unbidden to *Fionn’s hunting according to some commentators.
mound and reveals his destiny to him. He
brought out two pipes ‘so that wounded men Cruachain, Crúachu, Cruachan, Cruachain
and women in travail would have fallen asleep Aí, Crúachán, Croghan, Rathcroghan. Also
at the exquisite music which he made’. When known as Uaimh Chrúachan [Ir., the cave of
light fell upon Crónánach in the morning he Crúachu] and Druim na nDruadh [Ir., the
was transformed so that he had the beauty, ridge of the druids]. The great fortress of
charm, and demeanour of a high king. (In *Connacht as portrayed in many early narra-
early Irish law the singers of crónán were tives, including the *Táin Bó Cuailnge [Cattle
bond or slave musicians.) Raid of Cooley], where it is the seat of power
Cronk-y-Keillown. Another name for for *Medb and *Ailill. The fortress of the
*Tynwald Hill. stories is identified with Rathcroghan, an
extensive archaeological site near Tulsk,
Cronnchu. Variant spelling of *Crunniuc. north Co. Roscommon. In its antiquity and
Crooach, Crooagh. Anglicizations of either frequency of reference in Old Irish literature,
*Crom Crúaich or *Cruachain. Cruachain is the counterpart of *Tara in
*Meath, *Emain Macha in *Ulster, and *Dún
crow. The several species of the large, rau- Ailinne in *Leinster.
cous bird with glossy black plumage (genus The fortress of Medb and Ailill is usually
Corvus) are often cited in Celtic narratives and described as both splendid and extensive, with
usually have associations with war and death. seven compartments for residents. Thus in
The hooded or grey crow (genus Corvus cor- many stories a reference to Cruachain implies
nex), carrion crow (Corvus corone), rook (Cor- both the luxury and the power of the prov-
vus frugilegus), and raven (genus Corvus corax) ince of Connacht, which in modern times has
are not always perceived separately. Several been Ireland’s poorest. Also celebrated in
figures take the form of the crow, including story is the cave at Cruachain, sometimes
the Irish goddesses *Badb, *Mórrígan, and known as the ‘Hell’s Gate of Ireland’. In its
*Macha. When she perches on the shoulder fearful aspects it is well described in *Echtra
of the dying *Cúchulainn, Mórrígan takes the Nerai [The Adventure of Nera]. From the
form of a hooded crow. The crow-goddess cave issues forth Aillén (2), who devastates the
*Cathubodua was an ancient Continental landscape of Ireland. From the cave at Cru-
patroness of battle. *Cornu, a great black bird achain also comes a flock of white birds
that may or may not have been a crow, was whose breath withers vegetation, as well as
sent to St Patrick’s Purgatory. The Welsh three predatory cats and a herd of wild pigs so
*Brân means crow; the Irish *Fuinche means numerous they cannot be counted.
scald-crow, *Morfran means great crow. The Archaeologists have suggested that Rath-
killing of a crow in winter, the spilling of croghan was built by *Goidelic invaders who
blood on the snow, introduces the *black– used it as their capital in subjugating the
white–red motif that sends such lovers as native population. The site is about 2 miles
*Peredur and *Conchobar on their quests. square, and contains a great number of
ModIr. for crow is préachán or feannóg; earthworks of different kinds as well as
hooded crow, feannóg dubh. ScG for crow is mounds that may be passage-graves. There
feannag; Manx craue, fannag; W brân; Corn. are also five concentric fortified circles. Dif-
brān, cana; Bret. kavan. ferent points in the site have been given fanci-
Cruach. See  . ful names by amateur archaeologists over the
years that are not necessarily supported by
Cruach Phádraig. Irish form of *Croagh irrefutable evidence, ‘Medb’s Treasury’,

Patrick. ‘Medb’s Mill’, etc. One circular enclosure has
113
Cruachan, Falls of
been rather grandly named Reilig na Rígh [Ir., of whether Cú is separated; e.g. ‘Culhwch’
Cemetery of the Kings], although recent comes before ‘Cú Roí’.
excavation has not shown it to be a burial
place. A 7-feet-high standing stone is said to cuachag [ScG, girl (with curly hair); curl;
mark the grave of King *Dathí, the last pagan cuckoo]. A kind of *fuath or water-sprite
king of Ireland. At several points on the site localized in the central Highlands (until 1974,
are extensive *ogham inscriptions. Inverness-shire), Scotland. Loch Cuaich, 8
miles SW of Kingussie, is named for the
Cruachan, Falls of. A romantic cascade in cuachag. Like all the fuathan, it can be
Pass of Brander, at the head of Loch Awe in dangerous.
north Strathclyde (until 1974, *Argyllshire).
Cuailnge, Cualnge. Anglicized Cooley,
Cruachán Aigle. Variant form of *Croagh Quelgny, etc. An early name for a hilly pen-
Patrick. insula in *Ulster that is coextensive with the
modern Cooley in north-eastern Co. Louth
Crúaich. See  . (in *Leinster), between Carlingford Lough
Cruaidín Catutchenn. Another name for and Dundalk harbour. This early place-name
An *Claidheamh Soluis [the sword of light]. is cited in the title of the Irish epic *Táin Bó
Cuailnge [Cattle Raid of Cooley]. Much of the
crúba leomhain. [Ir., lion’s feet]. Irish name action takes place in Cuailnge, most notably
for vervain. *Cúchulainn’s single-handed defence of
Cruinn, Cruinniuc. Variant spellings for Ulster against the armies of *Connacht.
*Crunniuc. Cualu, Cuala, Cualann. Name of a former
Cruithín na Cuan. A kind of city in the territory in *Leinster from the River *Liffey
wondrous land of *Emain Ablach. to Arklow, roughly coextensive with modern
Co. Wicklow, including the celebrated
Cruithne 1. Beautiful daughter of the mas- monastic centre of *Glendalough. The area
ter smith Lóchán of Cuilleann. She is takes its name from the Cualainn, an early
described as being so smitten with *Fionn people who were there in *Ptolemy’s time
mac Cumhaill that she becomes his ‘wife’ (2nd cent. ). Crích Cualann is the district of
shortly after seeing the hero. Cualu; Slige Chualann is the way or road to
2. An Irish name for the *Picts. Cualu. See Henry Morris, ‘Ancient Cualu:
Cruithni, Cruithnig. Irish names for the Where Was It?’, Journal of the Royal Society of
*Picts. Antiquaries of Ireland, 68 (1937), 280–3.
Crundchu, Crunnchu. Variant spellings of Cúar, Cuare. One of two sons of the ama-
*Crunniuc. zonian warrior and sorceress *Scáthach, of
the Isle of *Skye.
Crunniuc, Cronnchu, Cruinn, Cruinniuc,
Crundchu, Crunnchu. Sometimes with the Cuartag Mhòr a’ Chuain [ScG, great
patronymic mac Agnomain. A wealthy farm- whirlpool of the ocean]. An epithet of the
er of *Ulster in the *Ulster Cycle who mar- fabulous beast *Cìrein Cròin.
ries *Macha (3). It is Crunniuc’s boast that Cubbie Roo. Ruined 12th-century stone
Macha can outrun a horse which brings her castle on the isle of Wyre in the Orkneys,
unfortunate contest when she is in the final thought to be one of the oldest surviving
hours of her pregnancy. Macha’s subsequent medieval buildings in Scotland. Modern
curse brings on the debility of the Ulstermen. commentators have identified Cubbie Roo
Cruthin. Variant of Cruithne, an Irish name with Kolbein Hruga of the Orkney Saga.
for the *Picts. Cubert son of Daere. Welsh hero whose
Cú, Cu. A son of Cáinte and brother of name is cited by Culhwch to Arthur in a run
*Cian and Cethe. of heroes’ names in *Culhwch ac Olwen. Mod-
ern commentators have suggested that he
Cú, Cú-. The Irish Cú, Cú- [hound] is a part may be a counterpart of the Irish *Cú Roí
of the names of several early figures, both mac Dáiri. See Patrick Sims-Williams, Bulletin
legendary and historical. The names are of the Board of Celtic Studies, 39 (4) (May 1982),
alphabetized here letter by letter, regardless 608.
114
Cúchulainn
Cúcán. Diminutive of *Cúchulainn used in sions of Cúchulainn’s conception and birth,
the *Táin Bó Cuailnge [Cattle Raid of Cooley] see .
and elsewhere. The leading men of Ulster wish to become
foster-fathers to Sétanta. Rather than have
Cúchulainn, Cú Chulainn, Cúchulain, Cú them squabble over who should have prece-
Chulaind, Cuchulinn, Cuculain Cúcán, etc. dence, Deichtine decides that seven of them
[Ir., hound of Culann; hound of the smith]. should foster the child concurrently: (1) Sen-
The greatest hero in early Irish literature and cha, to give eloquence and poetry; (2) *Blaí
the principal hero of the *Ulster Cycle; along Briuga, to provide for material comfort; (3)
with *Lug Lámfhota and *Fionn mac *Fergus mac Róich, to take him on his knee;
Cumhaill, Cúchulainn is one of the three (4) *Amairgin, to be his teacher; (5) *Conall
great heroes of early Ireland, all of whom Cernach, to be his foster-brother and virtual
may derive from a common source and may twin; (6) *Findchóem, to be his wet nurse;
in fact be identical. The child of divine and and (7) Conchobar, to be his principal foster-
human parents, Cúchulainn was first known father.
as Sétanta and did not win the name by The story of Cúchulainn’s boyhood deeds,
which we know him until he had performed as remembered by Fergus mac Róich, his
heroic feats at the age of 7. Learned 19th- tutor, forms a lengthy chapter early in the
century commentators routinely compared Táin Bó Cuailnge. At the beginning of these
him to *Hercules and Siegfried for feats of adventures, Cúchulainn still bears his name
valour and supremacy over all contenders. from birth, Sétanta. A key episode tells how
Surviving stories about him are extensive, he acquired his adult, heroic name while
and he is the principal figure in *Táin Bó being fostered by Conchobar at *Emain
Cuailnge [Cattle Raid of Cooley], the Irish Macha. The royal household has gone to visit
epic. His characteristic quickness and small, a wealthy smith in *Cuailnge named
dark stature have suggested to some com- *Culann, while Sétanta stays behind playing
mentators that Cúchulainn may be derived hurley. The guests at Culann’s lonely mansion
from Gaulish *Mercury, as described in are making merry, knowing they are pro-
*Caesar’s commentaries (1st cent. ). At tected from intruders by a huge, ferocious
one time he was thought to derive from the dog. But in the midst of the laughter they
Gaulish god *Esus, although that assertion is hear a terrible sound. A late-arriving Sétanta,
now disputed. His birth-name, Sétanta, sug- aged only 7, has killed the dog by smashing it
gests a link with the early British people the against a doorpost. The guests cheer, but
Setantii, who were described by Ptolemy Culann is dismayed at the loss of his prized
(2nd cent. ). At times his portrayal suggests hound. Sétanta responds that he will raise
parallels with the earlier Celtic figure another whelp to replace the guard dog, and
*Ogmios. will serve as the hound in the interim. The
There are differing accounts of how crowd applaud his generosity and call him the
Cúchulainn’s mother *Deichtine happens to Hound: Cú, of Culann: Chulainn, the name he
become pregnant with him. While she is griev- retained thenceforward.
ing over the loss of a foster-son, she drinks Accounts of Cúchulainn’s physical appear-
some water with which a tiny creature passes ance differ, but he is most often seen as short,
into her mouth. Some versions assert that the dark, beardless, and filled with high spirits.
creature is *Lug Lámfhota. Sleeping that night His hair is of three colours, brown at the
she dreamed she is visited by Lug. People hear- roots, blood-red in the middle, and blond at
ing that she is pregnant did not know of a the crown. In the Táin he is described as hav-
father, and think that she may have been vio- ing four dimples in each cheek, each dimple
lated by a drunken *Conchobar mac Nessa, being of a different colour: yellow, green,
her brother (or, in some versions, father). crimson, and blue. He has seven pupils in
Conchobar gives Deichtine in marriage to each eye, seven toes, and seven fingers, each
*Sualtam mac Róich, but she is ashamed to with the grip of a hawk or gryphon. Despite
enter his bed already pregnant. She becomes these fearsome aspects of his appearance, he
so sick that she spontaneously delivers the is conventionally described as handsome and
foetus within her, has her virginity restored, attractive to women. Perhaps this is because
and so goes to her husband. The aborted foe- readers of or listeners to early Irish literature
tus lives and is called Sétanta. For other ver- did not necessarily visualize Cúchulainn as he
115
Cúchulainn
was described. In any case, there is little in he explodes, the second he boils, and the third
early literature to justify the somewhat Victo- he warms. His son is *Connla (1), unknow-
rian representation of the hero in the much- ingly begotten upon *Aífe. In later literature
photographed statue by Oliver Sheppard now he is ascribed a daughter, *Fínscoth.
housed at the General Post Office on O’Con- Cúchulainn’s chief weapon is his spear, the
nell Street in Dublin. *Gáe Bulga. His usual sword is *Caladbolg,
In the Táin also, Fergus tells *Medb of although in later oral tradition he is described
Cúchulainn’s superlative qualities. No raven is as wielding the *Claidheamh Soluis [Ir.,
more ravenous, and no lion more ferocious. sword of light], which may also be known as
He can overcome all obstacles and barriers. In Cruaidin Catutchenn. His favourite horse is
an aggressive burst of energy, he pounces on the *Liath Macha [Grey of Macha], but he
enemies in his distinctive *salmon leap, com- also likes *Saingliu or Dubh Sainglenn. His
pared by modern commentators with the charioteer is Láeg. He has many associations
jump of a soccer player. Cúchulainn is also with ravens and was once warned by two
admired for his nimbleness and brilliance. magical ravens, but he does not appear to
Many Ulster warriors wish that Cúchulainn have been a raven-god. Cúchulainn’s home-
would get married so that their daughters land is *Mag Muirtheimne, a plain stretching
would forget him. He chooses *Emer. Even north from the River *Boyne to *Cuailnge
before approaching her, Cúchulainn kills the [Cooley] in what is today Co. Louth.
three sons of *Nechtan, which results in the Before going into combat Cúchulainn goes
onset of his ríastrad [battle fury] (see below). through a transformation known as his rías-
Emer’s father *Forgall demands that trad [battle fury, battle frenzy, contortion,
Cúchulainn first be schooled by *Scáthach in warp spasm, etc.; gen. ríastarthae]. When this
distant Scotland before he is worthy of the overtakes him, he becomes a fearsome figure
daughter’s hand. In truth, Forgall hopes that such as has never been seen before. Every par-
Cúchulainn will perish on the journey or be ticle of him quivers like a bulrush in a run-
killed by Scáthach herself. Instead, Cúchu- ning stream. His calves, hams, and heels shift
lainn endears himself to the amazonian to the front, and his feet and knees to the
Scáthach and has a love affair with her col- back, while the muscles of his neck stand out
league (or double) *Aífe. In Scotland he is also like the head of a baby. One eye is engulfed
tutored by *Domnall Míldemail [the warlike] deep in his head, the other protrudes, his
and his ugly daughter *Dornoll. When mouth meets his ears, foam pours from his
Cúchulainn returns from Scotland, he takes jaws like the fleece of a three-year-old wether.
Emer as well as her sister by force along with The beats of his heart sound like the roars of
much gold and silver. Despite such an a lion as he rushes to his prey. A column of
unpromising beginning, Emer is usually seen dark blood spurts forth from his scalp and
as the hero’s wife. scatters in four directions, forming a mist of
A number of other women are named as gloom. Then a projection emerges from
Cúchulainn’s wives or lovers in different texts. Cúchulainn’s head, like a horn but the size of
After Emer the most commonly cited is man’s fist; it is the *lón láith/laíd [light of the
*Eithne Ingubai, who may be but another hero (?)], which signals that he is ready to fight.
name for Emer. He dallies with *Fand, the Cúchulainn’s best-known exploits are
wife of *Manannán mac Lir; he consum- probably those recounted in Irish narratives
mates an affair with *Bláithíne (Blanid), the summarized elsewhere in this volume. First
wife of *Cú Roí. He rewards *Étan (1) with a among them is the Irish epic *Táin Bó
ring, so great is his pleasure in their night of Cuailnge [Cattle Raid of Cooley], in which the
lovemaking. Sometimes Cúchulainn is the hero single-handedly defends Ulster against
object of love, as from the *female warrior the depredations of *Connacht, as led by
*Cathach. He is also loved by *Derbforgaill, Medb and *Ailill. A key episode in the Táin
the tragic *swan maiden, and Uathach, has Cúchulainn do battle at a ford with his
Scáthach’s daughter. But when *Mugain (2), friend *Ferdiad. In *Fled Bricrenn [Briccriu’s
queen of Ulster, bares her breasts before him Feast] Cúchulainn is seen as the dominant
and leads the beautiful women of Ulster to Ulster hero, and he engages in a beheading
Cúchulainn, the hero averts his eyes. So great contest with a challenging *giant. In *Aided
is his feeling from the episode that it takes Óenfhir Aífe [The Tragic Death of Aífe’s Only
three vats of iced water to cool him; the first Son], Cúchulainn unwittingly kills his son,
116
Cuchullin
Connla (1), whom he had begotten upon Aífe constitution de la légende de Cuchullin’,
during his sojourn in Scotland. In *Serglige Études Celtiques, 1 (1936), 1–77; Martin Huld,
Con Culainn [The Wasting Sickness of Cúchu- ‘Cú Chulainn and his IE [Indo-European]
lainn], the hero visits the Otherworld and is Kin’, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie, 38
involved with Fand, the wife of *Manannán (1981), 238–41; Elizabeth Brewer, From Cuchu-
mac Lir. Cúchulainn’s killing of the *one- lain to Gawain (Totowa, NJ, 1973). See further
eyed giant *Goll mac Carbada is widely criticism under  .
commemorated in oral tradition. Accounts of Cúchulainn in English litera-
Accounts of Cúchulainn’s death vary. In ture have reshaped the hero in many instances
the better-known, he is the victim of Medb’s and, as they are more accessible than those in
vengeance. When his allies and faithful horse Irish, sometimes displace the original for
are killed, Cúchulainn has himself chained to some readers. Among the earliest was the
a pillar-post so that he may die standing up. character of *Cuchullin (sometimes Cuthul-
He endures many wounds, but is not known lin) in *Macpherson’s Ossian (1760). During
to be dead until a raven alights on his head to the 19th century the works of Standish James
take his eyes; oral tradition identifies this O’Grady did much to romanticize the char-
pillar-stone with one still standing in Knock- acter for an increasingly nationalist reader-
bridge, Co. Louth. Sometimes the vengeance ship; these include: History of Ireland: Cuculain
is of *Badb, whose father, *Cailitin, and all and His Contemporaries (Dublin and London,
his male heirs Cúchulainn had killed. While 1880); Cuculain: An Epic (London, 1882); The
he is being nursed from an illness by Niam Coming of Cuculain (London, 1894); and The
(1), wife of Conall Cernach, who has become Triumph and Passing of Cuculain (Dublin,
his mistress, Badb appears in the form of one 1920). The most widely read treatment in
of Niam’s handmaidens and lures her away; English is probably Lady Gregory’s Cuchulain
she then assumes Niam’s form and bids of Muirthemne (London, 1902; repr. Gerrards
Cúchulainn begin the journey that will lead Cross, 1970). The most esteemed treatments
to his death. Another version of his death is in English are those of W. B. Yeats, especially
told in Brislech mór Maige Muirtheimne [The the dramas On Baile’s Strand (1904), The Green
Great Rout of Muirtheimne or The Death of Helmet (1910), At the Hawk’s Well (1917), The
Cúchulainn]. In this story Cúchulainn helps Only Jealousy of Emer (1919), and The Death of
to bring about his end when he eats the meat Cuchulain (1939), and the poems ‘Cuchulain’s
of a cooked dog, as offered by three crones, in Fight with the Sea’ (1892) and ‘Cuchulain
violation of a *geis [Ir., taboo]. Again, the Comforted’ (1939). Some other English
hero’s allies and horse are a part of the action; treatments are Suseen Varian, Cúchulainn: A
this death was thought to have taken place Cycle of Irish Plays (Dublin, c.1910); Terence
near Faughart, Co. Louth. In the fray *Lugaid Gray, Cuchulain: An Epic Drama of the Gael
mac Con Roí, the son of Cú Roí, sends a (Cambridge, 1925); Morgan Llywelyn, Red
javelin through Cúchulainn’s bowels but does Branch (popular novel) (New York, 1989);
not kill him. Cúchulainn retreats to a pillar, Kevin McCaffrey, The Adventures of CuChu-
tying part of his armour to it so that, again, lainn, Champion of Ulster (juvenile fiction)
he may die standing up. Lugaid beheads (Dublin, 1989).
Cúchulainn at the pillar, but is himself slain
Cúchulainn’s Leap. Place-name popularly
by *Conall Cernach who avenges his friend’s
ascribed to several sites in the Gaelic world.
death.
The most important Leap is a sheer-sided
Editions of Irish stories about Cúchulainn
rectangular rock at Loop Head on the north
may be found in Eleanor Hull, The Cuchullin
side of the Shannon estuary, Co. Clare.
Saga (London, 1898); Maria Tymoczko, The
According to the local story, Cúchulainn was
Death Tales from the Ulster Cycle (Dublin, 1981);
fleeing an importunate female who did not
T. P. Cross and C. H. Slover (eds.), Ancient
leap as well as he did. Other place-names
Irish Tales (New York, 1936, 1969), 134–354.
alluding to Cúchulainn are a bed, house, and
Among the many studies of the hero are
grave, all near Anascaul on the *Dingle pen-
Henri Gaidoz, ‘Cúchulainn, Béowulf et Her-
insula, Co. *Kerry, and the Cuchullin (or Cuil-
cule’, Cinquantenaire de l’École Pratique des
lin) Hills in the south of the Isle of Skye.
Hautes Études (Paris, 1921), 131–56; Marie-
Louise Sjoestedt, ‘Légendes épiques irlanda- Cuchullin, Cuthullin. Character in

ises et monnaies gauloises; recherches sur la *Macpherson’s Ossian (1760) based in part on
117
cughtagh
the traditional hero *Cúchulainn. The son of Cuimne, Cuimhne. Hag who helps
Seuma and grandson of Cathbaid, Cuchullin *Mongán to retrieve his wife, *Dubh Lacha.
is a wise and warlike druid. He is the brother
Cuirithir. The Abelard-like lover of *Liad-
of Slissama and the husband of Bragela. His
ain in the Irish story Comrac Liadaine ocus
strength is proverbial. In a memorable com-
Chuirithir.
bat, he slays Feard.
Culann, Culan, Cullan. A smith of the
cughtagh. Manx cave-dwelling spirit, once
*Ulster Cycle who is best remembered for
separate from but now apparently merged
giving his name to *Cúchulainn. Culann was
with the creature known as *buggane. The
entertaining the nobles of Ulster when the
cughtagh may be a Manx relative of the ScG
late-arriving hero, still named Sétanta, killed
ciuthach.
the host’s watchdog. In repentance Sétanta
Cuilenn, Cullen [Ir., wood of the holly tree]. offered to replace the dog and serve watch
A magical figure in the *Fenian Cycle. He is himself in the interim, thus earning the name
‘lord’ or ‘king’ of a fairy mound or *sídh at Cú [hound] Chulainn [of Culann]. Elsewhere
*Sliab Cuilinn [Slieve Gullion] in Co. in Ulster narrative Culann forged the sword,
*Armagh. When *Fionn mac Cumhaill has spear, and shield of *Conchobar mac Nessa.
been transformed into a feeble old man by Some commentators have suggested that
taking a bath in a nearby lake, Cuilenn Culann may be a disguise for *Manannán
restores him and a colleague, Mac Reithe, mac Lir.
with a drink from a golden cup that disap-
Cúldub, Cúldubh [Ir., black hair, black eye
pears as soon as the drink is finished. Accord-
(?)]. Sometimes with the patronymic mac
ing to some stories, Fionn’s supernatural
Fidga. A food-stealing villain killed by *Fionn
knowledge comes from this drink. His daugh-
mac Cumhaill in the *Fenian Cycle. Fionn
ters are *Áine (2) and Milucra.
slays him at *Sídh ar Femen [*Sliab na mBan],
cúilín, coolun, cooleen [Ir., hair or curl on Co. Tipperary, as he is carrying a pig. He may
the back of the head]. The custom in early be yet another persona of Fionn’s antagonist
Ireland of wearing the hair long and tied at *Goll mac Morna.
the back of the neck has encouraged the use
Culhwch ac Olwen. Welsh name for the
of Cúilín as an occasional poetic for Ireland;
11th-century Arthurian narrative known in
sometimes anglicized as Coolun, Cooleen,
English as Culhwch and Olwen, also Kilhwch,
etc. This may be influenced by cúil-fhionn
Kulhwch and Olwen. Culhwch is one of the
[fair-haired girl, attractive person, etc.]. There
most important texts for the study of the
are several minor female figures named
Arthurian cycle because of its antiquity, its
Cúilín, such as the daughter of *Conarán in
kinship with early Irish narrative, the roll-call
*Fenian stories.
of heroes associated with *Arthur, and its
Cuimmíne, Cuimine, Cuimín, Cuimíne, foreshadowing of themes which recur in later
Cumaine, Cumian [Ir., hypocoristic for non-Celtic narratives. Whatever Culhwch’s
Colum]. Name borne by several early Irish interest as a story, it has attracted continuing
saints, the most notable of whom is Cuim- attention because it is ‘purely Celtic’, i.e. lack-
míne Fota, Fata, Foda, Fada [Long, Tall] ing embellishments from Continental litera-
(c.590–c.665), the founder of an abbey at Kil- ture. Its main plot is known to folklorists as
cummin, Co. Offaly. Cuimmíne’s most The Giant’s Daughter, of which the most
important historical distinction is the intro- familiar in classical tradition is the story of
duction of the Roman computation of East- Jason and Medea (Folk motifs: G530.2;
er; for this he was rebuked by the abbot of E765.4.I.I.; H335). Although orthographical
*Iona, who wished Christians to follow the evidence suggests that the original narrative
Celtic computation favoured by *Colum may have been composed before 1100, the
Cille. A surviving hymn is attributed to him. only complete text is found in the *Red Book
In popular tradition he is thought to have of Hergest (c.1400); an incomplete text is found
been the product of an incestuous union in the *White Book of Rhydderch (c.1350–95).
between his father, *Fiachna (3), king of west The story begins when Cilydd, son of
Munster, and Fiachna’s daughter, *Mugain Celyddon Wledig [W gwledig, ruler, prince]
(4). He is also the spiritual adviser of *Liadain seeks to marry a woman as well-born as him-
who forbids her lovemaking with Cuirithir. self. He chooses Goleuddydd, daughter of
118
Culhwch ac Olwen
Anlawdd Wledig. Pregnant soon after the primary agricultural labours, such as plough-
wedding night, Goleuddydd becomes ing waste land so that food might be grown,
deranged and wanders through wild country, and five secondary labours to complete the
giving birth to her noble son in a pig-run and ploughing. A second group of tasks pertain to
shortly afterwards dying. To find a new wife the collaring and chaining of the great boar
for himself, Cilydd kills the king of Doged *Twrch Trwyth while enlisting the help of
and carries home his wife. In her unhappiness several foreign heroes. The boar must be
the step-mother curses Culhwch, prophesying made to yield his razor, scissors and comb.
that he will not touch woman until he has Culhwch agrees to each task rather insouci-
won Olwen, daughter of *Ysbaddaden, a antly, and accomplishes thirteen of the ori-
crafty and powerful giant. Cilydd tells his son ginal plus three not previously mentioned.
this task will be easy to accomplish if the boy The recitation of the tasks makes tedious
will only seek help of King Arthur, a cousin; reading, but handled by an exceptional story-
on meeting Arthur he should ask to have his teller they may have been engaging to early
hair trimmed. Hearing this, Culhwch, who audiences. The hunting of Twrch Trwyth
has fallen in love with Olwen without having includes several place-name stories. Culhwch
seen her, sets out for Arthur’s court. Culh- pursues the boar from Ireland to Wales, from
wch’s arrival is evocative of *Lug Lámfhota’s Wales to Brittany, and from there to Corn-
arrival at *Nuadu’s court in *Cath Maige wall. He seizes the razor and scissors at the
Tuired [The (Second) Battle of Mag Tuired]. mouth of the Severn, while Arthur’s men
At first he is refused by Arthur’s porter capture the comb in Cornwall. These help the
*Glewlwyd Gafaelfawr, but he persists until giant Ysbaddaden prepare for his daughter’s
the king demands Culhwch be admitted. marriage. At the end of the narrative Culh-
Culhwch asks that his hair be trimmed and wch wins Olwen and spends the night with
recites a lengthy roll-call of Arthurian heroes her.
including the children of *Dôn. So winning is The many names cited in Culhwch ac Olwen
Culhwch that Arthur agrees to help him in are perhaps more interesting to scholars
winning Olwen, and they are joined by *Cei, today than is the narrative itself. Culhwch
*Bedwyr, Cynddelig Cyfawydd, a guide, alone recites more than 200 names, including
Gwrhyr Gwalstad Ieithoedd, an interpreter, an invocation of Arthur’s court. Some names
and *Menw, an illusionist. appear frivolous, probably inventions of the
After a long journey Culhwch and Arthur author/redactor, such as the three maid-
meet the herdsman *Custennin, whose con- servants Drwg [Bad], Gwaeth [Worse], and
fidence is won with a gold ring; his wife Gwaethaf Oll [Worst of All]. A handful of
proves to be the sister of Goleuddydd, Culh- names are drawn from Irish sources. Some
wch’s mother. Both Custennin and his wife otherwise unfamiliar names imply a full but
are concerned at reports that no one leaves lost underlying tradition such as ‘Teithi Hen
Ysbaddaden’s castle alive. None the less Culh- son of Gwynnan, whose kingdom was over-
wch, Arthur, and the company go on to the run by the sea; he barely escaped and came to
nearby castle, where Culhwch meets Olwen, Arthur’. Because Teithi’s knife can hold no
whose name means ‘flower track’ because haft, he becomes enfeebled and then dies.
four white clovers spring up wherever she And the core of names represents characters
steps. Olwen accepts Culhwch’s profession of deemed by modern commentators to be
love but says that she can not join him until traditional.
he asks the permission of her father, Ysbadd- Several stories in modern Irish oral trad-
aden. The giant is not receptive to guests. He ition parallel Culhwch ac Olwen or The Giant’s
throws three poisoned stone spears at Culh- Daughter, most notably that tale known as
wch and Arthur’s party, each one of which is The King of Ireland’s Son. G. L. Kittredge
turned back against the thrower. Thus noted that the motif of destiny sworn by an
wounded, Ysbaddaden hears Culhwch’s unhappy stepmother appears in a story col-
entreaty. The father agrees to give his daugh- lected from Co. Cork by Douglas Hyde in An
ter’s hand to Culhwch if he can accomplish Sgéaluidhe Gaedhealach (Dublin, 1901), 340–59.
forty apparently impossible tasks. Some are Ysbaddaden resembles the Irish *Balor in that
frivolous, such as finding honey nine times his eyelids must be propped open. Many
sweeter than that of the first swarm out of translations of Culhwch ac Olwen have been
the hive. The first group of tasks require eight published in editions of the *Mabinogi, e.g.
119
Cullan
Patrick K. Ford, The Mabinogi and Other Medi- has been rejected by contemporary learned
eval Welsh Tales (Berkeley and Los Angeles, commentators. James *Macpherson based the
Calif., 1977). Rachel Bromwich and D. Simon character of Comhal in Ossian (1760) on
Evans (eds.), Culhwch ac Olwen (Cardiff, 1992). Cumhall. W. B. Yeats appears to have bor-
See also P. L. Henry, ‘Culhwch and Olwen: rowed Cumhall in his poem ‘The Blessed’
Some Aspects of Style and Structure’, Studia (1897).
Celtica, 3 (1968), 30–8; Doris Edel, ‘The Cata- Cumian. Latinized spelling of *Cuimmíne.
logues of Culhwch and Olwen and Insular Celt-
ic Learning’, Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Cunedda, Cunedag, Cynedda, Cunedda
Studies, 30 (1983), 253–67; Eric P. Hamp, ‘Cul- Wledig. Founder of Welsh dynasties.
hwch, the Swine’, Zeitschrift für celtische Phi- Cunedda is a shadowy personage of 5th-
lologie, 41 (1986), 257–8; Rachel Bromwich et century Wales who, though described as his-
al. (eds.), Arthur of the Welsh (Cardiff, 1991), torical by *Historia Brittonum (8th cent.), is
ch. 3. John Layard provides a Jungian reading often perceived as legendary. Cunedda is
in A Celtic Quest: Sexuality and Soul in Individu- reported as coming from southern Scotland,
ation (Dallas, 1975, 1985). then a *Brythonic or *P-Celtic area, and driv-
ing the Irish from north Wales; his grandson
Cullan. Anglicized spelling of *Culann. *Cadwallon is described as completing the
Cullen. Anglicized spelling of *Cuilenn. expulsion, although in fact elements of Irish
settlement remained until a much later date.
Cumaine. Variant spelling of *Cuimíne. The kingdom he established came to be
Cumhall, Cumhal, Cumal, Cool [from the known as *Gwynedd. Cunedda brought with
earlier Ir. Umall; initial C- elided from ‘mac’ in him eight sons, thus establishing dynasties in
the patronymic mac Umaill/mac Cumhaill]. different parts of Wales that lasted until the
Father of *Fionn and leader of the Clan death of *Dafydd, 1283. Most of his sons gave
*Baíscne in the *Fenian Cycle. Cumhall their names to different parts of north Wales,
sometimes bears the patronymic mac Trén- but one son, *Ceredigion, gave his name to
móir, although next to nothing survives of *Cardiganshire; another son, *Einion, lent his
anyone with the name Trénmór. Cumhall name to lesser places. Cunedda may be com-
desires *Muirenn, sometimes known as pared to *Míl Espáine of Irish pseudo-history,
Muirenn of the White Neck, but she does not who also established a dynasty with eight
return his affections. Cumhall then abducts sons. See Geraint Gruffydd, Studia Celtica, 24/
Muirenn, bringing down the vengeance of 5 (1989–90), 1–14.
her father, *Tadg, and his protector, *Conn Cunobelinus [Romano-British, hound of
Cétchathach [of the Hundred Battles]. This Belinus]. British tribal leader at the time of
also brings about the enmity between the the Roman invasion; he led the Catuval-
Clan Baíscne, the descendants of Cumhall, launians in southern Britain for forty years
and Clan *Morna, the descendants of Tadg until shortly before the Claudian conquest, 43
and his warrior *Goll. In variant texts Cum- .
hall fathers Fionn upon *Fuinche or Torba. In
the best-known version of Cumhall’s death, Cunomaglus. Sometime epithet of Gaulish
*Fotha Catha Chnucha [The Cause of the Bat- *Apollo.
tle of Cnucha or Castletown], he is killed by cup. Although there does not appear to be a
Goll mac Morna. In other versions he is killed continuing association with cups or cup sym-
by Conn Cétchathach alone or by the keeper bolism in different Celtic traditions, cups are
of the *crane bag [corrbolg]. In modern folk- mentioned prominently in several Irish and
tales, especially Scottish Gaelic versions, Welsh stories. The cup of *Cormac mac Airt
Cumhall is killed by the villainous *Arca would break when a lie was told. The *Fianna
Dubh [‘Black Arky’, etc.]. Muirenn gave birth of *Fionn mac Cumhaill had a ‘Cup of Vic-
to Fionn after Cumhall’s death by retreating tory’ made of clay that they were frequently
to the house of *Bodhmall, sometimes obliged to defend. There is a competition of
described as her sister. Cumhall’s brother cups of different worth, won by *Cúchulainn,
Crimnal is described as surviving the Battle of in *Fled Bricrenn [The Feast of Briccriu].
Cnucha and later joining the *Fianna. The *Pryderi touched a magical cup in Matholwch,
assertion that Cumhall may be related to the third branch of the *Mabinogi. The Welsh
*Camulos or to King Cole of nursery rhymes name *Heilyn means ‘cup-bearer’. The pre-
120
Cú Roí
historic stone carvings containing distinctive Cú Roí also appears in disguise, this time as
‘cup and ring’ symbolism do not appear to a bachlach [ugly churl or herdsman], in a con-
have Celtic associations, although they are test to determine who is the greatest of the
found in all Celtic countries as well as three heroes, *Conall, *Lóegaire, and Cúchu-
throughout Europe and even outside Europe. lainn. Cú Roí demands that first each of the
R. W. B. Morris has studied the concentra- heroes should cut off his head and second
tion of cup and ring carvings found at Achna- that he should cut off theirs. Conall and
breck near Lochgilphead, Strathclyde (until Lóegaire strike their blows, but the intruder
1974, *Argyllshire), Scotland; see The Pre- merely picks up his head; neither will allow
historic Rock Art of Argyll (Poole, 1977). A him to return the blow. Cúchulainn’s blow
more general study may be found in Evan also fails to slay the bachlach, but when the
Hadingham, Ancient Carvings in Britain: A hero prepares himself to receive a blow in
Mystery (London, 1974). return, Cú Roí reveals his identity and pro-
claims Cúchulainn champion. See 
curadhmhír, curadmír, curad mír. Irish
 [Briccriu’s Feast]. Cú Roí wishes to
forms for *champion’s portion.
do battle with Cúchulainn in the *Táin Bó
Curcóg. A daughter of *Manannán mac Lir Cuailnge [Cattle Raid of Cooley], but *Medb
who is often seen as a companion of *Eithne. dissuades him. Cúchulainn kills Cú Roí when
She once headed a company of women at aided by the betrayal of Cú Roí’s wife,
*Brug na Bóinne. Bláithíne. The death does not go unavenged,
however, as Cú Roí’s poet, *Ferchertne (3),
curmudgeon. A common translation of the
clasps Bláithíne in his arms and jumps off a
Irish and Scottish Gaelic *bodach, a
sheer cliff on the *Beare peninsula with her in
hobgoblin.
a deadly embrace.
Cú Roí, CúRoí, Curroi, Cú Ruí, Cú Raoi, Cú Roí’s magical, impregnable fortress
Córroí, etc. [Ir., hound of the plain (?); hound revolves on its axis each night so that the
of god (?)]. Usually seen as a hero of *Mun- entrance can never be found after sunset, a
ster, Cú Roí is one of the most enigmatic fig- distinction it shares with fortresses in other
ures in early Irish narrative; he may also be a Celtic as well as in some Asian narratives. Cú
divinity, king, chieftain, wizard, sorcerer, and Roí can control the rotation through a spell,
traveller. His patronymic, mac Dáiri, may even when he is in distant lands. Cúchulainn
imply a divine origin, as Dáire (see  (1)) once helps to defend the fortress by defeat-
is but another name for *Bolg. He is usually ing nine monstrous intruders. The fortress is
portrayed as an antagonist of *Ulster whose usually associated with the Iron Age ruin on
story is intertwined with that of *Cúchulainn *Cahirconree in the *Sliab Mis (Slieve Mish)
at several points. mountains about 10 miles SW of Tralee on
He became a fighter at the age of 7, and the *Dingle peninsula, Co. *Kerry; Cahircon-
carries an immense rock in one hand and an ree, also Caherconry, etc., preserves the name
axe in the other. It was said that Ireland could of Cú Roí; the fortress is known as Cathair
not contain him for his haughtiness. He seeks Chon-Raoí of Sliab (or Slieve) Mis in *Corcu
fír fer [the truth of men], a code of honour Duibne in early Irish narrative. Additionally,
among warriors; thus he is often the severest he is sometimes thought to reside at *Temair
judge of heroism. E. C. Quiggin once Luachra, also in Co. Kerry. Cú Roí’s best-
asserted that Cú Roí was the centre of a cycle known son is *Lugaid mac Con Roí or mac
of Munster mythology now lost. The several na Trí Con. His followers are the Clann
stories linking him with Cúchulainn are wide- *Dedad. Two figures who may be doubles for
ly known. While raiding the *Otherworld, Cú Roí are Conganchnes mac Dedad and
here located in Scotland, Cúchulainn is aided Lóch Mór. A Welsh figure briefly named in
by Cú Roí, who appears as an uncouth stran- Culhwch ac Olwen appears to be a counterpart
ger. They capture three marvellous cows, a to Cú Roí; his name is variously rendered as
cauldron, and a lady named *Bláithíne. When *Cubert son of Daere, Chubert map Dare, or
Cúchulainn refuses to share the booty, Cú Roí Corroi map Dayry. The Breton Esclados le
seizes the lot and thrusts the Ulster hero into Roux, guardian of a fountain in *Brocéliande,
the ground up to his armpits. As an additional may also be a counterpart. A recent transla-
ignominy, Cú Roí shaves off Cúchulainn’s tion of Aided Chon Roí [The Tragic Death of
hair with his sword. Cú Roí], appears in Two Death Tales from the
121
curragh
Ulster Cycle, trans. Maria Tymoczko (Dublin, white, red-eared spectral hounds. Near at
1981). hand they sound like beagles, but at a distance
their sound is filled with wild lamentation.
curragh [Ir. corrach, wet bog, march, morass,
They terrify ordinary dogs and thus a dog
low-lying plain]. Any extensive flat, boggy
howling at night is thought a bad omen. They
land in Ireland or the Isle of Man may be
are thought to come from the *Otherworld
called a curragh. The best-known is called
to hunt the souls of the living through the air;
The Curragh or The Curragh of Kildare,
they seek to kidnap mortals and to lead the
about 5,000 acres, 6 miles by 2 miles, 2 miles
souls of the damned to infernal regions.
E of the town of Kildare. The Curragh has
Hunters who ride with them include *Arthur
often been mentioned in Irish narrative, not-
and the black-faced *Gwyn ap Nudd. The
ably in *Fenian tales, for more than 1,000
dogs may be known by many other names; in
years. Prehistoric ruins include ring burial-
Welsh they are cŵn bendith y mamau [fairy
mounds and the Race of the Black Pig, which
dogs]; cŵn cyrff [corpse dogs]; cŵn wybr [sky
may have been an ancient cattleway. More
dogs]; cŵn toili [toili dogs]. In English they
recent history has given The Curragh other
may be known as Gabriel hounds, ratchets, or
associations; 350 unarmed United Irishmen
hell hounds. See also  ;  ;
were slaughtered here in 1798; it also includes
;  . Motif E501.13.4.
the site of one of Ireland’s most famous horse
race-tracks and the training centre for the
Cycle of the Kings. One of four major
Irish military.
cycles of Old and Middle Irish literature,
curse. *Macha put a curse upon the Ulster- known to some commentators as the Histor-
men known as [ces] *noínden. See also . ical Cycle; it is distinguished from the other
three by its focus on provincial and lesser
Cú Ruí. Variant spelling of *Cú Roí.
kings, both legendary and historical, from the
Cúscraid, Cúscrid. *Ulster hero who bears 3rd to the 7th centuries. The cycle is con-
the epithet Menn, Mend, Menn Machae [Ir., cerned not only with kings but also with
the stammerer, inarticulate one, of Macha]. *kingship. Critical commentators have found
Cúscraid is a son of *Conchobar mac Nessa the cycle to be less magical than the *Mytho-
who takes a leading role in *Scéla Mucce meic logical, less heroic than the *Ulster, and less
Da Thó [The Story of Mac Da Thó’s Pig], in romantic than the *Fenian. The phrase ‘Cycle
which he is wounded by *Cet mac Mátach of the Kings’ was coined by Myles Dillon, The
and slain by Mac Cécht. S. J. O’Grady changed Cycles of the Kings (Oxford, 1946), who
the name to Cowshra Mend Macha in his allowed that there was more than one such
imaginative History of Ireland (Dublin, 1878). cycle. Alan Bruford coined the phrase *Dal-
cassian Cycle in 1969 to refer to the stories of
cù sìth [ScG, fairy dog]. The formidable fairy
the 10th-century *Brian Bórama (Boru) and
dog of Gaelic Scotland. Often represented to
his family, which are so extensive and particu-
be the size of a yearling bullock, the cù sìth
lar as to be separated from the rest.
differs from other Celtic fairy dogs by being
Important personages mentioned in narra-
dark green. The cù sìth is shaggy and has
tives of the Cycle of the Kings are *Baile and
paws as wide as a man’s hand. Folk motif:
his lover Ailinn, *Becfola, *Cano (d. 688),
F241.6. See also ;  .
*Conaire Mór, *Conn Cétchathach [of the
Custennin, Kistennin. Frequently appearing Hundred Battles], *Cormac mac Airt (who
name in early Welsh tradition, the best- also figures in the Fenian Cycle), *Domnall
known of whom is the shepherd who helped the son of Áed, *Fergus mac Léti, *Labraid
*Culhwch to find Olwen in *Culhwch ac Loingsech, *Lugaid mac Con, *Mongán,
Olwen. His son was *Goreu, the slayer of *Muirchertach mac Erca, *Niall Noígiallach
*Ysbaddaden. [of the Nine Hostages], and *Rónán (1).
Important narratives in the Cycle of the Kings
Cuthullin. Variant spelling of *Cuchullin,
include: *Buile Shuibne [The Frenzy of
the character in *Macpherson’s Ossian (1760).
Sweeney]; *Cath Maige Mucrama [The Battle
cŵn annwfn, annwn [W, dogs of annwfn, of Mag Mucrama]; *Echtra Maic nEchach
the Otherworld]. Otherworldly dogs or hell- Muigmedóin [The Adventure of the Sons of
hounds of Welsh tradition. Usually seen as a Eochaid Mugmedón]; *Echtrae Airt meic Cuinn
pack of small, red-grey or, alternatively, snow- [The Adventure of Art Son of Conn]; *Echtrae
122
Cymru
Conli [The Adventure of Connla]; *Esnada nothing not consumed by the household
Tige Buchet [The Melodies of Buchet’s could be found in the morning. Lludd and
House]; *Fingal Rónáin [How Rónán Slew His Llefelys talked over these matters through a
Son]; *Orgain Denna Ríg [The Destruction of brazen tube, for the Coraniaid could hear
Dind Ríg]. everything that was said if once the winds got
hold of it (a property also attributed to Math,
cyclops. See - .
son of Mathonwy). Llefelys suggested des-
cyfarwydd [W, storyteller; guide, leader; troying the Coraniaid by mashing poisonous
spell, magic]. Name given in medieval Welsh insects in water and sprinkling the solution
tradition to storytellers, all of whom are over the foreigners to kill them; the insect
anonymous except for Bledri ap Cydifor (also would kill the Coraniaid, but the Britons
Bledericus Walensis, Bleherus). The profes- would be immune. The scream, Llefelys
sion had disappeared before the oral com- explained, came from two dragons who
position of the *Mabinogi was complete (12th fought each other once a year. They were to
cent.). The culmination of the cyfarwydd’s be killed by being intoxicated with mead that
tradition is the Mabinogi, where his role is was to be placed in a pit dug in the very
described as offering pleasant tales to a pat- centre of Britain. Finally, the provisions, Llefe-
ron. Although a member of the *bardic order, lys explained, were being taken away by a
a cyfarwydd occupied a lower echelon. A giant wizard. Lludd overcame him in battle
cyfarwydd might borrow materials from and made him a vassal. Thus Lludd and Llefe-
other poets or printed sources and need not lys freed the island of three plagues.
rely on his own imagination; his powers of See Ifor Williams, Cyfranc Lludd a Llevelys
dramatic presentation were especially (Bangor, 1922); Brynley F. Roberts, Cyfranc
esteemed. The survival of meanings associ- Lludd a Llefelys (Dublin, 1975).
ated with cognates of cyfarwydd imply that cyhyraeth, cyheuraeth. Welsh spectral fig-
the storyteller might have played other roles; ure, comparable to the *caointeach of Gaelic
cf. cyfarwyddai [magician]; cyfarwyddyd Scotland or the Weeper of English tradition.
[guidance, instruction, information, know- Usually portrayed as an invisible, bodiless
ledge]. See Constance Bullock-Davies, Profes- voice, the cyhyraeth may be heard groaning
sional Interpreters of the Matter of Britain (Car- before death, especially multiple deaths
diff, 1966); Proinsias Mac Cana, Learned Tales caused by a disaster or epidemic. It is mostly
of Medieval Ireland (Dublin, 1980); Patrick K. associated with south Wales, east *Dyfed
Ford, ‘The Poet as Cyfarrwydd in Early Welsh (until 1974, Carmarthenshire), and the three
Tradition’, Studia Celtica, 10/11 (1975–6). Glamorganshires, particularly near the Towy
River. Like the Irish *banshee, the cyhyraeth
Cyfranc Lludd a Llefelys. An early Welsh will weep for natives who die away from
narrative (?11th cent.) found in the*Red Book home. It may once have been a goddess of
of Hergest (c.1382–1410) and as a fragment in streams.
the *White Book of Rhydderch (c.1325). The
cylch y tylwyth teg. Welsh for *fairy ring.
Welsh title translates literally as ‘the meeting,
battle, story, or adventure of Lludd and Llefe- Cymidei Cymeinfoll, Kymideu Kymein-
lys’, but the work is usually known in English voll. Giantess in Branwen, the second branch
simply as ‘Lludd and Llefelys’ (also Llevelys). of the *Mabinogi. She is the wife of the *giant
It is a popular reworking of a pseudo- Llassar Llaes Gyfnewid but is twice his size.
historical theme. Matholwch meets the husband and wife
*Lludd, son of *Beli Mawr, was ruler of carrying the *cauldron of regeneration, and
Britain, and his brother Llefelys was ruler of because of the disorders of their children, he
France. Lludd sought the aid of his brother determines to burn the parents in an iron
when three plagues beset the land: (1) the house. Llassar and Cymidei escape to Britain,
Coraniaid [cf. W còr, dwarf], a crafty and where they give the cauldron to *Bran in
demonic foreign people; (2) a fearful scream thanks for his hospitality. It is prophesied that
that was heard in every home in Britain at Cymidei will give birth to a fully armed war-
midnight of May Eve, *Calan Mai or Cente- rior. Proinsias Mac Cana thinks that Cymidei
fin, and scared people out of their senses; (3) has the two attributes of the Celtic goddess:
the unaccountable disappearance of all provi- fertility and warlike vigour.

sions in the king’s court every night, so that Cymru. Modern Welsh name for the princi-
123
Cynan
pality or nation of Wales. In earlier tradition empty. See Jenny Rowland, Early Welsh Saga
it was Cymry, anglicized as Kymry; but in Poetry (Cambridge, 1990).
Modern Welsh Cymry denotes the Welsh
people. The Welsh language is Cymraeg. Cyndeyrn. Name of several early Welsh
saints; the Welsh form for St *Kentigern.
Cynan. Name borne by numerous figures in
early Wales, including saints, kings, and her- Cynedda. A variant form of *Cunedda.
oes, of whom two are most often mentioned.
Cynfeirdd [W, early, original poets]. Welsh
Cynan Garwyn ap Brockfael. King of name for the oldest poets, including *Aneirin
*Powys much praised (possibly) by *Taliesin. and *Taliesin. See Joseph P. Clancy, The Earli-
est Welsh Poetry (New York, 1970); Rachel
Cynan Meiriadog, Meriadoc, Meriadach,
Bromwich and R. Brinley Jones (eds.), Astu-
Saint. Legendary 5th-century holy man who
diaethau ar yr Hengerdd: Studies in Old Welsh
led Welsh migrants to *Armorica, founding
Poetry (Cardiff, 1978).
*Brittany. In the Welsh story *Breuddwyd
Macsen Wledig [The Dream of Macsen Cynon [W, great or divine hound (?)]. Name
Wledig], Cynan is a British general who leads borne by many figures in early Welsh history,
his armies to Rome and is rewarded with the including saints, kings, and heroes. A king of
rights to Armorica/Brittany. In Breton *Gwynedd in 817 was Cynon. Cynon son of
legends he is known as Conan or Konan Clydno first tells Owain of the powerful
Meriedek. knight who overthrows all challengers in
Cynddylan, Cyndallan, Kyndylan. Prince of *Owain. A River Cynon flows 18 miles into
Pengwern in *Powys, late 6th and early 7th the Taff, Glamorganshire.
centuries, who is the subject of *Canu Heledd Cyntefln, Cyntefyn. Alternative Welsh
[The Song of Heledd], the anonymous ninth name for *Calan Mai or May Day; see also
cycle of poems once attributed to *Llywarch .
Hen. The speaker in the surviving poems is
Heledd, thought to be Cynddylan’s sister; cythraul, cythrawl [W, hostile; devil,
often she laments Cynddylan’s great hall, enemy]. Welsh word for the devil or other
formerly filled with life, now ruined and incarnation of evil in early narrative.
124

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Ca-Olt. Hero in *Macpherson’s Ossian Mason (1725–97) and of a dramatic cantata by

Republic of Ireland, 9 miles NE of Dundalk,

Ammianus Marcellinus, Julius Caesar, ),  (the eponymous progenitor

Craiphtine, Craiftine, Craftine, Craftiny. A when he was evangelizing Scotland.

Cruach Phádraig. Irish form of *Croagh irrefutable evidence, ‘Medb’s Treasury’,

Louise Sjoestedt, ‘Légendes épiques irlanda- Cuchullin, Cuthullin. Character in

the unaccountable disappearance of all provi- fertility and warlike vigour.

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