Dictionary of Celtic Mythology - (L)

L
L. The twelfth letter of the modern English Laa Luanistyn, Luanys. Manx names for
alphabet is represented by luis [*rowan, *Lughnasa.
mountain ash] in the *ogham alphabet of
Labhra. Variant spelling of *Labraid.
early Ireland.
Labhraidh. ModIr. for *Labraid.
La Tène [Fr., the shallows]. Archaeological
site at the eastern end of Lake Neuchâtel, Labra. Variant spelling of *Labraid.
Switzerland, whose name now describes late
Labraid, Labhraidh, Labhra, Labra, Leabhra,
Iron Age Celtic culture. Discovered by an
Lowry [Ir., speaker]. Name borne by more
amateur archaeologist in 1858, the La Tène
than a dozen legendary figures from early Ire-
site, one of the glories of the barbarian world,
land and some ecclesiastics. The best-known
marks a holy settlement of Celtic craftsper-
is *Labraid Loingsech [seafarer, exile], also
sons and artisans from after 500  until the
known as Labraid Móen [dumb, speechless].
Roman conquest. The huge trove at La Tène
includes 400 brooches, 270 spears, 27 wooden Labraid Lámderg, Lámhdhearg [Ir., speak-
shields, 170 swords, as well as votive offerings: er, red hand]. A hero of *Fionn mac Cumhaill’s
dogs, pigs, cattle, chariots, and human beings. *Fianna, even though he is reputed to be the
La Tène culture, now classed in three phases, son of *Bolg, ancestor of the *Fir Bolg. He
I, II, and III, developed from the interaction accompanies *Oscar on adventures overseas.
of the earlier, geometric *Hallstatt style and
Labraid Loingsech, Loingseach [Ir., speak-
Etruscan and Greek influences from the Med-
er, seafarer, exile, mariner]. Also Labraid
iterranean. The typical La Tène style is char-
Móen, Máen, Maon [dumb, speechless] and
acterized by S-shapes, spirals, and swirling
Labraid Lorc [fierce]. Ancestor deity of the
round patterns symmetrically applied. While
*Leinstermen whose story of the revenge of
known in all parts of Celtic Europe, the La
his father’s death and the regaining of his
Tène style is especially evident in the art of
kingdom is told in *Orgain Denna Ríg [The
the pre-Roman British Isles; atrophying under
Destruction of Dind Ríg]. Although the
Roman domination, it persisted through
*Lagin, progenitors of Leinster, ranked
Christianization in Ireland until the Norman
Labraid ‘a man higher than the gods’, and his
conquest, 1169. See Paul Vouga, La Tène
children include the deity *Nechtán (1), Kuno
(Leipzig, 1923); Ruth and J. V. S. Megaw, Celtic
Meyer thought he might have been a histor-
Art (London, 1989).
ical king at the time of the Roman invasion of
La Villemarqué, Théodore Hersart de Britain. Pedigrees make him twenty-fifth in
(1815-95). The founder of Breton literary direct line from *Éremón, ancestor of the
tradition with Barzaz Breiz [Breton Bards] *Gaels, and he is the grandson of *Úgaine
(Paris, 1839). As a pseudo-medievalist, La Mór, whose name appears at the head of
Villemarqué is often compared to the Scottish many medieval genealogies.
‘translator’ James *Macpherson, but he is lin- Whatever the historical correlative for
guistically superior and more authentic, if Labraid’s persona, his reign signals the advent
bowdlerized. English translation: Ballads and of the Lagin to dominance in eastern Ireland.
Songs of Brittany, trans. Tom Taylor (London, The *Book of Leinster dates Labraid’s killing
New York, 1865, 1907; repr. Norwood, Penn., of Cobthach at 307 ; in the *Annals of the
1976). See Francis Gourvil, Théodore Hersart Four Masters the date is 431 . In stories sub-
de La Villemarqué (Rennes, 1959); D. Laurent, sequent to the action of Orgain Denna Ríg,
Aux sources du Barzaz Breiz: la mémoire d’un Labraid extends his dominion over much of
Copyright © 1990. Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
peuple (As Meu, 1989). See also  Europe, to Italy, and in another text as far as
. Armenia. From these adventures he brought
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 17:04:23.
Lailoken
back 2,200 foreigners with broad spears Láeg, Laeg, Lóeg. Friend, messenger, and
[laignib], thus the Lagin or Leinstermen. The charioteer of *Cúchulainn who is killed by
influential Geoffrey *Keating (17th cent.) *Lugaid mac Con Roí with a spear intended
treated him as a historical figure. for Cúchulainn.
In oral and written tradition of much later
Láegaire, Laoghaire, Laeghire. Variant
composition, Labraid was thought to suffer
spellings of *Lóegaire.
horses’ ears, an affliction he shares with the
Welsh *March ap Meirchion and King Midas Laery. Anglicization of *Lóegaire.
of ancient Greek tradition. To keep this
Lagin, Laigin, Laighin, Laighnigh, Lagenians
shame secret, he executed every barber who
[people of Lug (?)]. Early Celtic people who
cut his hair. One young barber was spared on
invaded *Ireland before the advent of written
the pleadings of his mother, a widow. But he
records, giving their name to the province of
grew sick with the burden of the secret and
*Leinster. They were placed second in the
so, on the advice of a *druid, told it to a tree,
order of Celtic invaders, after the *Érainn.
thus curing himself. Later, however, the tree
They settled not only in what is now Leinster
was cut down and made into a harp on which
but also in other parts of the island, including
Labraid’s harper *Craiphtine played; in the
large portions of *Connacht. Thomas F.
midst of the music the harp revealed
O’Rahilly (1946) argued unconvincingly that
Labraid’s secret. He felt immediate remorse
they were a *P-Celtic people and only
for the barbers he had killed and hence-
adopted genealogies implying a *Q-Celtic
forward owned up to his blemish.
origin after the dominance of the *Goidels
See Thomas F. O’Rahilly, Early Irish History
in Ireland. Their ancestor deity, *Labraid
and Mythology (Dublin, 1946), 101–20; Francis
Loingsech, was thought to have invited 2,200
J. Byrne, Irish Kings and High-Kings (London,
foreigners back with him from the continent
1973), 130-6; Brian Ó Cuiv, ‘Some Items from
of Europe, who became the Lagin. According
Irish Tradition [horse’s ears]’, Éigse, 11 (1964-
to their own invasion legend, they were
6), 167–87; Máirtín Ó Briain, [Irish text of
Gaulish in origin and invaded Ireland from
‘Midas and the Ass’s Ears’], Béaloideas, 53
*Brittany (Armorica). The *Annals of the Four
(1985), 11–74. Pádraic Colum made Labraid a
Masters set this after 431 , the *Book of Lein-
hero of juvenile fiction in The Story of Lowry
ster after 307 . Contemporary scholarship
Maen (New York and London, 1937).
suggests a much earlier date. They brought
Labraid Lorc [speaker, fierce]. Another with them the *Domnainn and the *Galióin.
name for *Labraid Loingsech. See Thomas F. O’Rahilly, Early Irish History
and Mythology (Dublin, 1946), 17–24, 101–20;
Labraid Luathlám ar Claideb [swift Alfred P. Smyth, Celtic Leinster (Dublin, 1982).
sword-hand]. Ruler of *Mag Mell [Plain of
Delight] who sends his beautiful wife *Lí Ban Laidcenn, Laidcheann. Poet of *Niall
[paragon of women] to seek *Cúchulainn’s Noígiallach [of the Nine Hostages] whose
help in *Serglige Con Culainn [The Wasting tangle with the troublesome *Eochaid (10)
Sickness of Cúchulainn]. leads to Niall’s death.
Laigin, Laighin, Laighead, Laighnigh. Variant
Labraid Móen, Maon, Máen [speaker,
forms of *Lagin.
dumb, speechless]. See  .
Lailoken. Naked, hairy *wild man of the
Ladi Wen, Y. [W, the White Lady]. Spectral woods who demonstrates prophetic powers
apparition of a woman dressed in white, at the court of *Rhydderch Hael in
known in Welsh oral tradition. A common *Strathclyde, the 6th-century Welsh-speaking
bogy reputed to warn children about bad kingdom of the Old North, i.e. the Scottish
behaviour, Y Ladi Wen was most often seen at Lowlands. By critical consensus, much of
*Hollantide, 31 October-1 November. the legend of Lailoken’s life contributes to
Ladra, Ladhra, Ladru. *Cesair’s pilot or *Geoffrey of Monmouth’s conception of
helmsman in the first invasion of *Ireland, *Merlin in the Vita Merlini (c.1149). In the
and first man to die there; with sixteen wives, 15th-century Scottish story known as ‘Lailo-
ken and Kentigern’, the hairy wild man con-
he suffered from an excess of women.

fesses to St *Kentigern that he is the cause of
Lady of the Fountain. See . the deaths of those who perished at the battle
291
Lairgnéan
of *Arfderydd (573/575). *Myrddin (Merlin) Leabhar. Modern Irish for *Lebor [book] . . . ;
is recorded as having gone mad after this see also   . . .
defeat. See H. D. L. Ward, ‘Lailoken (or
Leabhra. Corrupt spelling of *Labraid.
Merlin Silvester)’, Romania, 22 (1893), 504–26;
‘Lailoken and Kentigern’ is translated, leannán sídhe, leannán sí, leannan sighe,
514–525. Kenneth H. Jackson, Béaloideas, 8 leanhaun shee. See  .
(1938), 48–9; James Carney, Studies in Irish
Leary. Anglicization of *Lóegaire.
Literature and History (Dublin, 1955), 129–53;
Basil Clarke, Life of Merlin (Cardiff, 1972). Lebarcham, Lebhorcham. Variant spellings
of *Leborcham.
Lairgnéan. Promised ‘Man of the North’
who marries *Deoch at the end of *Oidheadh Lebor Buide Lecáin. Irish title of the *Yellow
Chlainne Lir [The Tragic Story of the Children Book of Lecan.
of Lir]. Lebor Gabála Érenn, Leabhar Gabhála. Irish
lake. See ; ; . title for the 12th-century text usually known
in English as The Book of Invasions or Book
Lammas Day. See . of Conquests [lit. book of the taking of Ire-
land]. A collection of pseudo-historical texts
Lancelot. Lover of *Guinevere and father by various authors of different periods,
of Galahad. Although he is one of the most arranged in a pattern of invasions, the Lebor
French of all Arthurian heroes, appearing first Gabála purports to synchronize myths,
in *Chrétien de Troyes’s Erec (c.1170), his legends, and genealogies from early Ireland
roots may well be Irish. See Roger Sherman with the framework of biblical exegesis. In
Loomis, ‘The Descent of Lancelot from Lug’, the words of Alwyn and Brinley Rees, it is ‘a
Bulletin bibliographique de la Société Internation- laborious attempt to combine parts of the
ale Arthurienne, 3 (1951), 67–73. native teaching with Hebrew mythology
Land of Promise. Usual translation of *Tír embellished with medieval legend’. One
Tairngire and occasional translation of modern commentator calls the Lebor Gabála a
*Emain Ablach. ‘masterpiece of muddled medieval miscel-
lany’. Compilers of the Lebor Gabála do not
Land of the Living. Usual translation of demonstrate a profound knowledge of
*Tír na mBeó. the Bible itself but rely instead on biblical
commentators and historians, especially
Land of Youth. Usual translation of *Tír na *Eusebius (3rd cent. ), Orosius (6th cent.),
nÓg. and Isidore of Seville (7th cent.). Informed by
Langarrow, Langona. Legendary lost city of Latin learning, the surviving Irish text may
Cornish folklore, thought to lie near the have been based on a Latin original, an asser-
modern town of Perranporth on the north tion now much disputed. Portions of the Irish
coast. Because of its greed and dissoluteness, text were contributed by a number of identi-
Langarrow was thought to have been covered fiable poets from the 9th and 10th centuries,
over by shifting sand dunes. The story prob- the final compilation coming after the 11th
ably reflects the actual covering of two century. Accepting biblical cosmology, the
churches of St Piran near Perranporth, Lebor Gabála plays a role in the Irish *Mytho-
though one has since been excavated. The logical Cycle comparable to that of Hesiod’s
story may have contributed to the Lyonesse Works and Days (6th cent. ) in Greek
story of Arthurian tradition. See also - mythology.
 . The text begins the story of human history
with the biblical Flood, which commentators
Laoghaire. ModIr. spelling of *Lóegaire. date at 2900  or in the supposed ‘year of the
world’ 1104 Anno Mundi. Dates for different
Laoi Oisín i dTír na nÓg. See . invasions vary widely in different texts, as
Laoidh an Amadain Mhòir. ScG title for medieval authorities never agreeed on the
*Eachtra an Amadáin Mhóir [The Lay of the date of Creation; the Venerable Bede (7th
cent.) argued for 3952  and the Septuagint
Great Fool].
commentators (3rd cent. ) determined 5200
Laoire. ModIr. spelling of *Lóegaire. , while later authorities opted for 4004 .
292
Lebor Gabála Érenn
The *Scoti (i.e. Goidels, Irish) are assumed to human stature, arrived thirty-seven years after
have originated in *Scythia but to have taken the Fir Bolg, whom they subjugated. Their
their name from *Scota (1) or Scotia, the defeat of the Fomorians ushered in the lumi-
daughter of a Pharaoh. While in Egypt the nous era in which many early Irish mytho-
Scoti know Moses and are invited to join the logical narratives appear to be taking place.
Exodus, a probable source of the long- (VI) *Míl Espáine and the *Milesians are mor-
standing canard that the Irish are a lost tribe tal ancestors of the modern Gaels. Although
of Israel. *Fénius Farsaid is described as being his name means ‘soldier of Spain’, Míl is a
present at the separation of languages at Scythian who marries *Scota [L, Irishwoman]
Babel and leaving instructions for his grand- (1). His descendants leave Spain for *Kerry
son, *Goídel Glas, to forge the Irish languages 297 years after the arrival of the Tuatha Dé
out of the seventy-two tongues then in Danann, defeat their predecessors, and push
existence. on to found *Tara. The Milesians still reign
Modern readers have taken the greatest when the time-frame of Irish heroic literature
interest in iteration of the six mythological ceases.
invasions (or seven, counting the *Fomorians) The first two invasions are the least
of Ireland, which incorporate tantalizing grounded and most contrived of the seven.
elements of bona fide ethnic history, greatly Many of the names in Cesair’s retinue appear
transformed. Additionally, the Lebor Gabála to have been invented to provide a gloss for
borrows from literary texts and, at times, place-names. Elements in her invasion are
explains narratives in them. Sorting out the both erotic and comic. The three men of the
distinctions between invention and fact company are charged with dividing fifty
remains an ongoing task for scholars of early women among them and to populate the
Ireland. The ordering of the invasions, and island. Two of the men die and Cesair’s ‘hus-
the character of the invaders, is fixed: band’, *Fintan mac Bóchra, feeling
(I) *Cesair, granddaughter of Noah, who inadequate to the task, flees in the form of a
was sent to Ireland to escape the Flood, *salmon. The name Partholón is probably
accompanied by her father Bith, fifty women, also an invention, as the letter P is unknown
and three men, who hoped vainly to populate in earlier Irish; it appears to be an adaptation
the island. (II) *Partholón and the *Partholo- of Bartholomaeus, which Isidore of Seville
nians, descendants of the biblical Magog, and St Jerome glossed as ‘son of him who
arrived 312 years after the death of Cesair and stays the waters’. Good colonists, the Partho-
settled eastern Irish plains before being wiped lonians cleared four plains, settling on *Mag
out in a plague. (III) *Nemed and the nElta [Moynalty], roughly coextensive with
*Nemedians came from the Caspian Sea the modern city of *Dublin, from *Howth on
thirty years after the death of Partholón. the east to Tallaght in the south-west. The
After clearing twelve plains and forming four first battle on Irish soil pitted the Partholoni-
lakes, Nemed fought four battles with the ans against the devilish Fomorians from the
Fomorians, winning three and losing the north. After introducing agriculture, the
fourth, after which their remnants went into Partholonian colony swelled to 9,000 before
exile, some to return with later invasions. all but one of them died in a plague. Only
(IIIa) The Fomorians, not a part of the inva- *Tuan mac Cairill (sometimes mac Stairn)
sion sequence, but euhemerized deities who survived to the time of *Colum Cille to tell
come to be portrayed as a dark and violent of the invasions of Ireland.
but magical race of pirates, whose home is Nemed and the Nemedians arriving thirty
Tory Island off the Donegal coast. They battle years after the Partholonians appear initially
the Partholonians and the Nemedians before to be shadows of their predecessors, clearing
being defeated by the *Tuatha Dé Danann. land and forming lakes. As a people their
(IV) The *Fir Bolg are short, dark people greed for gold led them to disaster before they
who came to Ireland fleeing oppression. arrived in Ireland, when all but one of their
Sometimes they are thought to be a second thirty-four ships were lost in a vain pursuit of
wave of Nemedians or survivors of their a tower of gold seen on the sea. This attack
invasion. Defeated by the invading *Tuatha on a tower prefigures their brave but futile
Dé Danann, they settle on *Aran and Rathlin assault against the tower of the Fomorians on
Islands. (V) The Tuatha Dé Danann, gods of Tory Island (off *Donegal). Before this the
the pre-Christian Irish pantheon reduced to Nemedians had bested the hated Fomorians
293
three times, but were none the less reduced to perity, especially under their king *Eochaid
vassalage, paying a humiliating tribute. After mac Eirc, whose reign induced harvests every
being decimated by the Fomorians, remnants year and established the rule of law. After
of the Nemedians scattered across the world, thirty-seven years the Tuatha Dé Danann, a
returning generations later as the mythical Fir race of gods, invaded and defeated the Fir
Bolg and Tuatha Dé Danann as well as the Bolg at the first Battle of Mag Tuired, near
historical British. Some commentators link Lough Arrow, Co. Sligo; see  
the Nemedians with the historical *Érainn. . Thus subdued, the Fir Bolg fled to
Although not a wave of invaders them- distant corners of the Gaelic world such as
selves, the Fomorians [Ir. Fomoire] appear the Scottish coast, Rathlin Island, and the
often in the text of Lebor Gabála, usually as *Aran Islands. In folkloric memory they are
rapacious raiders upon other settlers. When grotesque, dark helots and cave *fairies, a
the Partholonians first encounter them under perception partially coordinate with the mis-
*Cichol, they are hideous, misshapen mon- interpretation of their name as ‘men of bags’.
sters with but *one eye, one arm, and one leg, The divine origins of the Tuatha Dé
but elsewhere they are more anthropo- Danann are implicit in the usual story of their
morphic. Their portrait in another important arrival in Ireland, descending from a dark
early Irish text, *Cath Maige Tuired [The (Sec- cloud on a mountain in the west, instead of
ond) Battle of Mag Tuired], has them inter- by ship as other invaders had. Their very
marrying with the Tuatha Dé Danann, the name, ‘people of the goddess Danu/ Ana’,
race of gods. Modern commentators believe may have been invented in the Lebor Gabála,
they are euhemerized pagan deities, possibly but the phrase Tuatha Dé was earlier used to
marine counterparts of the Tuatha Dé describe the old gods or to denote the Israel-
Danann, whose characterization was heavily ites in translations of the Bible. The complete
influenced by early sea marauders, first from origin of the name and the precise implica-
the Scottish Isles and more substantially the tions of it are still disputed. Unquestionably
Norse. Often they appear to be demonic but many members of the Tuatha Dé Danann
magical pirates, given to gratuitous cruelty. pre-date the composition of the Lebor Gabála,
For unexplained reasons they do not prey having been the gods of pre-Christian cults.
upon the agricultural Fir Bolg, causing some But from the Lebor Gabála onward they are
earlier commentators to think the two groups portrayed as humans, if extraordinary ones.
identical, an assertion now rejected. Their They excel all peoples of the earth in their
climactic moment comes in Cath Maige proficiency in every art. After their defeat of
Tuired, whose action is summarized in Lebor the Fir Bolg at the First Battle of Mag Tuired,
Gabála. After *Bres, who is part Fomorian, their only enemies are the Fomorians, also
part Tuatha Dé Danann, makes an unsuitable euhemerized deities. After the unhappy suc-
successor to *Nuadu Airgetlám, king of the cession of the part Fomorian Bres to the
Tuatha Dé Danann, a great battle ensues throne of *Nuadu Airgetlám, the Tuatha Dé
between the two people. *Lug Lámfhota, the Danann decisively defeat the Fomorians at the
Tuatha Dé Danann champion, puts his sling- epic Second Battle of Mag Tuired. The era
stone through the magical eye of *Balor, thus that follows is the time when most of the
turning his power against Balor’s fellow war- action of the Mythological Cycle takes place.
riors, disabling many of them. The Fomorians Leading figures include: the *Dagda, the
are subsequently routed and do not make ‘good god’, a king who specializes in druidical
trouble in Ireland again. magic; *Angus Óg, the god of poetry; Lug
Perceptions of the Fir Bolg have changed as Lámfhota, not only an important champion
modern readers abandoned older, more fanci- but a master of arts and crafts; *Dian Cécht,
ful interpretations of their name, e.g. ‘men of the principal healing god; *Brigid, the fire-
bags’ [cf. Ir. bolg, bag, sack], in favour of the goddess; *Boand, the goddess of the *Boyne
view that their invasion is mythologized from who is also wife to the Dagda; *Ogma, a god
the possible movements of such peoples as of eloquence who is also a strongman and
the Érainn, the *Domnainn, and the *Lagin, warrior; and the triad of war goddesses,
who may have come from the Continent and *Badb, *Macha, and *Mórrígan. This happy
Great Britain. The Fir Bolg are supposed to reign comes to an end with the invasion of
have introduced iron-tipped weapons and also the mortal *Milesians, who defeat the Tuatha
to have established an era of peace and pros- Dé Danann in two battles, *Tailtiu and
294
*Druim Ligen. Although the Lebor Gabála *Tailtiu [Teltown, Co. Meath] and *Druim
does not describe the Tuatha Dé Danann in Ligen, and spread their power over all of Ire-
defeat, popular sources from the 12th century land. Because Míl Espáine’s widow, Scota (1),
on portray them as living in the world of the accompanies the invaders, they come to be
Milesians and their progeny, but unseen by known as the *Scotti or Scoti, which is indeed
them through the power of *féth fíada. Mor- the Latin name for the Gaelic-speaking Irish-
tals live above the earth while the immortal men as well as those Gaels who settled in
Tuatha Dé Danann live first in cairns and bar- what is now Scotland. Míl’s son *Amairgin (1)
rows, later beneath the earth. The route to becomes a leading poet, and two others,
the realm of the immortal Tuatha Dé Danann *Éremón and Éber, divide Ireland between
is the *sídh. Any humans entering the world them. In the first century of their rule a rebel-
of the Tuatha Dé Danann encounter en- lion of the Aitheachthuatha [plebeian races]
chanted idylls such as *Mag Mell [Pleasant sets up the disastrous interregnum of usurper
Plain], *Emain Ablach [Fortress of Apples], *Cairbre Cinn-Chait; after his death Cairbre’s
and, best known of all, *Tír na nÓg [the Land son *Morann returns the kingship to the
of Youth]. In time the underground Tuatha rightful heirs. Although the Milesians are not
Dé Danann became identical with the *fairies. mentioned prominently in *Ulster or *Con-
Narratives of the Milesians are discontinu- nacht records, most Irish aristocratic families
ous, those dealing with their origins in claimed descent from Míl Espáine.
Scythia and biblical lands highly contrived and Although the oldest surviving text of Lebor
fanciful, and those of their invasion echoing Gabála is in the 12th-century *Book of Leinster,
the coming of the *Q-Celtic *Goidels. The we have abundant evidence that the full text
Milesians invent the Irish language; their early grew over many centuries and was added to
leader *Fénius Farsaid was present at Babel, by many hands. Summaries of Lebor Gabála
gleaning the best from all existing tongues, narratives appear in the *Historia Brittonum
and his grandson *Goídel put Fénius’ know- (formerly attributed to Nennius). The Scot-
ledge into practice. Moses himself assured the tish chronicler John Fordun (d. 1384) drew
Milesians that they would live in a land free of from Lebor Gabála in his five-volume Chronica
snakes. Memory of the druid *Caicer’s gentis Scotorum [Chronicle of the Scottish
prophecy that they would live in Ireland People], often interpolating passages of
haunted the Milesians, and Míl Espáine led his shameless chauvinism. Some of the most
people from Egypt towards their promised important Irish historians before modern
land but was killed in Spain while aiding his times struggled to make the Lebor Gabála his-
kinsmen there. He gave his name to his tory fit with information gathered elsewhere,
people through his many sons, some of them including Geoffrey Keating (c.1570-c.1645),
from his second wife, *Scota (1), the daughter Micheál Ó Cléirigh (1575-c.1645) of the
of the Pharaoh. One son, *Íth, after climbing *Annals of the Four Masters, and Roderick
Breogan’s tower in Brigantia [La Coruña, O’Flaherty (1629–1718). As late as the 18th
Spain], sees Ireland one cold night century a historian as conscientious as
and resolves to go there; when he does, and is Charles O’Conor (1710–91) was trying to
killed, eight sons of Míl vow revenge. They accommodate the Lebor Gabála to post-
land at *Inber Scéne and win a swift victory Enlightenment times.
over the Tuatha Dé Danann at *Sliab Mis Although themes and characters from
before meeting three goddesses, *Banba, Lebor Gabála appear often in literature written
*Ériu, and *Fódla, each of whom asked that by non-Gaelic authors ( James Joyce employs
Ireland be named for her. Three kings of the many in Finnegans Wake, 1939), the pedestrian
Tuatha Dé at *Tara, *Mac Cuill, *Mac Cécht, prose and digressive narratives have discour-
and Mac Gréine, possibly husbands of the aged English or other adaptations. Two
goddesses, promise to turn over the country exceptions are Charles Maturin’s little-read
to the invaders if only the latter will keep nine The Milesian Chief (London, 1812) and Jim Fit-
waves from shore for three days. It is a trick, zpatrick’s adult comic book, The Book of Con-
and two sons of Míl are drowned, the others quests (London, 1978). The success of the Fit-
sailing *sunwise to the *Boyne estuary, where zpatrick book inspired the short-lived
they land at *Inber Colptha, named for amusement attraction ultimately based on
Colptha, a surviving son. The Milesians then the Lebor Gabála called CeltWorld, in
crush the Tuatha Dé Danann in two battles, Tramore, Co. Waterford, in the 1990s.
295
Lebor Laig(h)nech
The fullest text, edited and translated by R. awlin], the largest in Ireland, near Kilcullen,
A. S. Macalister, has been widely criticized: Co. Kildare, and the second *Dind Ríg on the
Lebor Gabála Érenn, 5 vols., Irish Texts Society, banks of the Barrow River, Co. Carlow, home
Nos. 34, 35, 39, 41, 44 (Dublin, 1938–56); repr. to the kings of south Leinster. The earth-
Irish Text Society (London, 1993), with a new works at Dind Ríg are the foundation of what
introduction by John Carey. See also Myles was once a large citadel; the story of its being
Dillon, ‘Lebor Gabála Érenn’, Journal of the burned to the ground by *Labraid Loingsech
Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 86 is told in *Orgain Denna Ríg [The Destruction
(1956), 62–72; Vernam E. Hull, ‘The Milesian of Dind Ríg]. Remains of two of the most
Invasion of Ireland’, Zeitschrift für celtische Phi- important Christian monastic sites, *Clon-
lologie, 19 (1932), 155-60; Liam Ó Buachalla, macnoise (earlier in Mide) and *Glendalough,
‘The Lebor Gabála or Book of Invasions of are also found in Leinster.
Ireland: Notes on Its Construction’, Journal of See The Book of Leinster: Lebor Laighnech,
the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society, 67 ed. R. I. Best, Osborn Bergin, and M. A.
(1962), 70–9; Alwyn and Brinley Rees, Celtic O’Brien (5 vols., Dublin, 1954-67); Alfred P.
Heritage (London, 1961), esp. ch. 4, pp. 95– Smyth, Celtic Leinster (Dublin, 1982).
117; R. Mark Scowcroft, ‘Leabhar Gabhála, I:
The Growth of the Text’, Ériu, 38 (1987), 81– leipreachán. Preferred ModIr. form for
142; Anton van Hamel, ‘On Lebor Gabála’, *leprechaun.
Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie, 10 (1914), 97– Leirr. Manx form for *Lir (2).
197.
Lendabair. Usually named as wife of
Lebor Laig(h)nech. An Irish title of the *Conall Cernach of the *Ulster Cycle, daugh-
*Book of Leinster. ter of *Eógan mac Durthacht. Conall’s other
Lebor na hUidre. Irish title of the *Book of wife is *Niam (1). Sometimes confused with
the Dun Cow. *Finnabair.
Leborcham, Lebhorcham, Lebarcham, lennan sídhe. Variant of *fairy lover.

Levarcham. Nurse of *Deirdre and messen- leprechaun, leprecaun, lepracaun,
ger of *Conchobar mac Nessa. leipreachán [cf. MidIr. luchorpán, small
lefthandwise turn. See . body; ModIr. leipreachán, luprachán];
parallel regional and archaic forms:
Leinster [OIr. Lagin, Laigin, people (of lochramán, loimreachán, loragádán, lubrican,
Lug?); ON staðir, steadings]. A province of luchragán, luchramán, luprecan, lúracán,
*Ireland occupying much of the island east of lurgadán, lurikeen. Male, solitary *fairy, a
the *Shannon, the second largest (7,850 guardian of hidden treasure, of Irish literary
square miles) of the four, including and oral tradition whose original identity is
*Connacht, *Munster, and *Ulster, whose now hopelessly obscured by two centuries of
borders were drawn in the 17th century. In commercial and sometimes artistic trans-
pre-conquest Ireland, as Cóiced Laigín, it had mogrification far from the roots of Gaelic
been one of five, when *Mide is counted sep- culture. Contrary to popular perception, the
arately or when Munster is counted as two. leprechaun is by no means representative of
Within its borders are the counties of Carlow, the entire realm of the Irish fairy nor is he its
Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois (until 1922, most striking instance within Irish tradition.
Queens), Longford, Louth, *Meath, Offaly Obscured also are the now archaic regional
(until 1922, Kings), Westmeath, Wexford, and variations, mostly pre-dating the mid-19th
Wicklow. Much of the northern portion of century. The leprechaun’s dominance as per-
the modern province, especially the mega- ceived from outside Irish tradition derives
liths, passage-graves, and pre-Christian from the great popular reception of the
religious sites of the *Boyne valley in coun- works of T. Crofton Croker, especially Fairy
ties Meath and Westmeath, was historically Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland
part of Mide and are not usually identified (1825), and prestigious literary adaptations,
with Leinster. notably William Allingham’s poem ‘Lep-
From earliest times there were two royal racaun’ (c.1870), Lady Wilde’s Ancient Legends
seats for Leinster kings, the major one being . . . of Ireland (1887), James Stephens’ Crock
the 34-acre hill-fort at *Dún Ailinne [Knock- of Gold (1912), and the American musical
296
Lí Ban
partially based on Stephens, Finian’s Rainbow mortal, often by appealing to his cupidity or
(1947). gullibility so that the loser blames himself.
The earliest anticipation of the leprechaun Other motifs, such as the leprechaun’s sitting
comes in the depiction of the water sprites, on a toadstool, red Galway beard, green hat,
luchoirp or luchorpán, depicted in the 8th- etc., are clearly inventions, but some are bor-
century text Echtra Fergusa maic Léti [The rowings from European folklore, especially
Adventure of Fergus son of Léte]. In the nar- the German household spirit, the kobold.
rative Fergus is sleeping in his chariot by the Some portrayals of the leprechaun’s adven-
seaside when the sprites lift him up, separated tures in the household may have entered
from his sword, and carry him over the water. Ulster folklore from the *brownie of Scottish
When he seizes hold of three of them, they settlers. See also . Folk motifs:
promise to share their skills in swimming as a D1455; D1470; D1520; F369.4; F451.0.1; K415.
condition of their release. This portrayal, See D. A. Binchy, ‘The Saga of Fergus, Son
coupled with earlier glossaries stressing north of Léti’, Ériu, 16 (1952), 33–48; ‘Echtra Fergusa
*Leinster spellings, suggests that initially the maic Léti’, in Irish Sagas, ed. Myles Dillon
leprechaun was an aquatic or at least (Cork, 1968), 40–52; James Carney, Studies in
amphibious creature. But several comparable Irish Literature and History (Dublin, 1955),
terms from different parts of Ireland suggest 103–10; Diarmaid Ó Giollán, ‘An Leipreachán
other associations. From elsewhere in Lein- San Ainmníocht’, Béaloideas, 50 (1982), 126-50;
ster: loimreachán, lúracán. From *Connacht: ‘The Leipreachán and Fairies, Dwarfs and the
lúracán. From *Munster: luchragán, lur- Household Familiar: A Comparative Study’,
gadán. From *Ulster: luchramán. Perhaps Béaloideas, 52 (1984), 75–150.
contributing to these conceptions are the
Leth Cuinn [Conn’s half]. Name for the
monstrous lupracánaig of the pseudo-history
parts of *Ireland north of *Eiscir Riada, the
*Lebor Gabála [Book of Invasions], begotten
line running between Galway City and *Dub-
by the biblical Ham as a result of the curse
lin, or the parts claimed by *Conn Cétchath-
put upon him by his father Noah.
ach [of the Hundred Battles].
From the time of Crofton Croker’s Fairy
Legends (1825) the leprechaun has often been Leth Moga [Mug’s half]. Name for the parts
confused with two other solitary fairies of *Ireland south of *Eiscir Riada, the line
known by Hiberno-English names, the running between Galway City and Dublin, or
*cluricaune, who drinks, smokes, and haunts the parts claimed by *Eógan Mór (also
cellars, and the mischievous *far darrig. known as Mug Nuadat).
Abundant evidence now exists to demon-
Letha. Shadowy place-name in early Irish
strate that the leprechaun flourished in oral
narrative, sometimes implying the continent
tradition before the 19th century. There are
of Europe generally, sometimes *Brittany
allusions to the figure in the place-names
more specifically. See .
Knocknalooricaun [hill of the leprechauns]
near Lismore, Co. Waterford, and Poulalup- Leucetius. Epithet of Gaulish *Mars.
percadaun [pool of the leprechaun] near
Levarcham. Variant form of *Leborcham.
Killorglin, Co. *Kerry. The anglicization
lubrican appeared in 1604. The leprechaun Lewy. Anglicization of *Lugaid.
recovered from Irish tradition lacks the high
lhiannan shee. See  .
spirits and insouciance of his literary and
commercial simulacra. Instead, he (there are Lí Ban 1, Liban, Liaban, Libane [paragon of
no females) is often dour, even saturnine. women]. *Otherworldly beauty, daughter of
Ugly and stunted with a face like a dried *Áed Abrat (or Eochaid (5) ), sister of *Fand,
apple, the leprechaun may be querulous, sot- wife of *Labraid Luathlám ar Claideb [swift
tish, and foul-mouthed. In his single best- sword-hand] of *Mag Mell [Pleasant Plain]
known story, known in many variations, the who comes in a green mantle as her hus-
leprechaun while busy shoemaking is seized band’s emissary in *Serglige Con Culainn [The
by an ordinary mortal, demanding to known Wasting Sickness of Cúchulainn]. Lí Ban (2)
where the crock of gold is kept. If the mortal may be based on her.
can keep his eyes on the leprechaun without 2. Sanctified mermaid of *Lough Neagh,
being distracted, the gold will be his. The wily perhaps identical with Lí Ban (1). According
leprechaun, however, can always distract the to the *Annals of the Four Masters, she was the
297
Lia Fáil
daughter of an *Eochaid, who none the less tury, it lay under the English coronation chair
lived in the fresh waters of Lough Neagh. She until 1996, when it was returned to Scotland.
was baptized by St Comgall, Bishop of *Ban- See Tomás Ó Broin, Celtica, 29 (1990),
gor, in the 6th century and thus came to be 393–401.
known as St Muirgen [sea-born]. In a variant Lia Luchar. Corrupt spelling of *Liath
text she was first a woman who was trans- Luachra.
formed into a *salmon except for her head.
Folk motifs: F420.5.1; V229.2.12. Liaban. Variant spelling of *Lí Ban.
Liadain, Líadan, Líadain, Líadaine, Liadhain,
Lia Fáil, Lia-fáil [Ir., stone of destiny]. Irish Liadin. Possibly historical woman whose tra-
name for the ancient coronation stone gic love for the poet Cuirithir, as told in the
reputed to sing, or to utter a shriek, when a 9th-century Comrac Liadaine ocus Chuirithir
king willed by destiny sits upon it. *Conn [The Meeting of Liadain and Cuirithir], is
Cétchathach [of the Hundred Battles] was the widely seen as an anticipation of the doomed
first to sit upon Lia Fáil and foretell the love of Héloise and Abélard; like the later
future; he saw how many of his line would French story, the basis may be historical.
occupy the kingship as well as the coming of Liadain, a well-born young woman of the
St *Patrick. Just which stone is the true Lia *Corcu Duibne in what is now *Kerry, was
Fáil has been a matter of much contention; as travelling in north *Connacht when she met a
the Irish antiquarian George Petrie (1790– poet named Cuirithir mac Dobrchon [son of
1866) observed, ‘It would be difficult to find a the *otter], whom she invited to visit her on
monument of antiquity with which so many her return. Being ‘under spiritual direction’ of
national associations can be connected.’ The St *Cuimíne Fota, Liadain was in effect a nun.
Lia Fáil may be (1) identical with the phallus- Arriving in Kerry, Cuirithir asked the house-
like *Fál described by the *Dindshenchas as hold fool Comgán to send word to Liadain.
being found at *Tara from pre-Christian up to Making a pun on Cuirithir’s patronymic,
medieval times. The pseudo-history *Lebor Comgán said that ‘the son of the beast that
Gabála [Book of Invasions] speculates that the stays at night under pools’ had arrived. This
semi-divine *Tuatha Dé Danann brought Fál was sufficient for Liadain, who rushed to
with them from northern Germany or that greet her lover, but St Cuimíne forbade their
the *Milesians brought it with them from cohabiting. When Liadain would not cease
Spain. (2) An Irish stone at Tara that was from pleading, the saint allowed them to
taken to *Cruachain in *Connacht centuries spend one night together, but with a boy
ago. (3) An Irish stone standing at Tara until between them. Such a practice, called con-
the rebellion of 1798, when it was moved sortium, was a common ascetic exercise in
from the ‘Mound of Hostages’ to ‘Cormac’s early Ireland and elsewhere. On St Cuimíne’s
House’. Made of granular limestone not orders, Cuirithir became a monk and went on
found in the area, this stone is 12 feet long, 6 pilgrimage to the *Déisi of what is now
feet of which stands above ground. It is the Waterford. On the report that Liadain was
most obviously phallic monument from early about to visit him, Cuirithir crossed the sea in
Ireland. (4) The stone raised at ‘Cormac’s a coracle, never to return. Still longing for
House’ in 1798, now marked with the letters him, Liadain came to the flagstone where
‘R.I.P.’, may originally have served another Cuirithir used to pray and remained upon it
function at Tara. (5) The Scottish Stone of until she died and was buried underneath. See
Scone. Scottish historians from Hector Boece Liadin [sic] and Cuirithir: a Love Story, ed.
(1465–1536) have argued that while the Lia Kuno Meyer (London, 1902); Gerard Murphy,
Fáil is of Irish origin, the Fál of the Dindshen- Early Irish Lyrics (Oxford, 1962), 82–5, 208–11.
chas, it was taken from either *Cashel or Tara The story also inspired Móirín a Cheavasa’s
to *Dunadd in *Dál Riada for the coronation poems Liadain and Curithir (Oxford, 1917).
of *Fergus mac Eirc. In 846 the Scottish king
Cináed mac Ailpín [Kenneth MacAlpin] lianhan shee. See  .
moved it to his capitals, first Forteviot and Liath Luachra 1, Liath Luachair, Lia Luchar
later Scone, where it was used in Scottish [Ir., grey of Luachair]. Keeper of the *crane
coronations until 1296 when it was seized by bag [corrbolg] in the *Fenian Cycle, which will
the English. And despite being recovered by become one of the great treasures of the
Scottish nationalists in the mid-twentieth cen- *Fianna. Described as a hideous warrior,
298
Lleu Llaw Gyffes
Liath Luachra of *Connacht becomes ‘treas- tion that his death was a mere execution,
urer’ of the Fianna after the death of favouring instead his sacrifice to different
*Cumhall while *Goll mac Morna is in com- gods, perhaps *Esus, *Taranis, and *Teutates.
mand. The boy *Fionn mac Cumhaill kills See Don R. Brothwell, The Bog Man and the
him and takes his treasure from him. Liath Archaeology of People (London, 1986; Cam-
Luachra is the father of *Conán mac Lia. bridge, Mass., 1987); I. M. Stead et al., Lindow
2, Liathluachra. A nurse of *Fionn mac Man: The Body in the Bog (London and Ithaca,
Cumhaill, along with *Bodhmall, in oral NY, 1986); Anne Ross, The Life and Death of a
tradition. Druid Prince: The Story of Lindow Man, an
Archaeological Sensation (London and New
Liath Macha [Ir., grey of Macha]. Favourite
York, 1989).
horse of the *Ulster hero *Cúchulainn, the
other being *Saingliu or Dubh Sainglenn. Linn Féic. A pool in the River *Boyne near
Both horses were magical, having risen out of Slane, Co. Meath, one of the two locations
a grey lake at *Sliab Fúait [Slieve Fuad], but where *Fionn mac Cumhaill encountered the
each is credited as a gift from *Macha (which *salmon of wisdom. Known today as Fiac’s
of the three is not specified) or the or Féc’s Pool, it was named for one Fiac who
*Mórrígan, with whom Macha is sometimes drowned here. Coincidentally, this was also
confused. Cúchulainn catches and tames both the site of the Battle of the Boyne (1690).
horses by springing onto their backs. For an
Lir 1. Father of the children changed into
entire day they tear round the ‘circuit’ of Ire-
*swans in *Oidheadh Chlainne Lir [The Tragic
land but cannot throw off their boy rider,
Story of the Children of Lir].
after which they are gentle. The horse is por-
2. Genitive form of the OIr. ler ‘sea’ in the
trayed as showing extraordinary love for his
patronymic of the Irish sea-god *Manannán
master, refusing to be saddled and shedding
mac Lir; in Manx, Leirr. His granddaughter is
tears of blood before Cúchulainn’s final bat-
*Sinann, goddess of the *Shannon. See also
tle. Some accounts have Liath Macha dying
.
with his master, taking eighty enemy warriors
with him; others report that Liath Macha and liss, lis [OIr. les, liss, space about a dwelling
Saingliu return to their lakes after Cúchu- enclosed by a rampart; ModIr. lios; akin to W
lainn’s death. llys, court]. The enclosed ground of an
ancient dwelling, including what might have
Lifechair. See  .
been originally a storage space enclosed by a
Liffey [Ir. an life]. Fifty-mile river of eastern circular mound or trench or both; more sim-
Ireland, rising in Co. Wicklow, flowing ply, the word describes what is perceived to
through Kildare, and emptying into the Irish have been the outer court or garth of an
Sea in Dublin harbour. James Joyce’s personi- ancient chieftain’s fortification. By extension a
fication of the river in Finnegans Wake (1939) liss could be a ring-fort, and in oral tradition it
as Anna Liffey or Anna Livia Plurabelle is becomes one of many words for a *fairy fort.
based on his idiosyncratic transliteration of First word in innumerable place-names, e.g.
Abha na Life [lit. the River Liffey]. See Brendan Lismore [lios mór, big liss]. See also ; .
O Hehir, ‘Anna Livia Plurabelle’s Gaelic
Llassar Llaes Gyfnewid. Original posses-
Ancestry’, James Joyce Quarterly, 2 (1965), 158-
sor of the *cauldron of regeneration in the
66; John de Courcy, Anna Liffey: The River of
second branch of the *Mabinogi. His wife is
Dublin (Dublin, 1989); Elizabeth Healy (ed.),
*Cymidei Cymeinfoll.
The Book of the Liffey (Dublin, 1989).
Llefelys, Lleuelys, Llevelys. Son of *Beli
Lindow Man. Name given to the body of a
Mawr, co-protagonist of *Cyfranc Lludd a
4th-century  well-born (with manicured
Llefelys [The Tale of Lludd and Llefelys]. He
nails) male, human sacrificial victim found in
becomes king of France by marrying the
the peat bog at Lindow Moss, Cheshire, 1
dead king’s daughter, and later delivers the
August 1984. His well-preserved flesh has
kingdom of his brother *Lludd from three
been subject to close scrutiny; his stomach
plagues.
reveals mistletoe pollen and recently eaten
burnt oatcakes. His throat was cut, and he Lleu Llaw Gyffes, Lleu Llawgyffes, Llew [W,
was bludgeoned, strangled, and drowned. light/the fair one of the sure/steady hand].
Learned examination dismisses the sugges- Central figure of the fourth branch of the
299
Lleuelys
*Mabinogi, son of *Arianrhod, who conceives Lleuelys, Llevelys. Variant forms of
him only when *Math tests her virginity, and *Llefelys.
brother of *Dylan. *Gwydion, Arianrhod’s
brother, abducts and raises the child, who Llew. Variant form of *Lleu Llaw Gyffes.
shows great strength by his first birthday and Llewelyn. Variant spelling of *Llywelyn.
is able to go to court by himself on his sec-
ond. Because Gwydion then presents the still Llinon. Welsh name for the *Shannon River.
unnamed child to his mother, embarrassing Uncapitalized, the word llinon means ‘spear’,
her, some commentators have suggested that ‘*ash’.
Gwydion may be the actual father, an incest Lloegr, Lloegyr. Welsh name for England;
hidden by late redactors; certain internal ref- see  [Britain].
erences may support this argument. For
whichever reason, Arianrhod is furious at the Lludd. Name borne by as many as six per-
sight of the child, accusing Gwydion of ‘pur- sonages, some quite shadowy, from early
suing her shame’. She curses the boy three Welsh tradition whose identities cannot be
times: he shall not have a name unless she completely disassociated from one another.
give it to him; he shall not bear arms unless Lludd 1. The son of *Beli Mawr, leading
she equip him; and he shall not have a wife character of the medieval romance *Cyfranc
of the race of this earth. Gwydion cleverly Lludd a Llefelys [The Tale of Lludd and
overcomes all these obstacles, the third by Llefelys]. See Rachel Bromwich, Trioedd Ynys
creating the lovely *Blodeuwedd entirely Prydain, rev. edn. (Cardiff, 1978), 424–7, 556.
from flowers. But for all her comeliness, 2. Another name for *Nudd, influenced by
Blodeuwedd does not become a good wife to alliterative assimilation from Nudd Llaw
Lleu. While he is absent, she entertains the Ereint. As Lludd Llaw Ereint or Llawereint,
wandering hunter *Gronw Pebyr and he is the father of *Creiddylad [Cordelia].
resolves to help him to follow the formulated 3. Legendary founder of London [W Caer
steps needed to kill her husband. Wounded, Lludd], whose name is also commemorated in
Lleu Llaw Gyffes turns into an *eagle and ‘Ludgate Hill’.
after uttering a piercing shriek flies to a
magic *oak tree. Gwydion finds and Llwyd, son of Cil Coed. Also called ‘the
restores him to human form, and shames enchanter’, humiliated by *Pwyll in playing
Blodeuwedd by changing her into an owl. ‘badger-in-the-bag’ in the first branch of the
Lleu Llaw Gyffes seeks out Gronw Pebyr, *Mabinogi; he later sought revenge against
who begs reconciliation before he is killed in *Dyfed.
the same way he would have killed Lleu. Llychlyn. Fabulous or infernal region
Thereafter Lleu becomes lord of *Gwynedd, beneath the waves in such early Welsh texts as
north Wales. *Breuddwyd Rhonabwy [The Dream of Rho-
A virtuous, skilful, but naïve figure in the nabwy]. Like the Irish cognate *Lochlainn,
Mabinogi, Lleu’s antecedents imply a larger Llychlyn comes also to mean Scandinavia, its
character than we find in this literary context. definition in contemporary Modern Welsh.
Philologically he is connected to, and may be
identical with, the Irish hero *Lug Lámfhota Llydaw, Llydawr. The Welsh name for the
[of the long arm] and the ancient god Breton language. By folk etymology this
*Lugos/Lugus, who, along with being the derives from llew [half] and taw [silent], based
antecedent of both Lleu and Lug, was prob- on the story that the women of Brittany had
ably the Gaulish *Mercury of whom Julius their tongues cut out to keep them from cor-
*Caesar spoke (1st cent. ). Lugos/Lugus rupting the language of the conquerors. See
gave his name to Lug(u)dunum, a place-name also .
given to scores of sites on the Roman map. Llyfr Coch Hergest. See   
His fleeting associations with the *oak and .
*eagle also imply a divine origin. See W. J.
Gruffydd, Math vab Mathonwy (Cardiff, 1928); Llyfr Gwyn Rhydderch. See   
Rachel Bromwich, Trioedd Ynys Prydain, rev. .
edn. (Cardiff, 1978), 408–10, 555; Valenté, Bul- Llyfr Taliesin. See   .
letin of the Board of Celtic Studies, 35 (1988),

1 ff. llyn. Welsh word for lake, first element in
300
Llywelyn ap Gruffudd
dozens of place-names. See also ; . Ynys Prydain, rev. edn. (Cardiff, 1978), 427–9,
Llyn Cerrig Bach. Small lake in a rocky 556.
portion of the island of *Anglesey, north- Llywarch Hen. Central figure of the Canu
western *Wales, once the centre of ritual Llywarch Hen [The Song of Llywarch the Old],
activity in the late Iron Age. Twentieth- a cycle of poems (englynion, the oldest Welsh
century excavations at Llyn Cerrig Bach, verse form) in monologues and dialogues,
especially at the edge of a bog under an 11- giving emotional peaks of a fuller narrative
foot sheer rock cliff, have revealed an enor- that has not survived. Llywarch character-
mous trove of uncorroded metal objects. istically laments his current state, hunch-
Evidently thrown off the cliff over as much as backed, weary, and wretched, in contrast to
200 years, c. 2nd cent. -1st cent. , the the merriment and daring of his youth. The
objects include *cauldrons, chariots, harness poems were formerly attributed to Llywarch,
and other fittings, musical instruments, chains but Ifor Williams (1972) demonstrated that he
for slave gangs, and ironworkers’, tools. Most is only the subject of them. See Ifor Williams,
items appear well made as if possessions of The Beginnings of Welsh Poetry, ed. Rachel
the most privileged classes; some appear Bromwich (Cardiff, 1972); Patrick K. Ford,
deliberately damaged before having been The Poems of Llywarch Hen (Berkeley and Los
thrown in the lake. Unfounded speculation Angeles, 1974); Rachel Bromwich, Trioedd
has suggested the objects may have been Ynys Prydain, rev. edn. (Cardiff, 1978), 430–3;
thrown by the *druids that *Tacitus tells of Jenny Rowland, Early Welsh Saga Poetry
being slaughtered in  61. See Cyril Fox, A (Cambridge, 1990).
Find of the Early Iron Age from Llyn Cerrig Bach,
Anglesey (Cardiff, 1946); P. Lynch, Prehistoric Llywelyn, Llewelyn, Llewellyn. One of the
Anglesey (Anglesey, 1970), 249–77. most popular of all Welsh men’s names,
Llyn Llion. Fabulous ‘Lake of the Waves’ in borne by innumerable medieval and
early Welsh tradition, the overflowing of Renaissance princes and poets, of whom the
which caused the *flood from which best-known is probably Llywelyn ap Gruffudd
*Dwyfan and *Dwyfach escaped only in a (d. 1282).
ship built by *Nefyd Naf Neifion. Also the Llywelyn 1. Princely owner of the faithful
home of the water-monster *Afanc, Llyn hound *Bedd Gelert in the famous folk-tale
Llion may possibly be associated with the of the same name, sometimes identified with
actual *Bala Lake. either *Llywelyn ap Iorwerth or *Llywelyn
Llyn Llyw. See . ap Gruffudd.
Llyn Tegid. Welsh name for *Bala Lake in Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Gruffydd (c.1225–
Hanes Taliesin [The Story of *Taliesin], when 82). Last and only native-born Welsh noble to
*Ceridwen and *Tegid Foel live on its shores. bear the title ‘Prince of Wales’, sometimes
Llŷr [W, sea]. Father of *Manawydan, known as Y Llyw Olaf [The Last Prince]. Like
*Bendigeidfran, and *Branwen in the *Mab- his grandfather, *Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, the
inogi, although only Manawydan bears his younger Llywelyn forced his will on fractious
name in patronymic. A shadowy figure in Welsh princes and, at least initially, main-
Welsh tradition, Llŷr is often assumed to be tained cordial relations with the English
borrowed from the Irish *Lir (1), the patro- Crown. The death of Henry III in England
nym of the sea-god *Manannán, whose name and accession of Edward I (1272) changed
also means ‘sea’. A possible hint of Llŷr’s that. Llywelyn was killed while resisting Eng-
foreign origin may come in the references to lish invasion at a bridge near Builth, 11
him as Llŷr Llediaith [half-language]. Many December 1282, by a soldier who did not rec-
commentators have sought to trace Shake- ognize him. His severed head was displayed in
speare’s King Lear to Llŷr, but the route is London. A frequent subject of *Gogynfeirdd
tortuous; Shakespeare drew from Raphael poetry (13th-14th cents.), Llywelyn also
Holinshed’s Chronicles (1577), which in turn enjoyed a rich reputation in Welsh oral trad-
drew from *Giraldus Cambrensis’ work, ition, many stories linking him to Llywelyn’s
*Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia, where the Cave near Aberedw, *Powys (formerly Rad-
name Leir appears, and perhaps also from lost norshire). See David Stephenson, The Last
Welsh texts. See Rachel Bromwich, Trioedd Prince of Wales (Buckingham, 1983); J. Beverley
301
Llywelyn ap Iorwerth
Smith, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Tywysog Cymru that Lochlainn may initially have described
(Cardiff, 1986). the fabulous abode under lakes or waters of
hostile, supernatural beings, like the *Fomo-
Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, ab Iorwerth, Fawr rians of the *Lebor Gabála [Book of Inva-
[W mawr, great] (1173–1240). Most powerful sions]; the Welsh cognate *Llychlyn retains
of all medieval Welsh princes, ruler of this implication. After the Viking invasions
*Gwynedd, often known as Llywelyn the (8th cent.), Lochlainn came to describe the
Great in English. A successful military cam- seemingly invincible Norsemen. In Modern
paigner, he also sued for Welsh rights against Irish Lochlannach means both ‘Scandinavian’
the English king John at the signing of the and ‘marauder, robber’. Cf. ScG Lochlann,
Magna Carta (1215). He none the less married ‘Norway, Scandinavia’; Manx Loghlin, ‘Scan-
John’s natural daughter Joan, called Siwan in dinavia’. Invaders from Lochlainn, especially
Wales. For all his worldly success, Llywelyn under King *Colgán, make frequent appear-
died in a monk’s habit in the monastery of ances in *Fenian stories. The most dangerous
Aberconwy. Grandfather of *Llywelyn ap task *Lug Lámfhota gives to the sons of
Gruffudd. His princely life has been the sub- *Tuireann in *Oidheadh Chlainne Tuireann is
ject of two Welsh-language dramas, Thomas to retrieve three shouts from the hill of
Parry’s Llywelyn Fawr (1954) and Saunders *Miodhchaoin in Lochlainn. There is much
Lewis’s Siwan (1956), trans. as The King of fascination with Lochlainn in Irish folklore,
England’s Daughter (1985). especially the city of Berbha or Berva [Ber-
Loan Maclibhuin. In Manx legend, the gen, Norway?], the home of *Lon mac
swarthy smith of Drontheim [Norway?] who Líomtha the *smith.
made the sword Macabuin for King *Olave II, Lochlin. Realm of dangerous invaders in
Goddardson, of the Isle of *Man. Loan’s James *Macpherson’s Ossian (1760), clearly
daughter Emergaid the Fair later married based on *Lochlainn. Macpherson, however,
Olave, founding the Manx royal line. See also places Lochlin in north Germany, between
  . the Rhine and the Elbe.
Loarn. One of the three sons of *Erc who lochramán. Variant spelling of
founded the kingdom of *Dál Riada in *leprechaun.
*Argyll in the 5th century; the genealogies of
many Scottish Highland families were traced Lóeg. Variant spelling of *Láeg.
back to him as an ultimate ancestor.
Lóegaire, Láegaire, Lóeghaire, Laeghire,
Lóbais. *Druid of the *Fomorians. Laoghaire, Laoire, Lóegure, Leary. One of the
loch. OIr., ModIr., and ScG word for lake or most common names in early Ireland, borne
arm of the sea. The anglicization lough- is by legendary heroes, kings, and saints, of
now standard in Irish place-names, while whom the best-known is probably *Lóegaire
Scottish place-names retain loch; see also Búadach of the *Ulster Cycle.
. Lóegaire Búadach, Lóegaire Bern
Loch Ness Monster. One of Scotland’s Búadach, Buadhach [Ir., victorious, triumph-
best-known tourist attractions, the monster, ant]. *Ulster Cycle hero, who appears to be
Orm, or Nessy, has a surprisingly ancient his- one of the three most prominent when he
tory. *Adamnán’s life of *Colum Cille, writ- contends for the *champion’s portion [Ir.
ten c.690, reports that the saint caused an curadmír] with *Cúchulainn and *Conall
open-jawed monster in River Ness to sub- Cearnach in *Fled Bricrenn [Briccriu’s Feast].
merge and cease threatening a man swim- Although his name is often cited in passing,
ming. See also ;  . See Fred- the most important text describing Lóegaire
erick W. Holiday, The Great Orm of Loch Ness comes from the 11th century. When the poet
(London, 1968); Roy P. Mackal, The Monster of *Áed (9) was about to be drowned for his
Loch Ness (Athens, Oh., 1980). adultery with *Conchobar’s wife, *Mugain
(2), Lóegaire rushed from his house in anger
Lochlainn, Lochlain, Lochlan, Loughlan. to save him. He struck the crown of his head
Realm of dangerous invaders, often, but not on a door lintel and was killed, but not before
necessarily, identified with Scandinavia, espe- he slew thirty of the executioners and spared
cially Norway. Sir John Rhyˆs suggested (1886) Áed’s life. Lóegaire’s mantle is one of the
302
Lough Derg
Three Treasures of Ireland. Under the name finally lost in 1493. After his defeat of the
Lóegaire Bern Búadach, almost a separate Norse in 1156, Somerled took the Gaelic title
identity, he was the ancestor-deity of the Rí Innse Gall [king of the Hebrides]; this was
Osraige [*Ossory], and was thought to have a translated into Latin as Dominus Insularum
famous sword. in 1354 and from thence into English as Lord
of the Isles. Sir Walter Scott’s six-canto poem
Lóegaire Lorc [fierce]. Son of *Úgaine Mór titled The Lord of the Isles (1815) is a romantic
killed at the beginning of *Orgain Denna Ríg fiction set in the time of Robert the Bruce
[The Destruction of Dind Ríg] and avenged (c.1305–7).
by his son *Labraid Loingsech.
Loucetius. Epithet of *Mars.
Lóegaire mac Crimthann. Hero of
*Echtrae Lóegairi [The Adventure of Lóegaire]. lough. Standard anglicization of the Irish
loch used in place-names for lake or arm of
Lóegaire mac Néill. King of *Tara (427/ the sea. See also ; .
8–462/3) who was converted to Christianity
by St *Patrick. A son of *Niall Noígiallach [of Lough Corrib [Ir. An Choirb; OIr. Loch
the Nine Hostages], he is the earliest king of nOirbsen, Oirbsiu’s lake]. A lake of 70 square
Ireland whose dates can be known with rea- miles in *Connacht, counties Galway and
sonable accuracy. When he was told that he Mayo, the second largest in Ireland. The Old
would die between Ériu [Ireland] and Alba Irish name for the Lough, Loch nOirbsen,
[Scotland], he refused to go to sea. When he alludes to *Oirbsiu or Oirbsiu Mór, an
was killed fighting the *Lagin he was obscure epithet (denoting inundation) of the
between two hills named Ére and Alba in the sea-deity *Manannán mac Lir, and possibly
plain of the *Liffey. See Gearóid S. MacEoin, his original name. An oral story of later com-
‘The Mysterious Death of Loegaire mac position claims that Manannán drowned here.
Néill’, Studia Hibernica, 8 (1968), 21–48. *Lug Lámfhota was thought to have a
palace under Lough Corrib. Adjacent to
loimreachán. Variant form of *leprechaun. *Connemara, the Lough Corrib region is also
Lomair. Sometime sibling of *Fionn mac a reservoir of folklore and folk culture. See Sir
Cumhaill’s dogs, *Bran (2) and *Sceolang. William Wilde, Lough Corrib, Its Shores and
Islands (Dublin, 1867), 3rd edn., abridged by
Lomna. Fool of *Fionn mac Cumhaill who Colm Ó Lochlainn (Dublin, 1936, 1955);
betrays the adulterous affair of one of his Richard Hayward, The Corrib Country (Dun-
wives and is murdered for his indiscretion by dalk, 1954).
her lover. Later, his severed head speaks at a
feast. Lough Derg, Dearg 1 [Ir. derg, red]. Lake 6
by 4 miles, 4 miles NW of Pettigoe in south
lón láith, laoich [Ir., champion’s light]. Co. *Donegal, also called St Patrick’s Purga-
Light-beam projecting from *Cúchulainn’s tory, long the focus of religious pilgrimage.
forehead as he goes into battle. No documentable evidence survives to prove
Lon mac Líomtha. Smith and teacher of that St Patrick (d. 493?) ever visited the lake,
smiths from *Lochlainn in the *Fenian Cycle, but a well-known legend has the saint banish-
noted for his fearful appearance. He made ing the monster *Caoránach to its waters,
Mac an Luin, the famous sword of *Fionn turning them red. Pilgrimage to the lake
mac Cumhaill. His smithy was at what may began well before the 12th century, with the
now be Bergen, Norway. See also  institution of a cavern known as the Purga-
. tory. Medieval legend assumed that St Patrick
had descended into Purgatory through a cav-
Longas mac nUislenn [The Exile of the ern on Station Island in the lake. Today, thou-
Sons of Uisnech]. See . sands of pilgrims ferry to Station Island on
loragádán. Variant spelling of *leprechaun. weekends between 1 June and 15 August to
spend a night in the cavern without sleep,
Lord of the Isles. English translation of a along with three days of fasting and praying
title borne by rulers of the Hebrides from the at the nearby modern basilica. See Shane
time of *Somerled (d. 1164) to the 15th cen- Leslie, Saint Patrick’s Purgatory (London,
tury; the title was first lost in a treaty with 1932); Alice Curtayne, Lough Derg, St. Patrick’s
Edward IV of England, restored in 1476, and Purgatory (London, 1945); Michael Haren and
303
Lough Erne
Yolande de Pontfarcy, The Medieval Pilgrimage Eochu was merely an unfortunate mortal
to St. Patrick’s Purgatory (Enniskillen, 1988); who had fallen into the Lough. In a separate
Alannah Hopkin, The Living Legend of St. story, Eochu (sometimes Ecca in this version)
Patrick (London, 1989), 84–105. Michael had fallen in love with his stepmother, Ébliu
Dames’s highly speculative interpretation of (2), who had been fostered by *Angus Óg.
the Lough Derg pilgrimage, Mythic Ireland Together with Eochu’s brother *Ríb, the illicit
(London, 1992), 22–54, must be read with lovers hoped to establish a new kingdom on a
caution and scepticism. See also Seamus northerly plain. After a stranger killed their
Heaney’s meditative poem Station Island horses, Angus gave them a marvellous new
(New York and London, 1985). one, but warned that they should not let it
2. An expansion of the *Shannon River, 24 stop to rest and urinate. But once the party
miles long and an average of 2 miles wide, reached Ulster, they did allow the horse to
above *Killaloe, between counties Clare and urinate, which caused a spring to rise on the
Galway on the west and Tipperary on the spot. Eochu then built a house next to the
east. This Lough Derg was named for spring, and one day when a woman did not
*Eochaid (1), a possible sun-god, who some- replace the cover on the spring, it overflowed
times bore the epithet Deirgderc [red eye]. the area, drowning Eochu and most of his
family, forming Lough Neagh. A comparable
Lough Erne. See . story is told of *Lough Ree. The sanctified
Lough Gur, Guir. Small lake 2.5 miles NNE mermaid *Lí Ban (2), sometimes known as St
of Bruff, Co. Limerick, widely known in Irish Muirgen, swims in Lough Neagh. In early
tradition for the wealth of neolithic remains Christian times the petty kingdom of *Dál
to be found near its shores and under its nAraide bordered the Lough. A widely
waters. The light limestone soil of the area known story of more recent, popular origin
made it especially attractive to cultivators in depicts *Fionn mac Cumhaill’s creation of
earliest times. From Irish legend *Gerald, Earl the Lough by picking up a clod of earth to
of Desmond, is said to have disappeared here throw at a fleeing *giant; the clod when
in 1398 and to ride out in the moonlight every thrown becomes the Isle of *Man. Known as
seventh year. A cave on Rockadoon Island in Lake of the Roes in *Macpherson’s Ossian
Lough Gur is one of several sites suggested as (1760). See also  .
the entrance to *Tír na nÓg [the Land of
Youth]. See Claire Kelly, Illustrated Guide to Lough Ree. Formed by the waters of the
Lough Gur (Blackrock, 1978); Seán P. Ó River *Shannon above *Athlone, Lough Ree
Ríordáin, ‘Lough Gur Excavations: The Great lies between counties Roscommon, Longford,
Stone Circle (B) in Grange Townland’, Pro- and Westmeath, 16 miles long and from 1 to 7
ceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 54C (1951), miles wide. The story of Lough Ree’s forma-
37–74; ‘Lough Gur Excavations: Neolithic and tion duplicates that of *Lough Neagh, with
Bronze Age Houses on Knockadoon’, Proceed- some substitutions. *Eochu mac Maireda
ings of the Royal Irish Academy, 56C (1954), (sometimes called Ecca) had fallen in love
297–459. The lake is also the setting for Mary with his stepmother, *Ébliu (2), and together
Carbery’s well-known memoir, The Farm by with his brother *Ríb planned to form a new
Lough Gur (London, 1937) and Michael Quin- kingdom. *Midir killed their horses and then
lan’s historical novel A Place of Dreams: The offered them another one, presumably *other-
Lough Gur People (1993). worldly, as compensation. When this horse
urinated, it formed Lough Ree. Ríb, ModIr.
Lough Neagh [Ir. Loch nEchach, nEathach, Ríbh, may be the eponym of the Lough.
Eochaid’s lake]. Lake of 153 square miles in *Furbaide Ferbend killed *Medb on an island
Northern Ireland, the largest body of fresh in Lough Ree. In oral tradition Lough Ree
water in the British Isles, bordered by coun- was thought to contain both a monster and a
ties Antrim, Armagh, Down, and Derry. Sur- *submerged city. According to the medieval
rounded by flat, sandy shores, the Lough has biography of St Mochuda, the Lough Ree
attracted numerous stories, especially *flood monster once devoured a man; it was sighted
legends. Place-name stories trace the origin in the lake as late as 1960. As for the sub-
of the Lough to *Eochu (or Eochaid) mac merged city, a bishop hearing that it contained
Maireda whose *otherworldly palace lay a cathedral went to visit it but never returned.
beneath the waters; in Christianized versions See Life of St. Declan of Ardmore and Life of
304
Lug Lámfhota
St. Mochuda of Lismore, trans. Patrick Power. Mag Tuired], in which he kills *Balor, coinci-
Irish Texts Society, 16 (London, 1914), 74–147. dentally his grandfather. A close counterpart
and possible double of the Welsh *Lleu Llaw
Loughlan. Corrupt spelling of *Lochlainn.
Gyffes [W, light of the sure/steady hand], Lug
love spot. See  . appears to share a divine origin with Fionn
[Ir., fair] and Cúchulainn, both of whom may
Lowry. Anglicization of *Labraid. be his doubles.
lubrican. Archaic anglicization of *lepre- Lug appears to be identical with the Gaul-
chaun. ish *Mercury, modern commentators agree,
for two reasons: (a) Julius *Caesar’s (1st cent.
Lucetius. Epithet of *Mars. ) description of Mercury ‘inventor of all the
luchorpán. Earlier spelling of *leprechaun. arts’ translates Lug’s sobriquet Samildánach;
(b) the name *Lugos/Lugus for Mercury is
Luchra. Corrupt spelling of *Iuchra (1). implicit in several place-names, e.g. Lug(u)-
luchragán, luchramám. Variant spellings of dunum, which survive as Leiden, Lyon, Lieg-
*leprechaun. nitz, etc. At the Roman colony of what is now
Lyon, Emperor Augustus inaugurated a festi-
Luchta, Luchtar, Luchtain, Luchtaine, Luch- val on the first day of August, an anticipation
tine. Carpenter or wright [Ir. sóer], god of the of the later Irish August festival of *Lugh-
*Tuatha Dé Danann, one of the three gods of nasa. Aspects of Lug’s persona suggest even
craft [trí dée dána] of early Ireland, along with deeper rooting in the Indo-European imagin-
*Credne and *Goibniu. Luchta was thought ation. Lámfhada [long-armed], for example,
adept at making shields and spear shafts. As echoes the epithet of the Indian god Savitar,
the son of Lúachad, he sometimes has the ‘of the wide hand’. Lug’s use of magic links
patronymic mac Lúachaid. him with both the Indian Varuna and the
Luchtigern [OIr. lug, light, brightness; Norse Odin. Commentators disagree whether
tigern, lord; cf. luch, mouse]. Mouse-lord of the cult arrived early or late in Ireland, but by
Kilkenny, slain by a huge cat, Banghaisgid- the time of Christ he was the patron of a
heach. harvest festival at *Tailtiu [Teltown, Co.
Meath].
Lug Lámfhota; Lugh, Luga; Lámfada, Lámf- The circumstances of Lug’s conception
hada, Lámhfhada [OIr. lug, light, brightness; and birth imply that he was destined for an
lámhfhada, long-armed, long-handed]. May extraordinary career. His grandfather *Balor,
also bear the patronymics mac Céin, mac Eth- a *Fomorian, had been told he would be slain
lenn, Maicnia, and the epithets Samildánach by his grandson and so tried to prevent his
and Ildánach. Celebrated chief of the *Tuatha daughter *Eithne (1) from knowing men, but
Dé Danann and central hero of the *Mytho- *Cian (sometimes *Cethern (2)), son of
logical Cycle of early Irish literature; one of *Dian Cécht the healing god, seduced the girl
the three great heroes of Irish tradition, along with the help of the *druidess *Birog. Trip-
with *Fionn mac Cumhaill and *Cúchulainn, lets were conceived, but Lug’s two siblings
whose supernatural father he is. Lug’s usual were either drowned at birth or turned into
agnomen, Lámfhada [long-armed], testifies to seals. Some commentators see this as evi-
an ability to hurl a weapon a long distance or dence of Lug’s *triplism. Sometimes Lug is
to use a sling, not to the actual length of his also attributed a sister, *Ébliu (1), wife of
arm. His usual sobriquet, Samildánach [poss- *Fintan mac Bóchra. Grandfather Balor was
essing many arts, crafts, trades], also Ildánach, not spiteful, however, calling out to the nim-
suggests he may also have been a *fili or seer. ble baby picking up an apple that he had long
Another patronymic was Maicnia [lad- hands, thus giving him his name. Along with
warrior]. Although Lug may originally have his divine lineage, Lug could boast divine fos-
been a god of the sun or of light, he was still terage from the sea-god *Manannán mac Lir,
thought to be historical as late as the 19th who none the less chided the boy for his
century. The ancient Luigni of what is now blindness and stubbornness. Variant texts
Counties Meath and Sligo claimed descent name *Goibniu the smith-god and *Eochaid
from him. Much of Lug’s story is told in the (3) as foster-father and *Tailtiu or *Duach as
11th-century text (based on earlier materials) foster-mother.

*Cath Maige Tuired [The (Second) Battle of Always portrayed as youthful, handsome,
305
Lug Lámfhota
and athletic, Lug’s dramatic character names. An unnamed wife, perhaps a fifth or
becomes most sharply focused in Cath Maige sixth, was unfaithful to Lug with *Cermait,
Tuired; he comes to the aid of the Tuatha Dé the son of the *Dagda; Lug’s vengeful killing
Danann, who fear that their maimed king of Cermait brought, in return, the revenge of
*Nuadu may not be able to resist the invading Cermait’s sons (see below). Lug was
Fomorians. When Lug first approaches the enamoured of *Deichtine, mother of
citadel at *Tara, he is refused for having no Cúchulainn. Strangely, considering that many
art. In successive knockings at the gate Lug early Irish families cited Lug in their pedi-
identifies himself as a wright or builder, a grees, he is not credited with either sons or
smith, champion, harper, warrior, poet, his- daughters, except for Fionn’s harper, *Cnú
torian, magician, physician (or leech), cup- Deireóil, who claimed to be Lug’s son (per-
bearer, and brazier (or craftsman in metal), haps facetiously). Lug’s constant companion
but is told that the Tuatha Dé Danann already was his lapdog *Failinis.
have one. Then he asks if they have someone In the most widely known story, Lug is
who could perform all these skills, Samild- killed by *Mac Cuill, *Mac Cécht, and *Mac
ánach, and when Tara’s denizens admit they Gréine, the divine sons of Cermait, in
do not, he is allowed to enter. Upon his revenge for the killing of their father. This
arrival, Lug dazzles the court with two more takes places near the hill of *Uisnech; when
feats by throwing a huge flagstone over a high the sons attack, Lug flees to nearby Loch
wall and by playing a harp. Nuadu yields his Lugborta, where he drowns and is buried in a
throne to Lug, who successfully leads the cairn on the shore. Other place-name tradi-
Tuatha Dé Danann against the Fomorians in tions link him to *Goll mac Morna, represent-
the central action of Cath Maige Tuired; Lug’s ing either that Lug kills him or that he is
piercing of Balor’s magical, lethal eye deter- killed by him. Still other stories have Lug bur-
mines their victory. In the same text Lug is ied at *Brug na Bóinne [Newgrange] or
credited with inventing *fidchell, the archaic *Luglochta Loga [the Garden of Lug], which
board-game described as a game of kings; was the fortress of *Forgall Monach, Emer’s
and he is also thought to have instituted father. Allusions to the name Lug survive in
horse-racing. Lug assists his spiritual son dozens of place-names, perhaps also in
Cúchulainn in *Táin Bó Cuailnge [Cattle Raid Lughbhadh, Co. Louth.
of Cooley], is revealed as the phantom in Lug’s prominence in early Celtic culture
*Baile In Scáil [The Phantom’s Frenzy], and was reflected and adapted countless times in
sometimes appears as the consort of *Sover- subsequent generations. Early Christian
eignty in oral tradition. He reigned for forty commentators coordinated Lug, the victor
years. over the Fomorians, with the archangel
As befits a champion whose agnomen, Michael, the conqueror of Lucifer; thus there
Lámfhada, speaks of an ability to wield power are echoes of Lug as far afield as Mont St
over distance, Lug’s favoured weapon is his Michel in northern France, the Michaelmas
spear, about which there are differing stories. festival (29 September), and the popularity of
According to *Oidheadh Chlainne Tuireann the name Michael in Ireland. A continuing
[The Tragic Story of the Children of allusion to Lug persists in *Lugaid, the sev-
Tuireann], Lug sent the sons of Tuireann (earl- enth most popular name in early Ireland.
ier Tuirill), *Brian, Iuchair, and *Iucharba, on Lug’s persona contributes to the legends of
seemingly impossible tasks as recompense, several saints, including the twenty-eight
*éric, for killing his father, Cian. One of these named Mo Lua. There are also several dis-
tasks was to bring back the spear of *Assal, cernible links between Lug and the Arthurian
*Gáe Assail, then in Persia. In another text, the hero *Lancelot, even though many of the
druid *Esras provided Lug with the spear. In most ambitious claims for the Celtic origin of
any case, it is usually thought of as one of the Arthurian characters are now dismissed.
four treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Unlike Cúchulainn and Fionn mac Cumhaill,
According to a verse in the *Dindshenchas, however, Lug has not sparked extensive re-
Lug had four wives. The two better- creations in English and other non-Celtic lan-
known are: *Buí, linked to *Howth and the guages. Earlier commentators suggested his
*Cailleach Bhéirre; her sister *Nás, linked name was present in lugh-chorpán [little
tenuously to Naas, Co. Kildare; the remaining Lugh-body], an etymology for *leprechaun.
two, Echtach (3) and Énglic, are cipherous The name Lug is applied to a radio delivering
306
Lugaid mac Con
Dionysian messages in Brian Friel’s Dancing at slain Cormac’s father, *Art mac Cuinn,
Lughnasa (1990). See also . seemed not to trouble the young king. Lugaid
See Anon., ‘Le Dieu irlandais Lug et le Lága later won great esteem at the court
thème gaulois Lugu-’, Revue Celtique, 10 of Cormac and was once listed as one of
(1889), 238–43; John Carey, ‘Nodons in Britain the five great warriors of Ireland, along
and Ireland’, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie, with *Cúchulainn, *Lug Lámfhota, *Conall
40 (1984), 1–22; Roger S. Loomis, ‘The Cearnach, and *Fionn mac Cumhaill. A
Descent of Lancelot from Lug’, Bulletin brother of *Ailill Aulomm, he is much associ-
bibliographique de la Société Internationale ated with the Glen of Aherlow, Co. Tipperary.
Arthurienne, 3 (1951), 67–73; Máire Mac Neill, Lugaid was the protector of *Uirne, the
The Feast of Lughnasa (Oxford, 1962), 1–11; mother of *Bran (2) and Sceolang, after she
Pádraig Ó Riain, ‘Traces of Lug in Early Irish returned to human form. Modern commen-
Hagiographical Tradition’, Zeitschrift für celt- tators have suggested his characterization is a
ische Philologie, 36 (1977), 138–56; Joseph Loth, local *Munster adaptation of *Lugaid mac
‘Le Dieu Lug, la terre mère et les Lugoves’, Con. Once thought to be the father of
Revue Archéologique, 2 (1914), 205–30. Folk Fenian warrior *Mac Lughach.
motifs: A141; A151.1.1.
Lugaid Laígde, Lóigde, Loígde, Láigde,
Luga. Anglicization of both *Lugaid and Laoighdhe. The son of *Dáire (1) who once
*Lug. slept with the lady of *Sovereignty. Dáire had
Lugach, Lughach. A daughter of *Fionn named all his sons (usually seven, sometimes
mac Cumhaill in ballads from the *Fenian five) Lugaid in response to the prophecy that
Cycle, mother of *Mac Lughach. a son of his with that name would become
king of Ireland. Lugaid Laígde, who some-
Lugaid, Lughaid, Lúí, Luga, Lewy [from Ir. times bears the patronymic mac Dáire, was,
lug, light]. Seventh most popular name in like nearly all the heroes named Lugaid, an
early Ireland, borne by countless legendary ancestor of the *Érainn of *Munster. A
warriors, illustrious forebears in genealogies, *druid had further predicted to Dáire that his
and saints. As in other instances of many per- successor would have to catch a golden *fawn
sonages bearing the same name, e.g. *Ailill, which would enter the assembly. When the
the different Lugaids appear to borrow from entourage hunted the fawn, a magic mist set-
one another’s conception, the most seminal tled between the brothers and the other
being *Lugaid mac Con, the usurper of hunters, allowing Lugaid Laígde to capture it.
*Munster. Additionally, the motifs of incest Following this he met an ugly sorceress who
and *triplism occur frequently in their stories. offered him warmth, food, and *ale, and fur-
Lugaid 1. Warrior-poet known for his accur- ther invited him to lie with her. Initially he
acy, despite his blindness. When *Ailill learns refused, at which she told him that he had
of his wife *Medb’s adultery with *Fergus deprived himself of Sovereignty. He then
mac Róich, he has Lugaid kill Fergus during relented, and in the morning she was trans-
the lovers’ swim together. formed into the beautiful maiden Sovereignty
2. Variant (though masculine) form for herself. While the sovereignty story is widely
*Lugach (fem.), the daughter of *Fionn mac known in medieval literature, modern com-
Cumhaill. mentators feel that this retelling owes most to
a comparable version in the story of *Niall
Lugaid Conmac. Sometime eponym of Noígiallach [of the Nine Hostages]. Else-
*Connemara, in place of the usual eponym- where Lugaid Laígde is recorded as having
ous founder, *Conmac, a by-blow of *Medb killed *Daui Ladrach to become king, and
and *Fergus mac Róich. Lugaid Conmac subsequently having been killed by *Áed
either emanates from, or is confused with, Ruad.
*Lugaid mac Con.
Lugaid mac Casrubae. Father of the
Lugaid Lága, Lágha, Lágae, Láigne. Faithful sharp-tongued *Dubthach Dóeltenga in the
henchman of *Lugaid mac Con who served *Ulster Cycle. May be confused with *Lugaid
with him through defeat, exile, and restor- Riab nDerg.
ation of power only to abandon his king
when he abdicated in favour of *Cormac mac Lugaid mac Con [son of hound]. Mythical
Airt. That Lugaid Lága should have earlier leader of the *Érainn of *Munster, to be
307
Lugaid mac Con Roí
distinguished from the similarly named terage with him. Within a few years, when
*Lugaid mac Con Roí. A leading figure of the Lugaid made a false judgment in the confisca-
*Cycle of Kings, Lugaid mac Con suffers tion of an old woman’s sheep, he was
defeat from the *Eóganacht under his foster- expelled and Cormac made king in his place.
brother *Eógan (3) in the Battle of *Cenn Returning to the home of his fosterage, Ailill
Abrat, goes into exile in Scotland, and regains Aulomm kissed Lugaid in the pretence of
power at the Battle of Mag Mucrama [*Cath welcome, but Ailill’s poisonous tooth
Maige Mucrama]. Annalists date Lugaid’s reign touched Lugaid’s cheek and within three days
in the 2nd century , but most stories about half his face was eaten away. Shortly after,
him date from centuries later, many of them Ailill’s retainers dispatched him at a waterfall
influenced by the antagonistic *Uí Néill dyn- of the Bandon River.
asties who saw his usurpation as a cause of Later accretions to Lugaid’s story include
drought and suffering. an inventive etymology for his patronymic,
Lugaid gained his patronymic, mac Con, mac Con: that his mother while bathing was
when he was suckled by a dog while being impregnated by an *otter [cú dobráin, water-
fostered in the house of *Ailill Aulomm. Also hound]; later when Lugaid suffered from
in this household was Ailill’s own son, Eógan sleeplessness, his otter-father cured him by
(3), a constant adversary in later life. In their taking him beneath the waves. See also
first encounter, at Cenn Abrat, Eógan was tri-  ;  ;  
umphant; Lugaid mac Con escaped only .
when his *fool, Do Dera, who looked very
much like him, wore a crown to impersonate Lugaid mac Con Roí, mac Trí Con. Son of
him and was killed. But recognizing Lugaid’s *Cú Roí and killer of *Cúchulainn in the
white legs as he ran, Eógan pursued him. Ulster Cycle, to be distinguished from the
Lugaid escaped to Scotland with twenty- similarly named *Lugaid mac Con. Although
seven companions, hoping to lie low. All his usual patronymic identifies Lugaid as son
agreed not to reveal their leader’s identity. A of Cú Roí, his alternative patronymic, mac
Scottish king generously offered them a year’s Trí Con or mac na Trí Con, means ‘son of
hospitality but was surprised at their orderli- three hounds’, denoting *triplism, perhaps
ness and prowess with no chief. Two events Cú Roí, Cúchulainn, and *Conall [strong as a
broke the anonymity. First a poet arrived wolf] Cearnach. These latter ‘fathers’ seem
from Ireland with news of Eógan’s mistreat- odd in light of Lugaid’s subsequent
ment of the land, causing Lugaid’s pointed encounters with them. Storytellers explained
distress. This signalled to the Scottish king, Lugaid’s lifelong antagonism towards Cúchu-
who then devised a test; he offered Lugaid lainn because of his mother *Bláithíne’s adul-
several dead mice for dinner. Being a regal tery with the *Ulster hero. Lugaid tries to kill
guest, Lugaid did not refuse, and his men fol- Cúchulainn several times before he succeeds.
lowed his example in eating the rodents. The Once he throws his spear and misses, killing
Scottish king then asked Lugaid to admit his Cúchulainn’s charioteer *Láeg instead. In the
identity, which he did. Mightily impressed, *Táin Bó Cuailnge [Cattle Raid of Cooley] he
the Scottish king then joined with Lugaid to is ready to attack again, but seeing Cúchu-
help him regain his throne, bringing with him lainn badly wounded from his battle with
a host of Scotsmen and Britons that extended *Ferdiad at the ford, Lugaid relents. Their
from the coasts of Scotland to Ireland. final combat is described in a tale often
At the head of this allied army, Lugaid known in English as ‘The Death of Cúchu-
swept all opposition before him, culminating lainn’ or Brislech mór Maige Muirthemne [The
in the Battle of Mag Mucrama. On the night Great Rout of Mag Muirthemne]. Lugaid first
before the battle Lugaid’s adversary *Art mac thrusts his javelin through Cúchulainn’s
Cuinn, who was to die the next day, conceived bowels but does not kill him. Allowing the
*Cormac mac Airt. The blind *druid *Dil hero a death with more dignity, Lugaid per-
foretold defeat for Eógan (3) because Eógan’s mits Cúchulainn to stand by a pillar-stone
cause was unjust. Going down in defeat were while he decapitates him. Conall Cearnach
not only Art and Eógan but also the seven subsequently dispatches Lugaid. See Whitley
sons of Ailill. Stokes, Revue Celtique, 3 (1887), 175–85; A. G.
Lugaid then ruled *Tara for seven years van Hamel, Compert Con Culainn and Other
and took the young *Cormac mac Airt in fos- Stories (Dublin, 1933), 69–133; T. P. Cross and
308
Lughnasa
C. H. Slover, Ancient Irish Tales (New York, body as divided by two red lines, separating
1936), 333–40. his head from his shoulders and cutting his
trunk at the belt, reflecting the contributions
Lugaid mac Dáire. Name for any of the
of his three fathers. A prosaic but common
five or seven sons of *Dáire (1), especially
alternative is that the red stripes were battle
*Lugaid Laígde. Although initially an eman-
scars.
ation of *Lugaid mac Con, Lugaid mac Dáire
Modern commentators have argued that
is a name cited in many medieval pedigrees
Lugaid Riab nDerg was invented to fill out
and genealogies. The *Corcu Loígde claimed
the cast of the Ulster Cycle, aspects of his
descent from him.
character being borrowed from other
Lugaid mac Ítha. An invented name, citing Lugaids. Most specious is his kingship, as he
the *Milesian *Íth in the patronymic, for the never appears to rule. The Annals record that
*Munster hero *Lugaid mac Con, for use in he was killed by Three Red Heads of *Lein-
genealogies. Husband of *Fial (3), he founded ster, an apparent contrivance to counter the
the families from which the O’Coffeys, three Finns [white, fair] who fathered him.
O’Driscolls, and others derive. See   . See also Carl
Marstrander, Ériu, 5 (1911), 201–18.
Lugaid mac Nóis. A foster-brother of
*Cúchulainn in the *Táin Bó Cuailnge [Cattle Lugaid Sriab nDerg. See  
Raid of Cooley], the son of Alamiach. .
*Emer’s father *Forgall seeks to marry her
Lugh. ModIr. spelling of *Lug.
off to Lugaid, a southern king, during
Cúchulainn’s absence. When Lugaid learns Lughaidh. ModIr. spelling of *Lugaid.
that Cúchulainn desires Emer, he refuses to
Lughnasa (unreformed ModIr.), Lugnasad
have anything further to do with her.
(OIr.), Lughnasadh, Lúnasa (reformed
Lugaid mac Trí Con. See    ModIr.), Lùnasdain, Lùnasdal, Lunasduinn
. (ScG), Laa Luanistyn, Laa Luanys (Manx); also
Lammas Day, Garland Sunday, Domhnach
Lugaid Réoderg, Reo-derg. See 
Chrom Dubh, Crom Dubh Sunday, Bilberry
 .
Sunday, Fraughan Sunday [Ir. *Lug; násad,
Lugaid Riab nDerg, Riabhdhearg, Réod- assembly, festive or commemorative gather-
erg, Reo-derg, Lugaid Sriab nDerg [Ir., red ing]. Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx names
stripes]. *Ulster Cycle king and foster-brother for the seasonal feast of pre-Christian origin
(sometimes foster-son) of *Cúchulainn, best fixed at 1 August in Ireland and on the Isle of
remembered for his tragic marriage to *Derb- Man, the first Sunday in August or the last
forgaill (1) of *Lochlainn. Although she was Sunday of July in the Gregorian calendar; in
smitten with Cúchulainn, he could not marry Scotland the festival is renamed in honour of
her as he had inadvertently tasted her blood St Michael, Michaelmas, 29 September. One
while sucking out a stone that had penetrated of the four great calendar feasts of Celtic
her womb. He passed her along to Lugaid tradition along with *Samain (1 November),
Riab nDerg, and the two of them were quite *Imbolc (1 February), and *Beltaine (1 May).
happily married. Derbforgaill suffered a gro- Long a harvest festival celebrating the ripen-
tesque death, however. Court women goaded ing of grain and, after they became plentiful,
her into a test of sexual allure by seeing which the maturing of potatoes, Lughnasa com-
woman could send her urine furthest through memorates *Lug Lámfhota, one of the most
a pillar of snow; when she won, they jealously prominent heroes of early Irish literature.
mutilated and killed her. On his return Lug seems most certainly derived from
Cúchulainn slaughtered 150 of the courtly *Lugos/Lugus or Gaulish *Mercury, the god
women, but Lugaid died of grief or shock. described by Julius *Caesar (1st cent. ) as
Incest is a frequent motif in Lugaid Riab the most prominent in the Gaulish pantheon.
nDerg’s story. He was begotten when his At Lug(o)dunum (Lyon), a city named for
mother *Clothra lay with her three brothers, Lugos/ Lugus, a celebration was held each 1
*Finn Emna [the three Finns of Emain]. Later August in honour of the Emperor Augustus.
Lugaid lay with his mother Clothra to pro- According to early Irish tradition, however,
duce *Crimthann Nia Náir. This incest may Lug himself established the festival to honour
explain his sobriquet. Some texts describe his his foster-mother *Tailtiu in *Brega, modern
309
Luglochta Loga
Co. *Meath; Lug also led the horse-racing called Gaulish *Mercury. The name survives
and martial arts contests. Soon Lughnasa in inscriptions found in Avenches, Switzer-
celebrations were held in other parts of Ire- land, and is implicit in the Roman town name
land, at *Emain Macha for *Ulster and at Lug[u]dunum, the basis of the modern Lyon,
*Tara for the whole of the island. Laon, Leiden, Loudon, Liegnitz, Léon,
The Christian Church did not oppose the Dinlleu, and Luguvalium, antecedent of
continuation of the festival marking the Carlisle. He would also be the Gaulish
beginning of the harvest and the weaning of counterpart of Irish *Lug Lámfhota and the
calves and lambs, but the different names Welsh *Lleu Llaw Gyffes. Another possible
applied to it obscured its pagan origin. Even- name for Mercury is *Erriapus. See E. van
tually it broke away from its fixed time of 1 Tassel Graves, ‘Lugus, The Commercial
August and might include many days, espe- Traveller’, Ogam, 17 (1965), 165–71; A. Zooa,
cially Sundays, from 15 July to 15 August. ‘The God Lugus in Spain’, Bulletin of the
Comparable but much smaller fairs, not Board of Celtic Studies, 29 (1980–2), 201–29.
associated with Lug or Lughnasa, were held Lúí. ModIr. spelling of *Lugaid.
for Calan Awst [first of August] in Wales and
at *Morvah in Cornwall. Lughnasa and its luideag [ScG dim of luid, rag, slovenly per-
counterparts provided a time for horse- son]. Murderous female demon of Scottish
racing, horse-swimming, and games of hurl- Gaelic oral tradition, related to the fearful
ing. Celebrants might enjoy climbing to the *athach. Squalid in appearance as she was
tops of nearby hills, both to pray and to evil, the luideag haunted several pools on the
gather bilberries. Others would assemble at Isle of *Skye, especially the Lochan of the
lakes and holy wells. Lughnasa fairs might Black Trout. Folk motifs: G11.3; G346.2.
also include the buying and selling of goods, Lúin, Luin [OIr. lúin, lance]. One of the most
especially at Killorglin in Co. Kerry, Bal- famous spears of early Irish literature,
lycastle in Co. Antrim, Ennistymon in Co. belonging most often to *Celtchar. To
Cavan, and elsewhere. Máire MacNeill’s quench its thirst for blood, Lúin had to be
landmark study, The Festival of Lughnasa dipped in a cauldron containing ‘black fluid’
(Oxford, 1962), details the persistence and or ‘poison’ from time to time; otherwise its
extent of celebrations. See also Pádraig Ó shaft would burst into flame. *Mac Cécht
Riain, ‘Traces of Lug in Early Irish Hagio- uses it to kill *Cúscraid. *Dubthach
graphical Tradition’, Zeitschrift für celtische Phi- Dóeltenga borrows it for *Cath Maige Tuired
lologie, 36 (1977), 138–56; T. J. Westropp, [The (Second) Battle of Mag Tuired] but loses
‘Marriages of the Gods at the Sanctuary of it soon after.
Tailltiu’, Folk-Lore, 31 (1920), 109–41. Brian
Friel’s drama Dancing at Lughnasa (1990) Lùnasdal, Lùnasdain, Lùnasdainn. ScG
draws thematically on festival traditions. forms of *Lughnasa.
Luglochta Loga, Luglocht Logo [garden/ Luned [cf. W eilun, idol, icon, image]. Maid-
cradle of Lug*]. Fortress belonging to *For- en who helps Owain overcome the Lord of
gall Monach at Lusca, coextensive with the the Fountain, her father, in the 13th-century
village of Lusk, Co. Dublin. *Cúchulainn prose romance *Owain. The French and Eng-
goes a-wooing here in the *Táin Bó Cuailnge lish Arthurian figure in *Yvain and elsewhere,
[Cattle Raid of Cooley]. Lunete, Lynete, Lynette, etc., appears to be
derived from her.
Lugna [dim. of *Lug]. King of *Connacht
who fostered the infant *Cormac mac Airt. luprachán, luprecan, lúracán, lurgadán,
After *Étaín (2) became pregnant by *Art lurikeen. Variant spellings of *leprechaun.
mac Cuinn, she was instructed to have the Luxovius [L lux, light]. Latin name for an
child fostered by Lugna. When she delivered ancient Continental god known from only
the baby boy, he was first taken by a she-wolf one site, at the thermal spring sanctuary of
before Lugna assumed his responsibilities. Luxeuil in the Saône valley of eastern France.
By his name and placement, Luxovius appears
Lugnasad. Preferred OIr. form of
to embody a Celtic linking of light and water
*Lughnasa.
symbolism. His consort is Brixia or Bricta. At
Lugos, Lugus, Lugoves (pl.) [raven (?)]. Prob- the same shrine is evidence for the worship of
able actual name of the god the Romans *Sirona, another deity of healing springs, and
310
Lydney Park
a sky-horseman bearing a solar wheel. See *Nodons, a British healing god often com-
Émile Espériandieu, ‘Le Dieu Cavalier du pared with the Irish *Nuadu Airgetlám. Situ-
Luxeuil’, Revue Archéologique, 70 (1917), 72–86. ated in the Forest of Dean, the shrine is a
large complex, much like classical sanctuaries
Lydney Park. Romano-British shrine (3rd of healing, with a long portico like a cloister
cent. ) high on the precipitous west bank of divided into compartments to accommodate
the Severn River, 8 miles NE of Chepstow, patients. Luxurious details in construction,
Gloucestershire; the most important native such as the mosaic floors, testify to the wealth
dedication of such a place of worship to be of the society that constructed and main-
found in all of Britain. Though no physical tained the shrine. R. E. M. and T. V. Wheeler,
depictions of him survive, the shrine has long Report on the Excavations . . . in Lydney Park,
been thought to have centred on the cult of Gloucestershire (London, 1932).
311

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he suﬀered from an excess of women.

Leborcham, Lebhorcham, Lebarcham, lennan sídhe. Variant of *fairy lover.

letin of the Board of Celtic Studies, 35 (1988),

11th-century text (based on earlier materials) foster-mother.

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