Love in all its many guises is woven through the tapestry of Irish mythology and remembered in the naming of the landscape.
According to mythology, Lugh had two wives. Fionn mac Cumhall had several, although not all at the same time. Midir brought home Etain when he already had Fumnach at home. Cuchulain, who was married to Emer, had an affair with Fand, who was married to the sea-God Manannán. Gráinne married her dead sister’s husband, the ageing Fionn mac Cumhaill, yet she eloped with Diarmuid on the very night of her wedding. The Dagda had an affair with Boan, fathering Óengus, the God of love, on her, before stopping the sun in the sky for nine months so that the child could be born in one day and put into fosterage without her husband, Elcmar, finding out. Although she was also aparrently married to someone called Nechtan.
It’s hard keeping track of all these long-lost love triangles, although they do make for some great stories. In Irish myth, love in all its forms was celebrated.
But most important of all, for me, is that the stories and their protagonists remain so perfectly preserved in the features of the landscape to this very day.
Love Affairs
Queen Medb and Fergus mac Roich
At the time of the Cattle Raid of Cooley, Queen Medb was on to her third husband, Ailill, who had been her former bodyguard. Medb required three qualities from her man: that he be without fear, meanness, or jealousy. She went on to have many affairs, but her lover of choice was Fergus mac Róich, for it was said it took seven men to satisfy her, or Fergus only once.
Eventually, jealous Ailill had Fergus killed, but when Medb discovered Ailill’s own infidelities, she sent an assassin to kill him in revenge.
So it seems that while affairs were conducted fairly openly and without shame, jealousy made such dalliances a risky business.
Love-Children
Often, children were born of these illicit unions. Óengus was fostered at birth by Midir of the Danann. This was not unusual; fostering children was common practice in ancient Ireland.
Lugh was born of a one-night-stand between Cian of the Danann and Ethniu of the Fomori, and fostered by Tailtiu, last Queen of the Fir Bolg. Fionn mac Cumall was fostered at birth by his aunt, Bodhmal, and the warrior-woman Liath Luachra. Cúchulainn was conceived on Deichtine by Lugh in a dream/ one-night-stand, although she was married to Súaltam mac Róich. Cúchulainn was fostered by Fergus, Súaltam’s brother.
Lineage was important, but the bond of fosterage was considered just as strong. It seems that the conditions of a child’s conception were irrelevant. There seems to have been no shame in being the product of an illicit once-off liaison between one’s parents.
Queer Love
Cúchulain and Ferdia
Cúchulainn and Ferdia were foster brothers, raised together from an early age, and so naturally they were close. Unfortunately, during the Táin bo Cuailnge, both men are pitted against each other in battle by the cunning Queen Medb. After a mighty, bloody combat that takes place mostly in the River Dee, Ferdia is slain and Cúchulainn is severely injured and distraught over Ferdia’s death.
Quotes from Cúchulainn of Ferdia :
“We were heart companions; we were comrades in gatherings; we shared the one bed; we used to sleep sound sleep. You were my heart companion, you were my people, you were my family – I never found one was dearer.” 1
And from Ferdia of Cúchulainn:
“A pity indeed a woman to have come between myself and himself! The half of my heart is CúchuIain’s without fault, and I am the half of his own heart. By my shield! If Cúchulain were killed from Ath Cliath, it is I would thrust my sword through my heart, through my side, through my breast. 2
Sure sounds like love speech to me.
Bodhmall and Liath Luachra
There is not much said about the relationship between Bodhmall and Liath Luachra. They lived together, two middle-aged or old women, in a basic wooden bothy in the deep isolation of the forest-clad Sliab Bloom mountains. And it was to them that Muirne brought her infant son for safekeeping after her husband had been killed by his enemies, the sons of Morna.
Bodhmall was a druid and Fionn’s aunt. Her status would have afforded her a comfortable life. Liath Luachra was a female warrior and her companion. Why were they so keen to stay out of the public eye, so far from civilisation and the safety and camaraderie of society. They lived a simple life, hunting and fishing, and taking care of this gift of a child, whom they clearly adored as if her were their own. They were skilled enough that they raised between them one of Ireland’s greatest mythological heroes.
The story of these two women is vague, perhaps deliberately so. Today, it is popularly believed that they were a lesbian couple. Makes sense to me. 3
Comedic Love
Not all love stories were tragic. Some where quite funny and even spicy.
Mis and Dubh Ruis
In this medieval poem, Mis becomes distressed when her father is killed in battle. When she found his body, she was so distraught that she lost her mind and started drinking his blood. She then went on a 300-year rampage around the area of the Sliabh Mis mountains, which are named after her. Mis caused so much havoc and death that eventually, when the warriors and hunters failed, the king sent his harper, Dubh Ruis, to trap her.
Dubh Ruis decided the best way to win Mis round was with gold and silver coins, music and sex. These were the familiar things, he reasoned, that would remind her of her past life at her father’s court, of her humanity and civility, and bring her back to her senses. He scattered the coins around his camp, laid himself down on the mountainside, undid his trousers to expose his privates, hoisted up his harp, and began to play.
Mis was drawn to his harp playing at first, but quickly became more interested in him, and a humorous, bawdy little romp ensues:
A glance she gave, and she saw his nakedness and his playthings, and she said: “What are these?” she asked of his bag and his little eggs, and he told her. “What is this?” she asked of the other thing that she saw. “That is a branch of the trick,” he said. “I don’t remember that,” she said. “My father did not have such a thing. Branch of the trick,”she said again. “What is the trick?” “Sit beside me,” he said, “and I will perform the trick of that branch for you.” “I will,” she said, “and stay beside me.” “I will,” he said. He lay and slept with her and she said: “Ho ho, a good trick. Do it again!” “I will,” he said. “But I will play the harp for you first.” “Never mind the harp,” she said. “Do the trick again.”
Dubh Rois then builds a fullachta fiadh in which he boils deer meat to feed her, and gives her bread he has brought with him. Then he melts deer fat in the warm water of the fullachta and bathes her in it.
For two months, they live together in the mountains, and the gentle harper gradually returns Mis to civility and restores her sanity. They go on to marry and have children together, although when Dubh Ruis is later killed, Mis resorts to wildness again in her grief.
Happy-Ever-After Love
Most Irish love stories seem to end in tragedy. As myths functioned to educate as well as entertain, I can only speculate that the idea of marriage based on romantic love was frowned upon and had to be discouraged. Most marriages, especially for elites, were arranged to strengthen or consolidate political power, status, and wealth. Love and passion were more likely to be found in tales of ilicit romantic liaisons. Much like today, happy marriages were probably not seen to be as interesting as scandalous love affairs. The romance of Óengus, God of love, and Caer Ibormeith is the only exception that I can think of. I’m afraid I’m saving this one for a future post, however, but here is a taster for you.
And here is Lough Muskry, that used to be known as Lough Bel Dracan. This where Caer Ibormeith retreated when she transformed into a swan, and where Óengus sought her out and identified her from among all her handmaidens. 4
The Tragic Lovers
Clíodhna and Ciabhán
Clíodhna of the Fair Hair was a daughter of the Sidhe who fell in love with Ciabhán of the Curling Locks, a prince of Ulster. She visited him from the Otherworld, and Ciabhan became so enamoured of her, that when she left to return home, he stole a fishing boat pulled up on the stony strand nearby, and attempted to follow her.
The little curragh was tossed about like jetsam upon the stormy sea, so that the poor young man nearly drowned. Manannán took pity on him, however, and brought him safely into his magical lands.
There he spent many happy days in Clíodhna’s company, until one day they were warned by Fand, Manannán’s wife, that the sea-god thought it high time Ciabhan returned to his own people.
Devastated, the lovers couldn’t bear to be parted, and stole Manannán’s magical boat, the Wave Sweeper, setting sail for Ireland. Back on the strand, Clíodhna fell asleep after their long sea voyage, and Ciabhán went hunting for a deer to provide their supper.
Having learned of their treachery, Manannán was furious and sent a huge wave to reclaim the runaway maiden, and so she was swept out to sea and so to her death. The wave that to this day relentlessly pounds the shore at Glandore harbour, County Cork, is named in her memory. 5
Deirdre and Naoise
Conchubar mac Nessa, king of Ulster, had a storyteller named Feidhlimidh Mac Daill, and a druid named Cathbad. Cathbad prophecied that Feidhlimidh’s unborn daughter would grow up to be so beautiful that the men of Ireland would go to war over her. The warriors wanted the baby to be killed at birth, but Conchubar decided to have her raised in the forest in isolation, where she could do no harm. Her name was Deirdre.
One day many years later, quite by chance, Deirdre met Naoise, one of the three sons of Uisneach, who was passing through the forest. He was so dazzled by her beauty, that he agreed to elope with her. Accompanied by his two brothers, the couple fled to Scotland, far from King Conchubar’s wrath. They lived quite happily in the wilderness, hunting and fishing to survive.
Eventually, the king tracked them down, and sent Fergus mac Róich to bring them home, promising safe passage. Fergus was invited to a feast along the way, which his personal geis would not let him refuse, so the party continued on under the protection of Fergus’s son.
On arrival at the King’s court, Conchobar attacked and killed Naoise and his brothers. Fergus arrived too late to save them, and outraged, took up service with Queen Medb of Connacht, soon becoming her lover. He later led her army against the warriors of Ulster in the Cattle Raid of Cooley.
Conchobar took Deirdre as his wife, but after a year of her continued rejection of him, he grew tired of her, and decided to torture her further by giving her to the man who had made the death-stroke against her beloved Naoise.
Deirdre had other plans, though. On the way to her new husband, she threw herself from the chariot, hitting her head against a stone, and so was killed, although some versions of the story say she died from grief. 6
Niamh and Oisín
One day, Oisín was out hunting with his father, Fionn mac Cumhall, and the men of the Fianna, when he was approached by a beautiful woman riding a white stallion. She told him she was Niamh of the Golden Hair, a woman of the Sidhe, and she had long loved him from afar. She invited him to go with her and live in the Otherworld. Although sad to be leaving his family and friends, Oisin agreed.
He lived very happily with Niamh in Tír na nÓg for what he thought was three years, but then he grew sad and homesick. Niamh reluctantly agreed to let him return to visit his family, and lent him her white horse, who would carry him safely there. She warned him not to let his feet to touch Ireland’s soil.
When Oisin arrived in Ireland, he did not recognise it. He couldn’t find any sign of his home, his family or friends. He saw some men struggling to remove a boulder from a field, and went to help them. Through chatting to them, he realised that three hundred years had passed while he had been with Niamh in Tír na n Óg.
Shocked, he slipped and fell from his saddle as he leaned over to haul up the rock. Instantly as his feet touched the earth, he was transformed into a very old man, and died. Some versions say he survived long enough to meet St Patrick and tell him all the stories of Fionn and the Fianna, before converting to Christianity. 7
Fionn and Sadbh
Sadbh was a daughter of Bodb Derg, High King of the Sidhe. When she refused the advances of the Dark Druid, he transformed her into a deer. She escaped, and after three years wandering, found her way to Almu, the home of Fionn mac Cumhall.
Here she was safe, and the Dark Druid’s spell held no power. Returned to her true form as a beautiful young woman, she and Fionn fell deeply in love. Within a year, she was expecting their first child.
Around this time, Fionn, along with his Fianna, was called away to defend Ireland’s shores against invaders. Every day, Sadbh paced the palisade, watching and waiting for her love’s safe return.
One day, she noticed a warrior and his two dogs approaching. Convinced it was Fionn and his faithful hounds, Bran and Sceolán, she ran joyfully to meet him. It was only when she was in his arms that she realised her mistake. Away from the safe haven of Almu, she was vulnerable again, and the man who wore the likeness of her husband was in fact the Dark Druid, come to claim her.
At the touch of his hazel wand, she became a little brown doe again, and together they simply vanished, never to be seen again.
Fionn was distraught to find her gone on his return. He lost all interest in everything exept searching for his lost love. After seven years, he came across a small boy, alone and wild, without the power of speech, wandering the lower slopes of Benbulben.
When he looked into the child’s eyes, he saw the look of Sadbh in them, and so he knew that this was their son. He brought him home, and named him Oisin, meaning ‘little deer’, but what became of Sadbh, he never found out. 8
Diarmuid and Gráinne
Gráinne was the daughter of Cormac mac Art, High King of Ireland. At her wedding feast to the ageing Fionn mac Cumhall, she met the young and handsome Diarmuid. They fell in love, and eloped.
They were chased across the length and breadth of Ireland by Fionn, who was jealous and angered by their betrayal. Eventually, a truce was sought by Óengus, Diarmuid’s foster-father, when Gráinne became pregnant.
The couple settle far from Fionn in his court at Almu, and live happily together, bringing four fine sons into the world. But an invitation from Fionn to join the Fianna on a boar hunt leads to Diarmuid’s death.
Fionn claims Gráinne as his bride, but she never recovers from her loss, and dies of a broken heart. 9
Tristan and Iseult
I first read Rosemary Sutcliffe’s beautiful version of this story when I was about nine years old, and it has stayed with me ever since. Just a chapter in the Arthurian romances, it is very much an Irish story, although it does not appear in the Irish Mythological Cycles.
Tristan travels to Ireland seeking the hand of Princess Iseult, daughter of Irish chieftain Anguisshe, for his uncle, King Mark of Cornwall. During the return journey, they fall in love, in some versions, by drinking a love potion intended for Iseult and Mark on their wedding night.
When Mark learns of their betrayal, he sentences them both to death, Tristan by hanging, and Iseult by burning. Tristan escapes and rescues her, and they flee into the forest.
Eventually, they make peace with Mark, and Iseult agrees to return to her husband, but Tristan is banished. On his travels, he meets and settles with another Iseult, known by the epithet ‘of the White Hands’, who is the daughter of Hoel of Brittany.
In later years, Tristan is wounded by a poisoned lance. He sends for Iseult of Cornwall, for only she is skilled enough in the healing arts to repair such a wound. He is uncertain that she will come. He asks that if she does, the ships sails are to be white, but if she refuses, the captain must raise a black sail.
Of course Iseult rushes to be with her lover again. The ship’s captain follows Tristan’s orders, and a white sail is hoisted. Too weak to leave his bed, Tristan asks his wife, Iseult of the White Hands, for the colour of the sail. In a fit of jealousy, she declares it black.
Tristan dies from grief, and when Iseult of Cornwall arrives to discover his dead body, she too dies from a broken heart.
Iseult is said to be buried in a small chapel that was named after her, Chapelizod, on the outskirts of Dublin. St. Lawrence’s church is thought to have been constructed upon the original site of Iseult’s chapel.
According to legend, after they were buried, a hazel tree grew from Tristan’s grave, and a honeysuckle from Iseult’s, and it was said that the honeysuckle clung to the hazel so tightly, they could never be pulled apart. 10
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- Lady Gregory, Cuchulainn of Muirthemne, 1911 ↩︎
- Ibid ↩︎
- ↩︎
- Mary Jones Celtic Literature Collective, The Dream of Oengus ↩︎
- Lady Gregory, Gods and Fighting Men, Project Gutenberg, Ch XXII, Cliodhna’s Wave. ↩︎
- Mary Jones Celtic Literature Collective, Deirdre, or The Exile of the Sons of Usnech from The Book of Leinster ↩︎
- Celtic Myths and Legends, T.W. Rolleston, 1994 ↩︎
- Lady Gregory, Gods and Fighting Men, Project Gutenberg, ChIV, Oisin’s Mother ↩︎
- Mary Jones Celtic Collective, The Pursuit of Diarmud and Grainne. ↩︎
- The Romance of Tristan and Isolde, from the version of M. Joseph Bedier, 1913. ↩︎
Please note that for reasons which defy me, footnote 3 would not post, so here it is separately: Mary Jones Celtic Literature Collective, The Dream of Oengus
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