Myths and Legends of the Celts (Penguin Reference) (46 page)

Bruidhean
… [hostel, banqueting hall] (
broo
th
-ăn)
First word in titles of Fenian stories in which the fighters find themselves trapped in enchanted dwellings.

Búanann
(
booăn
-ăn)
Amazon-like martial tutor of Fionn mac Cumhaill.

Buide mac Báin
(
boo
th
-ě mahk
bawn
)
He is driving Dunn Cuailnge when Cúchulainn finds him and kills him.

Cáer
(kayr)
Swan maiden loved by Angus Óg; nicknamed Ibormeith [yew berry].

Caer Feddwid
[
W
. court of intoxication or carousal] (kIr
ve
th
-id)
Alternative early name for Annwfn.

Caer Siddi
(kIr
si
th
-ĭ)
Alternative name for the Welsh otherworld, Annwfn.

Cahirconree
(
ka
-hir-
kon
-ree)
Iron Age ruin on the Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry, possibly the site of Cú Roi’s fortress.

Caicer
(
ko
-her,
ka
-her)
Milesian druid who predicts his people will live in Ireland.

Cailb
(
kahl
-ěv)
Ugly, haggish seer of early Irish literature.

Cailitin
(
kah
-lit-ĭn)
Irish wizard, friend of Medb, who does battle with Cúchulainn.

Cailleach Bhéirre
(
kol
-yukh,
kahl
-yukh;
VI
-rŭ,
vay
-rě)
Ugly Irish sovereignty figure, associated with the Province of Munster, especially the Beare Peninsula; often called the ‘Hag of Beare’ in English.

Caílte mac Rónáin
(
keel
-tě mahk
rohn
-awn)
Best runner of the Fianna Éireann, a companion and possible nephew of Fionn; he survives to tell St Patrick of heroic pre-Christian days.
Modlr
.: Caoilte (
kweel
-tě).

Cairbre Cinn-Chait
(
kor
-bray,
kahr
-bray,
kahr
-ě-bray,
kahr
-bir-ě;
kin-
khaht)
Plebeian
usurper of Milesian hegemony.

Cairbre Lifechair
(
kor
-bray,
kahr
-bray,
kahr
-ě-bray,
kahr
-bir-ě;
lif
-ohkh-ĭr,
lif
-ekh-ăr)
Son of Cormac mac Airt.

Cairbre Nia Fer
(
kor
-bray,
kahr
-bray,
kahr
-ě-bray,
kahr
-bir-ě;
nee
-ă-fer)
Elder brother of Ailill mac Máta who is killed by Cúchulainn. His son Erc avenges his father’s death.

Cairpre
(
kor
-bray,
kahr
-bray,
kahr
-ě-bray,
kahr
-bir-ě)
Satirist of the Tuatha Dé Danann.

Caitlín
, or Céthlionn (
kath
-leen)
Ugly, crooked-toothed wife of Balor.

Caladbolg
(
kahl
-ă
th
-
bohl
-ěgh)
Widely cited sword of early Irish literature, usually attributed to Fergus mac Róich and Fergus mac Léti.

Calan Mai
(
kahl
-ăn mi)
Welsh name for May Day.

Caledonia
(kal-ě-
dohn
-ee-ă)
An ancient name for Scotland.

Cáma
(
kawv
-ă)
Female Fenian chief and custodian who survives the general destruction of the Fianna Éireann.

Camel
(
kahv
-ěl,
kahm
-ěl)
Co-gatekeeper, with Gamel, of Tara.

cantred
(
kahn
-tred)
A region of approximately 100 townships in medieval Wales; also
cantref
(
kahn
-trev).

Caoilte
(
kweel
-tě)
Modern Irish for Caílte.

castros
(
kahs
-trohs)
Small, defended Celtic-era towns in Spain; homes of the
mouros
, Galician fairy folk.

Cathach Chatutchenn
[bellicose, hard-headed] (
kahth
-ăkh
kahd
-ud-khen)
Female warrior in love with Cúchulainn.

Cathbad
(
kahth
-vahd,
kahth
-
vahth
,
kahf
-ă)
Chief druid in the court of Conchobar mac Nessa who predicts Deirdre will cause enmity leading to the destruction of Emain Macha and other calamities.

Caw
(kow)
Member of Culhwch’s party who shaves the giant Ysbaddaden.

Céadach
(
kI
-dukh,
kay
-dukh)
Comic, unwanted ‘helper’ in Fenian tales from oral tradition.

Cei
(kI)
Welsh member of King Arthur’s court, anticipation of Sir Kay.

Céis Chorrain
[Keshcorran] (kaysh
khohr
-awn)
Hill, 1183 ft, in Co. Sligo, with many Fenian associations. Longtime residence of Diarmait and Gráinne.

Celtchair mac Uithechair
(
kelt
-khar mahk
uth
-ekh-ĭr)
Ulster warrior held as a guarantee in Conchobar’s bargaining with Fintan.

Celyddon Wledig
(kel-
u
th
-ŏn oo-
led
-ig)
Princely but shadowy grandfather of Culhwch.

Ceridwen
(ker-
id
-wen)
Ugly, shapeshifting witch in north Wales who keeps a cauldron of knowledge at the bottom of Lake Bala; her children are fair Creirwy and hideous Morfran. She also gives birth to Taliesin.

Cernunnos
(ker-
noon
-ŏs,
ker
-nun-ŏs)
Stag-horned deity of the continental Celts, portrayed on the Gundestrup Cauldron; widely worshipped.

Cesair
(
kes
-ĭr)
Leader of the first invasion of Ireland, according to
Lebor Gabála Érenn
.

Cet mac Mágach
(kat, ket mahk
mah
γ-ăkh)
Boastful Connacht hero challenged by Conall Cernach.

Cethern mac Fintain
(
keh
-arn,
keth
-ern mahk
fin
-tawn)
Ulster warrior who steps forward while Cúchulainn lies stricken from the duel with Ferdiad. Also tutors Fionn mac Cumhaill.

Cian
(
kee
-ăn)
A son of Dian Cécht who seduces Eithne to produce Lug Lámfhota; later humiliated and killed by the sons of Tuireann.

Cichol
(
kikh
-ŏl)
Rapacious leader of the Fomorians.

Cigfa
(
kig
-va)
Wife of Pryderi in Third Branch of the
Mabinogi
.

Cilydd
(
kil
-e
th
)
Father of Culhwch.

Cimbáeth
(
kim
-bay,
kim
-bay
th
)
Ulster king, husband of Macha/Mong Ruadh.

Cináed mac Alpín
[Kenneth MacAlpin] (
kun
-ay mahk
ahl
-pin)
Historical king of the Gaels who founded Scotland in 844.

cláenmíla
(
klIn
-veel-ă)
Untranslatable ‘crooked beasts’ or ‘evil beasts’ that Conaire Mór is forbidden to hunt; perhaps swans, as his mother had been impregnated by a bird man.

Claidheamh Soluis
[sword of light] (kleev
sohl
-ush)
Also Cruaidin Catutchenn. Name for Cúchulainn’s sword in oral tradition.

Clan Baíscne
(klahn
bahsk
-ĭn-ě)
Family of Fionn mac Cumhaill
.

Clan Morna
(klahn
mohrn
-ă)
Goll’s clan, rivals to Clan Baíscne
.

Clettig
(
klet
-ĭgh)
Sídh
in the Boyne valley near Newgrange, residence of Elcmar
.

Clothra
(
kloh
-ră,
klohth
-ră)
Sister of Medb, killed by her while pregnant with Furbaide Ferbend
.

Coímín, Micheál
(
kohv
-een,
mee
-hahl)
Irish poet (1688–1760) who composed the most polished version of the Oisín and Niam story,
c
.1750
.