Myths and Legends of the Celts (Penguin Reference) (47 page)

Coinneach Odhar Fiosaiche
(
kohn
-yakh
oh
-ăr
fis
-ikh)
Scottish Gaelic name for the Brahan Seer, the seventeenth-century prophet.

Coligny Calendar
(kohl-een-yee)
First-century
AD
bronze plates named for the place of their recovery in eastern France; they detail the Gaulish conception of time.

Colptha
(
kolp
-thă)
Second Milesian to go ashore at the invasion, leaving his name in Inber Colptha at the mouth of the Boyne.

Colum Cille, Columba
(
kul
-am,
kol
-ŭm
kil
-ye; ko-
lum
-bă)
Irish-born saint (d. 597) who founded Christianity in Scotland with his monastery at Iona.

Conaire Mór
(
kun
-ir-ě, koh-
nahr
-ě mohr)
Legendary early Irish king, leading figure of
Togail Bruidne Da Derga
[The Destruction of Da Derga’s Hostel].

Conall Anglonnach
(
kun
-al,
kon
-al
ahng
-lohn-ăkh)
Ulsterman held as a guarantee by Cúchulainn.

Conall Cernach
(
kun
-al,
kon
-al;
kern
-akh,
kahrn
-akh)
Ulster hero, frequent companion of Cúchulainn and next to him in prestige.

Conarán
(
kohn
-ahr-awn)
A chief of the Tuatha Dé Danann whose three ugly daughters try to punish Fionn mac Cumhaill.

Conchobar mac Nessa
(
kun
-nă-khoor,
kun
-ko-var,
kon
-khor,
kru
-hoor, kru-
hoor
; mahk
nes
-ă)
King of Ulster in much of the Ulster Cycle.

Condere
(
kohn
-
th
er-
ě
)
Lesser Ulster champion sent to meet Connla.

Congal
(
kun
-eeal)
Foster-brother and compatriot of Máel Fhothartaig.

Conn
(kun, kown)
One of the four swan children of Lir.

Conn Cétchathach
(kon
kayd
-khah-thahkh)
Conn of the Hundred Battles, possibly second-century Irish king, cited in early chronicles and genealogies.

Connacht
(
kon
-aht,
kon
-ăkht)
Western province of Ireland, ruled by Ailill and Medb.

Connla
(
kon
-lă)
Son of Aífe (2) and Cúchulainn who meets his father in combat.

Corentin
(
kor
-en-tin)
Pious hermit who converts Gradlon to Christianity, made bishop of Quimper.

Cormac Connloinges
(
kur
-mak,
kor
-mak kon-
long
-ăs)
Turncoat son of Conchobar mac Nessa who joins Medb against Ulster.

Cormac mac Airt
(
kur
-mak,
kor
-mak mahk
ahrt
)
Possibly historical third-century Irish king, subject of
Echtrae Cormaic
[Adventures of Cormac]. Ruler during maturity of Fionn mac Cumhaill.

Cormac mac Cuileannáin
(
kur
-mak,
kor
-mak mahk
kul
-ěn-
awn
)
Ninth-century bishop and scholar who compiled
Cormac’s Glossary
or
Sanas
Cormaic
, which credulously treats mythical and legendary figures as historical.

Coventina
(kov-en-
teen
-ă)
Ancient British healing goddess.

Cráebruad
(
kr
IV
-
roo
-ă)
A prime residence, with a distinctive red roof beam, at Emain Macha.

Credne
(
kred
-ĭn-ě,
kre
th
-ně)
Bronze-working god of the Tuatha Dé Danann.

Creirwy
(
kr
I
r
-ooee)
Beautiful daughter of Ceridwen.

Crimthann Nia Náir
(
kree
-făn,
krif
- hahn neeă nahr)
Munster warrior who tries to kill Cúchulainn using the wiles of the female satirist Richis.

Crom Crúaich
(krom krookh)
‘Chief idol’ of pagan Ireland, according to Christian scribes; evidence for its existence, e.g. the Killycluggin Stone, is disputed.

Crom Dubh
(krom duv)
Legendary pre-Christian Irish chieftain overcome by St Patrick.

Cruachain
(
kroo
-akh-awn,
kroo
-ahk-ĭn)
Fortress of Ailill and Medb in what is now Co. Roscommon.

Cruaidin Catutchenn
See
Claidheamh Soluis
.

Crunniuc mac Agnomain
(
krun
-yuk mahk
ag
-no-vahn)
Rich landlord who forces his pregnant wife Macha into a footrace.

Cú Roí
(koo-
ree
)
Munster wizard and warrior whose castle may have been at Cahirconree, Co. Kerry; real identity of the giant in the beheading challenge.

Cualu
(
kul
-ŭ)
Area south of the River Liffey, coextensive with northern Co. Wicklow.

Cúchulainn
(koo-
khul
-in)
Leading hero of the Ulster Cycle and the epic
Táin Bó Cuailnge
. Hiberno-English:
Cucullin
.

Culann
(
kul
-ĭn,
kul
-ahn)
Smith whose watchdog is killed by Sétanta (later Cúchulainn).

Culhwch
(
kil
-hookh)
Welsh Arthurian hero, lover of Olwen.

Cumhall
(kool,
koo
-ĭl,
koo
-val)
Father of Fionn mac Cumhaill.

Cunebelinus
(koon-ay-
bel
-in-ŭs)
Historical leader in pre-Claudian Britain, first century
BC
.

curadmír
(
kur
-a
th
-meer)
Irish term for the champion’s portion, i.e. favoured cut of pork
.

Custennin
(kus-
ten
-ĭn)
Herdsman who warns Culhwch
.

cwn annwfn
(koon
ahn
-oon)
Spectral Welsh dogs whose barks foretell death
.

Cymidei Cymeinfoll
(kum-
id
-
I
ku-
m
I
n
-vol)
Ugly giantess who personifies the cauldron of regeneration; married to Llassar Llaes Gyfnewid.

Cymru
(kum-
ree
)
Welsh name for Wales.

Cynan Meiriadog
(
or Meriodoc
),
St
(kun-
ahn
mIr
-yoh-dohk)
Welsh saint who led the British to Brittany, according to legend.

Cynddylig Cyfarwydd
(
kun
-
th
il-ig ku-
vahr
-ee
th
)
Welsh member of King Arthur’s court.

Da Derga
(
dah
jer-ě-gě,
dah
der-gă)
Owner of the hostel on the Dodder River where Conaire Mór is killed.

dá shealladh
(dah
hahl
-ŭ)
Scottish Gaelic phrase for second sight or clairvoyance.

Dabilla
(
dahv
-il-ă)
Lapdog of Boand.

Dagda
(
dah
γ-
th
ă,
dag
-dă)
The ‘good god’, divine leader of the Tuatha Dé Danann; often named with the definite article, ‘the Dagda’.

Dahut
(
dah
-ut)
Corrupt, pleasure-loving daughter of King Gradlon.

Dáire
(
daw
-rě)
One of the many figures bearing this name is the king of Tír Tairngire; his queen is Rígru Rosclethan.

Dáire mac Fiachna
(
daw
-rě mahk
fee
-ăkh-nă)
Owner of Donn Cuailnge, the Brown Bull of Ulster, at the beginning of the
Táin Bó Cuailnge
.

Daithlenn
(
dath
-len)
One of Máel Fhothartaig’s two prize hounds.

Dál gCais
(dawl gash)
Petty kingdom, home of Brian Bórama; anglicized Dalcass.

Dál nAraide
(dawl
nar
-a
th
-ě)
Historical early kingdom on the borders of Antrim and Down, ruled by Suibne before onset of his madness.