Myths and Legends of the Celts (Penguin Reference) (52 page)

Kernow
(
ker
-now)
Cornish name for Cornwall.

Knockmany
(nok-
mahn
-ee)
Hill, 770 ft, near Augher, Co. Tyrone. Site of a passage-tomb but best known for citations in William Carleton (1794–1869).

korrigan
(
kohr
-ee-gahn)
A lusty creature of Breton folklore, also adept at building.

Kristof
(
krist
-ohf)
Small boy who removes the protective oak from the City of Ys.

La Tène
(lah
ten
)
Style of Celtic art, c.500–200 BC and after, named for archaeological site in Switzerland; known for swirling patterns.

Labraid Luathlám ar Claideb
(
lav
-ree,
lav
-ră;
loo
-ăth-lawm ar
kl
I
th
-ěv)
[Ir. swift hand on sword] Ruler of Mag Mell, husband of the beautiful Lí Ban.

Láeg
(loygh)
Charioteer of Cúchulainn.

Lailoken
(
l
I
-loh-kěn)
Scottish wild man of the woods.

Lallans
(
lal
-ănz)
The language of the Scottish Lowlands, related to English.

Landévennec
(
lahn
-day-
ven
-ěk)
Oldest abbey in Brittany, founded fifth century, 25 miles northwest of Quimper.

lavandeira nocturna
[night washer] (lahv-ahn-
dayr
-ă nohk-
toorn
-ă)
A Galician counterpart of the Irish and Scottish Gaelic washer at the ford.

Lebor Buide Lecáin
(
lev
-or;
Modlr
.
lyow
-er; bui
th
-ě
lek
-awn)
Early codex of Irish literature, compiled
c
.1390. Known in English as the
Yellow Book of Lecan
. Contains an early version of the
Táin Bó Cuailnge
.

Lebor Gabála
(
lev
-or
ga
-vawl-ă;
Modlr. Leabhar Gabhála
=
lyow
-er ga-
wawl
-ă)
The Irish pseudo-history.

Lebor Laignech
(
lev
-or,
Modlr
.
lyow
-er;
lagh
-nekh)
Twelfth-century codex of Irish literature. Known in English as
The Book of Leinster
.

Lebor na hUidre
(
lev
-or;
Modlr
.
lyow
-er; nah
hu
th
-rě)
.
Earliest codex of Irish literature, compiled before 1106. Known in English as
The Book of the Dun Cow
.

Leborcham
(
lowr
-khahv,
lev
-or-khav)
Poet and confidante of Deirdre.

Lairgnéan
(
largh
-nay-ăn)
‘Prince of the North’, i.e. Connacht, who is prophesied to marry a ‘Princess of the South’, Deoch, in the story of the children of Lir.

Lendabair
(
len
th
-ăv-ar)
Wife of Conall Cernach
.

leprechaun
(
lep
-rě-khawn)
Solitary fairy, first seen as a water-sprite in the eighth-century
Echtra Fergusa maic Léite
.

Lí Ban
[Ir. paragon of women] (
lee
von,
lee
bon)
Woman of formidable beauty who seeks Cúchulainn’s help in fighting the enemies of her husband Labraid Luathlám ar Claídeb
.

Liath Macha
[Grey of Macha] (
lee
-ăth,
Modlr
.
lee
-ă;
mahkh
-ă)
The more favoured of Cúchulainn’s two horses
.

Liffey
(
lif
-ee)
River of eastern Ireland that runs through what is now Dublin
.

Linn Féic
[Fiac’s pool] (lin
fayg
)
Spot along the River Boyne where Finnéces waits for the Salmon of Knowledge.

Lir
(lir)
Tuatha Dé Danann king, father of the swan children; not identical with the Lir implied in the patronymic of Manannán mac Lir.

Llassar Llaes Gyfnewid
(
ll
ahs
-ăr
ll
is
guv
-nyoo-ĭd)
Original possessor of the cauldron of regeneration; husband of Cymidei Cymeinfoll.

Lleu Llaw Gyffes
(
ll
I
ll
ow
guf
-es)
Welsh hero, central figure of the Fourth Branch of the
Mabinogi
. Often compared with the Irish Lug.

Lloegyr
(
ll
oi
-gur)
Welsh name for England.

Llwyd
(
lloo
eed)
The enchanter who destroys the vegetation of southern Wales to avenge his friend Gwawl.

Llŷr
(
ll
eer)
Shadowy father of Bendigeidfran, Manawydan and Branwen.

Loch Rudraige
(lokh
roo
-ăr-ee)
Dundrum Bay, Co. Down.

Lochlainn
(
lokh
-lahn)
Realm of dangerous invaders, often but not necessarily associated with Scandinavia.

Lóegaire Búadach
[victorious, triumphant] (
loygh
-ĭ-rě,
lay
-ghee-rě,
lay
γ-ăr-ě,
lee
-rě;
boo
-ăkh)
Ulster hero who competes for the champion’s portion with Conall and Cúchulainn.

Loingsechán
(
lin
-shahkh-awn,
ling
-shahkh-awn)
Loyal friend of Suibne, possibly a half-brother or foster-brother.

Lomna
(
lum
-nă,
lov
-nă)
Name borne by several fools in Irish literature, one of Conaire Mór, another of Fionn mac Cumhaill.

lón láith
[light of the hero(?)] (lohn law)
Name for the beam of light that projects from the head of Cúchulainn.

Lough Derraverragh
[
dairbhreach
: with an oak plantation]
(lok, loch
der
-a-
ver
-ă) Lake in what is now Co. Westmeath where the children of Lir were changed into swans.

Lough Lein
(lok, loch layn)
A lake near Killarney, Co. Kerry.

Luchta
(
lukh
-tă)
Carpenter god of the Tuatha Dé Danann.

Lug Lámfhota
[Long handed; of the long arm] (loo
lawv
-ohd-ă) A chief of the Tuatha Dé Danann and leading hero of the Mythological Cycle. Often compared to the Welsh Lieu.

Lugaid
(
Looy
-ă)
Son of Cú Roí who seeks vengeance upon Cúchulainn.

Lughnasa
(
loo
-nă-să) (
Oldlr
. Lugnasad;
Modlr
. Lúnasa)
Celtic summer festival, approximately 1 August or 15 August on modern calendar.

Lugus, Lugos
(
loog
-ŭs)
Likely Gaulish name for the god whom the Romans called Gaulish Mercury.

Mabon
(
mah
-bon)
Abducted child of divine origin in the story of
Culhwch and Olwen
.

MacAlpin, Kenneth
See
Cináed mac Alpín
.

Mac an Lúin
(mahk an
loon
)
Sword of Fionn mac Cumhaill.

Mac Cécht, Mac Cuill, Mac Gréine
(mahk
kaykht
, mahk
kul
, mahk
grayn
-ě)
Three Tuatha Dé Danann kings who negotiate with invading Milesians. A hero named Mac Cécht is Conaire Mór’s champion at Da Derga’s Hostel.

Mac Da Thó
(mahk
dah
thoh)
Host whose guests fight over the division of his huge pig.

Mac Glass
(mahk
glahs
)
King Rónán’s unfortunate jester.

Macha
(
mahkh
-ă)
Ulster sovereignty goddess who appears in three manifestations, all linked with the establishment of Emain Macha; part of the trio Mórrígna with Badb and Mórrígan. (i) Ulster queen also known as Mong Ruadh. (ii) Queen of the Nemedians. (iii) Wife of Crunniuc who wins the footrace.

Macsen Wledig
(
mahk
-sen oo-
led
-ig)
Roman emperor who, according to Welsh legend, favoured British migration to Brittany.

Máel Dúin
(mayl doon)
Irish wayfarer to the otherworld in the eighth-to tenth-century narrative,
Imram Curaig Maíle Dúin
[The Voyage of Máel Duin’s Boat].