Aengus : Son of Dagda, also known as Oengus the God of Love. His other names are Mac Oc and the Young God. He's very handsome. The legend tells that each of his kisses are unforgettable beacause they change themselves into a marvellous bird. The god Oengus is himself accompanied by three magnificent birds. He lives in the sidh of Brúg na Boyne. God of Love, Dagda’s son.

Ailell : First king of Connacht and husband of Queen Maeve. Maeve used to changed into a grey she-wolf to defend her people.

Aine : Queen and Fairy, the daughter of Mananann. She lives in Knockainy ( in Gaelic Knockainy [Cnoc Aine] means the Hill, or Mountain, of Aine ). On the night of the Summer solstice the people burn straw on hilltops in her honour. They also pray to her to cure all types of diseases. She is symbolised by the herb meadowsweet. The legend tells that she has been kidnaped by the first king of Muster, and so, she is the ancestor of all the king of this province. She is the mother of the count Gerald, high sorcerer.

Airmed : Daughter of Dian Cecht. Her name means " the moderation ". During Moy Tura battles, she gathered the medicinal plants together in order to cure the wounded warriors and to raise the dead in the Health Fountain.

Amorgen : Clan chieftain of the sons of Miles. His name means "the birth of the song". Goddess Eriu was his protector. When he and his fellows arrived in Ireland, the island beat off them to the sea. Eriu protected them from the spell and guided them and their boats back safely to the shore. Amorgen placed his right foot on the soil first as a mark of respect.

An : The gaelic for the definite article 'The' (singular). The plural is 'Na'. e.g. [Sing.] An File, (The poet), [Plur.] Na Tuatha dé Dannan.

Anu : Other name for Dana, the mother of the gods and the goddess of prosperity. Along with her companions Babd and Macha, they are fate’s triad.

Aoife : Warrior woman and Scathach’s slave. She fought against Cuchulainn, failed and was defeated. She then became his mistress and gave him a son. Aoife was also the name of King Lir’s second wife. She changed Lir’s children into swans. As a punishment, she was changed into a witch and thrown to the wind.

Arthur : Son of a Brittany king who stole three of Finn's dogs. He was pursued by Na Fianna. They captured Arthur and recovered the dogs. Finn was impressed by Arthur's boldness and instead of seeking revenge he allowed Arthur to belong to his train.

Ath Liag Finn : Name of a ford (river crossing) where Finn threw a stone on a gold chain into the river. This was a gift from a sidh woman (a banshee). The legend says that the stone and the chain will be returned by a mermaid on a Sunday; seven days before the end of this world.

Badb : Warrior goddess. She is sometimes considered as Morrigane’s avatar (decent from deity as an incarnate being). Her name means "crow" and she often appears in this form. She is one of fate's triad (see Anu, Macha).

Balor : King of the Fomoires. He was not a cyclops, but in the middle of his forehead he had a malefic (producer of evil) eye hidden under a heavy eyelid. This eye could destroy or petrify anything it viewed. Prophecy said that he would be killed by his own grandson. When his daughter, Ethne, gave birth to the son of Tuatha Cian ( Dian Cecht’s son) Balor throw the baby (Lugh) into the ocean but the baby survived and later killed Balor with a sling shot during the second battle of Moy Tura.

Banshee : Translated means "woman of the sidh ". She is the protector spirit of a family or a clan. When a death is iminent she wails and screams. In some Irish counties, banshee also refers to witches and medicine women.

Beag : One of the Thuatha dé Danna who owned a magic well guarded by his three daughter. Finn came to this will and answered to the three enigma that protected it. One of the daughter throwed some water on Finn. The water he swallowed gave him the wisdom.

Becfola : Wife of Dermot, the king of Tara. She felt in love with Flann and flew with him.

Bealtaine : Great Celtic fair (1st of May ). This is the beginning of the warm Season, the entrance into the world of day time activities and of the days of long light. The Great God Mother, in the form of Dana, is particularly honoured. She is the mother of the gods and the wife of The Oak King. Oak and ferns are the symbols of this fair. During this night, they lit very big fires throughout the land. The first fire to be lit is the one on The Hill of Tara. This day is also the anniversary of the arrival of the people of Tuatha and Partholon to Ireland.

Beo : Monstrous sow who devasted the Munster. One of the earliers feat of Finn was to kill Beo.

Bile : Translated means "sacred tree" in Irish.

Birog : Druidess who helped Cian to get inside the tower where Ethne was held as prisoner by Balor. Later, she saved Lugh when Balor throwed him in the ocean.

Boann : Sea goddess and mother of Aengus. Her name means " white cow ". The Boyne River is a named after her. After committed adultery with Dagda, Boann bathed in a spring which took her a arm, a leg and an eye. She fled to the sea and the spring stream followed her path resulting in the River Boyne.

Bran : Son of Febal. His name means " raven ". He made a magnificent journey. He met Mananann and lived in a fairy island where time didn’t exist. When he wanted to return to his countryland, he realised several hundred years had passed. Bran and his companions cannot return to their land for fear that they would immediately expire and turn to dust. They are forced to wander forever about the sea.

Bres : Son of a Fomoire king and a Tuatha goddess. After the first Moy Tura battle, he took King Nuada’s place when he lost his arm and couldn’t uphold the duties of a king anymore. Bres was a rogue, a very bad king, and the Tuatha wanted him removed from the throne and they sought the help of Balor. This started the second Moy Tura battle in which Bres was captured by the Tuatha. They did not kill him because he made two promises : That the cows of the land would always yield good milk and he would teach the Tuatha how to grow crops and vegetables.

Bresal : High King who built the wood fortress of Barc Bresail, in Leinster. During the reign of Eochu, the fortress was destroyed by the man of Ulster who fighted for Tuathal Techtmar.

Brit : Also known as Brigid, she is Dagda’s daughter. Her name means "the very high". She is the protector of blacksmiths, bards and healers. Pregnant women also asked for her help and protection. She is especially honoured on Oilmec. Where she was honoured, a fire was always burning and three times three priestesses tended it.

Brug na Boyne : The most famous sidh of Ireland, where lives Aengus and where Cuchulainn was born.

Cairell : Son of Finn. He was killed by Goll.

Caladbolg : Magic sword of Cuchulainn. He once ran twenty miles in a rain storm protected by the sword and not a single drop of rain fell on him.

Caoilte : Nephews of Finn. He was also a Fianna warrior and was the fastest runner of his time. They say that he was alive for the coming of St Patrick.

Ce : Nuada’s druid. He was killed during second Moy Tura battle. A lake called Lough Ce formed to cover his grave.

Cellach : Son of Cormac mac Art. He was killed by the companion of Aengus.

Cetshamhain : Other name of Bealtaine.

Changeling : Fairies’child, ugly and crafty, left in a cradle instead of a human baby who has been kidnapped by the fairy to be brought up with their people.

Cian : Dian Cecht’s son, husband of the Fomoire Ethne (Balor's daughter) and Lugh’s father. He was killed by Tuireann’s sons when he was masquerading in the form of a boar. Seven times, the earth refused to accept his body. Lugh wanted to avenge his father and gave trials to Tuireann’s sons.

Cliona : Also known as Cliodnu, she is the Goddess of the Other World. She is always to be found with three birds (crows or cranes ) who eat the marvellous apples of the Island of Everlasting Youth (Tir Na Nog). Their singing induces sleep.

Coirone : Poet of the Tuata dé Danann. He forced Bress to surrender.

Conaire : Child offered to Mess Buachalla by a magic bird the night before her wedding with the High King of Tara Eterscelae. He was raised up in secret. Once, while he was running after birds, they told him the thruth about his identity and ordered him to go to Tara to become a king. Eterscelae had just died.

Conan : Member of the Fianna. He was considered as the buffoon of Finn.

Conchobar : The son of the druid Cathbad and the Queen Ness-Assa. He is the husband of the four daughters of Eochaid and is also considered to be 'one' of Cuchulainn’s fathers. He was king of Ulster and his palace stood in the middle of Emain Macha. He was a great peacemaker and gave much wealth to the needy. He is the main character of Ulster’s folklore.

Conn : High King of Tara. He was the father of Art and Cormac Mac Art’s grandfather. He was loved for the prosperity, the justice and the happiness that he gave to his people. Lugh gave him the sovereignty cup in the Other World. On becoming widowed, he married Becuna the Evil and Ireland became barren. Art, when he came back from exile, succeeded in removing the spell that had made Ireland barren.

Cormac mac Art : The High King of Tara, he was from the Other World and was considered to be very wise. He brought a magic cup from the Other World which broke if someone uttered three lies in front of it, but became restored if someone uttered three truths in front of it.

Credne : A Tuatha dé Dannan God and Goibniu’s brother. His name means the "divine maker of bronzes".

Crom Cruach : Force of the dark, with a monster shape, sometimes a snake or a dragon, honoured by the Fomoires. When someone asked his help, the price was very heavy : first he took their soul and afterwards he took their life.

Crom Dubh : Chthonien (under world) God worship in Ulster and Connacht.

Cuchulainn : His first name was Sentana (the path). After killing the war dog of Culann the blacksmith, he took the name of Cuchulainn ( the hound of Culann). He died on a Samhain’s night. While he was dying, Morrigane, in the shape of three crows, appeared on his shoulders.

Culann : Ulate Blacksmith during the reign of Conchobar. He is considerated as the initiator of Cuchulainn.

Dagda : He is one of the most important gods of the Tuatha dé Danann and is also known as Eochaid U Oathair ( the good god ) and considered to be the father of the gods. His symbolic tool is the bludgeon, one of its extremities gives death and the other life. His harp plays three magic songs; joy, sadness and everlasting sleep. His cauldron gives everlasting life. He is described as a giant wearing the clothes of the people and having a huge appetite.

Daireann : Daughter of Bodb. She is a woman of Sidh, a banshee. She proposed to Finn to be his unique wife during one year and that after, he would spend half of his time with her. Finn refused. She poisoned him with beverage. The Fianna deserted. But Caoilte persuaded them to come back, and at night, the enchantment disappeared..

Dana : One of the several shapes of the Great Goddess : the one where she is the gods’ mother. The name of the Tuatha dé Danann comes from her name. Her sacred flower is hawthorn. She is particularly honoured each Bealtaine.

Deirdre : Fedelmir’s (Conchobar’s bard) daughter. As soon as she was born a malefic prophecy was foretold. Her name means "dangerous one". She was brought up by Leborcham the magician. After having a vision, she decided to have Naoise as a husband, but he refused because he knew that Conchobar wanted Deirdre for his wife. Deirdre put a spell on Naoise and he rapt her (carried away by force). Naoise was later killed by Eogan. Conchobar gave Deirdre to Eogan as a reward. Deirdre, fleeing from Ulster, fell from the chariot which was carrying her and commited suicide.

Dian Cecht : Tuatha chief, god of medicine, Cian’s father and Lugh’s grandfather. He made a silver arm for Nuada. He also knew of the herbs for the raising of the dead at the Health Fountain of the Moy Tura battle. His son Miach knew how to heal too and he used his knowledge to give a new real arm to Nuada. Dian Cecht was jealous and killed his son for this act.

Diarmaid (or Dermot) : His name means " forgiven ". His foster father was Aengus and he was Finn’s nephew who accompanied him hunting and fighting. Because of a geis placed on him by Gráinne, he fell in love with her and rapt her. But Finn had been promised Gráinne in marriage and he followed them and fought with Diarmaid, later making peace through the intercession of Oengus, God of Love, and invited him to his home. Aengus had made his foster son invulnerable using a geis and Diarmaid had to brake the "geisha" to fight a magic boar. He was severely wounded during the fight with the boar and Finn let him die.

Echaid : Foster father of Lugh Lamfada

Eire : Tuatha goddess who gave her name to Ireland. Her other names are Eriu or Eri.

Eisirt : Lubdan's bard. He mock his king about his boastfulness. He told that the men from Ulster are giants compare to the people of his kingdom. He went to the kingdom of Fergus mac Leide, a giant who had the force of seven hundred mens. He bring back the dwarf Aedh who, off course, looked like as a giant to Lubdan's people. Then, he putted a geis on Lubdan that forced him to go to Emhain Macha to taste the porridge. He prophetised that Lubdan will be kept as a prisoner during one year and one day by the mens from Ulster. Then he will have to give back something that count a lot for him.

Eithne : Name of several women. Eithne Aitenchaithrech was Conchobar’s wife. Eithne Inguba was Cuchulainn’s wife. It is also the name of the Great Goddess when she is Lugh’s wife. But foremost, Eithne is the name of Elcmar’s wife from Brug na Boyne sidh. She had a son by Dagda and this son was Aengus.

Elatha : Son of Delbaeth, king of Fomoire. He fathered Bres by forcing Eriu.

Elcmar : Brother of Dagda, husband of Eithne. His name means "jalousy". Dagda tooked his land to give it to Oengus.

Emain Macha : Main place of the Ulates, created by goddess Macha. It was Conchobar’s home. Here began and finished all Ulates’tales.

Emer : Forgall Manach’s daughter and Mananann’s last wife. Conchobar wanted Cuchulainn to marry her but Forgall didn’t agree and sent Cuchulainn to Scathach. He was thinking Cuchulainn would never come back. But the hero did come back, eloped with Emer and married her. A long time after, Emer was jealous of the beautiful Fand, the mistress of Cuchulainn and wanted to kill her, but she relented and gave her a pardon. Conchobar’s druid assisted in this task by giving Emer the drink of everlasting forgetfulness.

Eochaid O Uathair : Transated means "The high powerfull". It is often used to qualified Dagda.

Eochu : Son of Erc and last king of the Fir Bolg. He was killed when the Tuatha dé Danann arrived. During his reign, no lies were said and no rain falled on Irland, only dew.

Eogan : Naoise’s killer. Conchobar had given him Deirdre as a reward, but she fled from Naoise and Ulster and was thrown from the chariot in which she fled and died.

Eriu (or Eri) : Godess of the Tuatha. She represent the Irland. Her name means "form". She protected Amorgen when he came on the island. In reward, he gaved the Godess name to the island.

Etaine : Poetess the daughter of Dian Cecht’s. Etaine means " daughter of the ocean’s horses ". The legend gives her several animated lives, both in the sidh and on the earth. She had a daughter with the same name 'Etaine' by Cormac Mac Art.

Ethne (or Ethlinn) : The daughter of Balor, the mother of Lugh and wife of Cian.

Fand : Mananann’s wife. Her name means " swallow ". She represents beauty and grace.

Febal : Bran’s father

Fedelm : She is a prophetess, mistress of Cuchulain, wife of Loegaire. She owns a sword made with white bronze and gold.

Feenish : Captain Macnamara’s mare. He rubbed her with a magic stone and she got a human spirit. She died when crossing a river as her master had obliged her to cross in spite of her exhaustion. She was buried in Inis Feenish Island in the middle of Lough Corrib.

Fe Fiada : Magic tool or power used by the fairy to become invisible.

Fer Caille : Wood man, ugly monster who wanders in the forest with his wife and utters prophecies.

Ferdia : He was the friend and the initiation companion of Cuchulain. He was invulnarable except for Cuchulain who learnt one more knock during their initiation. The queen Maeve forced them to fight each other during the Tain Bô Cualnge. Unfortunatly for Maeve, Cucchulain killed Ferdia.

Fergus : Name of several men. Fergus White Mouth was Finn’s poet. Fergus Red Coast was Nemed’s son. Fergus Black Teeth was defeated by Cormac. Black Teeth had two brothers: Fergus Breg Fire and Fergus Lang Haired.

Fergus Mac Roi : Fergus son of the King was later Ulster’s king. He was Ness and Flidais’s husband and Medb’s lover. They said he was as strong as 700 men. Conchobar defeated him in battle. When Queen Maeve fought against Ulster, Fergus joined her.

Fer Li : He was Goll’s grandson and the son of Fer Tai from the Morna clan. He wanted to avenge his grandfather who had been killed by Finn. In the fight he only managed to wound Finn but was himself killed.

(Na) Fianna : Wandering Warriors, their chieftain was Finn. They made and upheld the laws of the land. In the warm season, they hunted and fought and during the cold season they lived with the natives.

Filid : Poet of the Celtic tradition was also called " file ". Amorgen was the best known of the filidi.

Finn : The full name is Finn Mac Cumhal. Probably the most famous Irish hero. His father, Cumahl was killed by Goll from the Morna clan during a battle at Knock. His mother gave him in fosterage to Liath Luacra and Bodhmall the druidess. When he became older, he went himself into fosterage near Finegas on the Boyne River. He ate of the knowledge salmon and became the wisest man in Ireland. He had a son called Oisin. When he became old, he was one of the main characters in the story of Diarmaid and Gráinne. Nobody knows how Finn died. Some legends say he is sleeping in a cavern in the Giant's Causeway which he built near Antrim.

(Na) Fir Bolg : People who were in Ireland between the reign of Nemed’s sons and The Tuatha dé Dannan. The first Moy Tura battle was between the Fir Bolg and the Tuatha dé Dannan.

(Na) Fomoires : Devils who lived on Tory Island. Balor was their king. They fought against all the people of Ireland until the Tuatha banished them to their island after the second Moy Tura battle.

(An) Gae Bolga : Cuchulainn's spear. It was a unique weapon given to him by the witch of Scathach.

Gamal : A keeper, along with Camall, of the doors of Tara during Nuada’s reign.

Geis : Binding spell, usually a spell concerning something strictly forbidden or an obligation placed on someone from birth to death. Much stronger than honour or faith.

Gebann : Druid who was Cliona’s father.

Glam dicinn : Curse uttered by a filid (poet). For a period of time the victim had to wear three furuncle symbols, of shame, blame and ugliness.

Goborchind : People of the Underground, leprechaun’s cousin, generally gruff, ugly and grumbling. Their other name is " goat head ".

Goibniu : Blacksmith god of the Tuatha dé Danann. During his Immortality Lunch, gods became immortality and everlasting youth.

Goidels : Other name of Miles’sons

Goll Mac Morna : Warrior of the Fianna. He was involved in the defeat of Cumaill (Finn's father), where he became one-eyed.

Grania (or Grainne) : Finn wanted to marry her when he was old but she eloped with Diarmaid, his nephew. She put a geis on him and obliged him to rapt her. Finally Diarmaid died while hunting a magic boar.

Grey of Macha : Cuchulainn’s horse. He had a human spirit.

Harp : Symbolic music tool of pagan Ireland. The best known harp was Dagda’s harp which played the three songs of Joy, Sadness and Sleep.

Hu Gadarn : Another name for Aengus, the Mac Oc

Ibar : Cuchulainn’s chariot driver

Imrama : The adventurous seafaring travels of heroes

Kernunos : The oldest and most supreme god, the Stag God, the Great Horned God. He was the Mother Goddess’s husband from Samhain to Bealtaine, in the form of The Holly King. He symbolised the fertilising strength, the renewal of the land and the primordial thinker.

Laeg : Another of Cuchulainn’s chariot drivers

Laoghaire : Son of Crevan of Connacht. He helped Fiachna, a fairy king, to recover his wife. Afterwards, he lived in the sidh and married the daughter of Fiachna, Der Greine.

Leabar Cabala : Book of Conquests in which we find the names of the different people who lived in Ireland; those who disappeared after a great flood, Partholon’s sons, Na Fomoires, Nemed’s sons, Na Tuatha dé Danann, the sons of Milles, Na Fir Bog, Na Fir Gailoin agus Na Fir Domnainn.

Leprechaun : Member of the Little Fairy People who generally live alone. He is usually a shoemaker or a tailor, is a miser and has a bad character. He protects his gold cauldron from the those who seek to steal it. The name originated as Lugh Corpán: from lugh, meaning "small" and corpan meaning "body" and was corrupted over the years.

Levaecham : Poetess and Conchobar’s faith woman, also Deirdre’s forest mother

Lia Fail : Fate stone, laid at the Hill of Tara Hill. It was used when the High King was crowned. The stone spoke of fate, but only when the one who was to be king touched it.

Liaig : Name given to a druid specialise in the medecine of herb, surgentery and magic.

Lir : Tuatha god of the fairies and the ocean. He was the father of Mananann. He married Aobh and had three sons and a daughter. When Aobh died, he married Aoife. She became jealous of Lir's children and she changed them into swans.

Lochlann : Name of Northern men, in Ireland, before the Viking invasion. It was a legendary country where lived giant men.

Luchta : Carpenter god of the Tuatha.

Lugh : God of Sun and Light who joined the Tuatha dé Dannan when they fought the Fomoires. He was the grandson of Balor through his mother Ethne and was the grandson of Dian Cecht through his father Cian. He was also called Lamfada, "the long hand", because of his weapons, the spear and sling and Samildanach, "the polyvalence" (many levels), because of his knowledge in several sciences. He killed Balor with a slingshot. The legend says he was one of Cuchulainn’s fathers.

Lughnasadh : Fair of the warm season. Her name come from Lugh, the sunny god. They honour Macha, the horses goddess too. During this fair, they honour the union of sun strength (Lugh) and the earth strength (Macha). This fair was the time, for the ancient Celts, to according wedding.

Macha : One of the most important goddesses of Irish mythology, the Epona of Gaul and the Rhiannon of Wales She is associated with several myths. She was Nemed’s wife. As Crunnchu she had a race with Ulates while she was pregnant. She gave birth to twins, Emain agus Macha, and placed a curse on Ulates (An Noinden, "The Nines"). The curse was that each year his descendants had to suffer the sickness of pregnancy each year for nine days and nine nights and for nine times nine generations. Macha was Aedh’s daughter, a king who reigned with Dithorba and Cimbaeth. When Aedh died, the two other didn’t want of Macha on the throne with them. In battle she defeated them, married Cimbaeth and banished Dithorba to slavery.

Mac Oc : Another name for Aengus

Macnamara : Warrior who got magic powers after he robed a magic stone from the nest of a crow and rubbed himself and his mare. Following the death of his mare, crossing a ford, he lost his powers.

Maeldun : To avenge the murder of his father, he sailed. A " geis " forbids him to have more than six people on his boat but at the last time, his fostered brothers join him and they were more than allowed. Then began a long travel with lots of events. Endless, Maeldun made peace with hi enemies.

Maeve : Originally, Maeve was a goddess who symbolised Mother Earth. To enable him take the throne the king-to-be married her to be allowed reign over the kingdom. She was also the Queen Maeve of Connacht, Aillil’s wife. When she discovered that her possessions were lesser than her husband’s, she stole the brawn bull of Cuailgue from the Kingdom of Ulster. A battle ensued and during this battle Cuchulainn was killed.

Mag Mell (or Mag Mor) : The Other World

Mananann : God of the ocean, he reigns on Tir Tairngiri. He is the brother of Ogma and Dagda, the son of Lir and Fand’s husband. He enjoyed taking different human forms while in the land of mortals.

Miach : Son of Dian Cecht, Miach was a medicine god of Na Tuatha. He was better surgeon than his father. When he successfully transplanted a live arm to Nuada, replacing a silver arm made by his father, his father became jealous and killed him.

Midir : God of the Other World. He was the brother of Dagda and foster father to Aengus. He became Etaine’s lover when he visited his foster son in Brug na Boyne.

Morrigane : Goddess of Feuds, she reigned over the battle fields where she guided the warriors with her predictions. She assisted the Tuatha during the Moy Tura battle. She made love to Dagda during the eve of Samhain night on the banks of the River Boyne River. Later, she tried to seduce Cuchulainn and after failing to charm him did battle with him. She is symbolised by three crows.

Moy Tura : Site of two great battles. The first battle was between Na Fir Bolg and Na Tuatha dé Dannan and the second between Na Fomoires and Na Tuatha dé Dannan. During these battles, just about all of the principal heroes of Irish mythology fought oneanother.

Murna : Finn’s mother

Na : The gaelic for the definite article 'The' (plural). The singular is 'An'. e.g. Na Tuatha dé Dannan. or An File, (The poet)

Naoise : Was one of the three sons of Usnach, a great warrior who was a member of Conchobar’s train. Deirdre fell in love with him and, after she placed him under a geis, he had to flee with her to avoid the anger of Conchobar. He was later killed by Eogan.

Nachtan : Dagda’s brother and Boann’s husband

Nemain : Another name for Badb, the warrior goddess.

Nemanach : One of Aengus’s sons.

Nemed : Coming from the South, he landed Ireland with his people. This group lived on the island after the defeat of Na Fomoires. Following two other battles, Nemed’s people were defeated. Some of his followers became slaves and the others fled. Legend has it that Nemed died in Cork Harbour.

Ness : Daughter of Eochaid and the mother of Findchoen (who will later become Cuchulainn’s foster mother ). By ruse (trickery), Cathbad the druid got her to marry him. She tried to kill him and give him a drink containing two worms, but she mistakenly drank one of them and became pregnant giving birth to Conchobar. After a year, she obtained her freedom from Cathbad and promptly married Fergus. She asked Fergus to give the throne to Conchobar during their nuptial year. After the year was up, Conchobar had been such a wise ruler that the people asked Fergus to stay away and to let Conchobar reign instead.

Net : Badb’s husband

Newgrange : Sanctuary. Sacred site of Dagda.

Niamh : A princess from Tír na Nóg. She came in Ireland in the form of a magic horse with a gold mane to capture the love of Oisín.

Noidhiu : Her mother, Fingel, went in prison. There, she got pregnant by a gosh . Nine years and nine month later she gave life to a child that utter nine judgement.

Noinden : The curse of the nines. This was the name of the curse which Macha put on Ulates, the people of Ulster.

Nuada Airgetlam : King of Na Tuatha dé Dannan. During the first Moy Tura battle against Na Fir Bolg, he was wounded and lost his right arm on the battlefield. As a result of this mishap he lost the throne. Dian Cecht, the medicine god, made him an arm of silver but not in time to prevent Bress becoming the Tuatha king instead of him. Later, Miach, Dian Cecht’s son and a much more skilled medicine god, transplanted a live arm and Nuada was took the throne again. ( In a rage of jealousy, Miach was killed by his father for showing he was a better healer. ) On the retaking of the throne the second Moy Tura battle ensued. Bress was assisted by Na Fomoire, and Nuada by Na Tuatha. Na Tuaha dé Dannan won but Nuada was killed during the battle.

Ochain : Conchobar’s magic shelter. It issued forth warnings aloud when the the king was in danger.

Oengus : God of Love, another name for Aengus, the Mac Oc.

Ogham : Sacred writings of islander Celts. It is made with nicks in wood or stone. Each letter inscribed is associated with a tree. These letters were created by Ogma, god of knowledge.

Ogma : One of the most important gods of Na Tuatha dé Dannan. His name means "the binder god". He is adorned with many fine gold chains from his tongue to the ears of the men who follow him. This symbolises his power of speech and wisdom.

Ossian (Oisin): Hero of Na Fianna, son of Finn. His name means "young calf". Towards the end of his life, he went in Tír na nÓg with princess Niamh and married her.

Partholon : Chieftain of the first people who came to Ireland. He created seven lakes and four plains He also created fishing, hunting, farming and breeding. He was the first person to do battle against Na Fomoires and legend says he was killed on the one and only plain which existed before his coming.

Plu na Mban : Daughter of Niamh and Ossian, born in Tir na N’og

Pooka : Person of the Fairy Little People who take several forms. The forms preferred are the goat, horse and bull. When someone does not please him, he pushes them over the mountain's edge and he flies to the glens of the Burren.

Puck Fair : Fair that takes place each years at Killorglin, county of Kerry during Lughnasadh. During this fair, to please the pooka, a white goat is crowned to reign on the fair during three days.Traditionnaly, the goat comes from Kilgobnet. This Fair also commemorates the victory of the Irish against Cromwell's army. Indeed, the tradition tells that a young sheep-keeper saw that Cromwell's army was about to attack Killorglin by surprise. As he didn't had enought time to inform the resident, he ran his goats to the british soldiers who, frightened, had to run away. Killorglin was safe.

Raighne : Finn’s son

Ronan : Irish druid who lived alone in the forest and was werewolf.

Ron Cerr : Spy of Branduff. He entered Aedh camp, disguised as a leprous with a wood leg, and killed Aedh.

Ruadan : Son of Bress and of goddess Brit. He tried to killed Goibniu during the second Moy Tura battle but the blacksmith killed him instead.

Ruadh : During a journey, his ship was stopped by three giant women. She tooked him into her sea-bed to sleep with him.She told him that they were pregnent of his son and ordered him to come back during his next journey. As he didn't, they cutted off the child's head.

Ruad Rofessa : Another name for Dagda, when he takes the form of the God of magicians and druids.

Rudraide : One of Partholon’s sons. When he was buried, a spring burst forth and gave birth to Lough Rudgrage.

Sadhbh : Ossian’s mother

Samaliliath : Partholonian who introduced beer in Ireland.

Salmon of the Knowledge : Red spotted fish who acquired the Knowledge after eating sorb berries felt into water. Finegas catch one of these fish. Finn cooked it and burned his finger while touching the salmon. He licked his finger and acquired the Knowledge.

Samhain : A Great pagan feast (1st November), marking the beginning of the new Celtic year and of the cold season. During the eve of Samhain, all the doors of the sidh are open. During this night, the high king of Ireland was symbolically 'killed' before being 'reborn' for a other year of reign.

Samhair : Finn’s daughter. She married Cormac, the King of Munster.

Scathach : Warrior queen and witch who lived in Scotland. She had to initiate all the main heroes of Ireland in matters of magic and warfare.

Sencha : Conchobar’s druid. His womb brought peace. Now, his name is taken by the druids who have to teach history and philosophy.

Sentana : First name of Cuchulainn, meaning " the path "

Sidh : Magic place where fairies and all the other persons of the Little People live.

Streng : Fir Bolg warrior who cut Nuada’s arm. The one he used to hold his weapon.

Suibne Gelt : Savage man who represents the primitives strength of the forest.

Tailtiu : Fir Bolg woman, considered to be a primitive goddess of the Earth. She married one of Na Tuatha dé Dannan and became the foster mother of Lugh. She died from starvation after clearing Breg Forest. Lugh decided to create a fair to honour her memory. The shamrock which was covering the Breg plain became the emblem of this fair.

Tara : Residence of the High King of Ireland. An (The) Lia Fail, The Stone of Fate, a stone which shouted prophecies of fate, but only when the one who was to be king touched it, rested at the Hill of Tara.

Tain bo Cualnge : Name of the beef raid of Cooley, well-known part of the Irish mythology which shows the eternal rivality between Ulster and Connaught, Maeve and Cuchulainn.

Tabhfheis :Ceremony in which a king is choosen. A man must eat beaf meat. Then, while in a magic sleep, he dream and see the face of who has to become king.

Tigernmas : King of Irland who fight the sons of Miles. His people and himself prostrated so often with fervour in front of Crom Cuach that most of them became fool, killed them-self or their companion.

Tir fo Thuinn : Name of the subterranean Ocean Kingdom

Tir na Mban : Country where Bran and his fellow travellers were detained by women with magic powers, without them being aware of the passage of time.

Tir na NÓg : Country of everlasting youth, where the souls rest in peace, awaiting their next life. It is said to be far away in the Western Ocean.

Tory Island : Island in the North of Donegal, country of the Fomoires.

Tuan Mac Carell : He is the only survivor of the scourge which destroyed his race, the Partholonien. A morning, he found him-self transformed into a deer and became the master of all the Irish deers. Becaming older, he transformed into a boar, then into an eagle, and at last a salmon. He got caught by the Queen Cairell who ate him, and then, gave life to Tuan. He was then known as Fintan or Tuan Mac Cairell. Under his severals forms, animal or human, he saw all the history of Irland and his people. He is the symbol of the transmission of the history.

(Na) Tuatha dé Danann : A divine race from the North who fought Na Fir Bolg and Na Fomoires in the Moy Tura battles. They reached the Island of Ireland on Bealtaine Day. Their name means " the people of Dana" and their king was Nuada. They reigned a long time before being expelled from Ireland by the sons of Miles. The main chieftains of Na Tuatha were gods and they were revered in all of pagan Ireland. The principal male gods were: Dagda, Ogma, Lugh, Nuada, Goibniu, Credne, Luchta, Dian Cecht, Oengus and Mananann. The goddesses were: Dana, Brit, Morrigane, Eriu and Cliona They owned four sacred tools : An Lia Fail (The Stone of Fate), The Spear of Lugh, The Sword of Nuada and The Cauldron of Dagda.

Tuirbe : Father of Goibniu, the God of Blacksmiths. He once forged a gigantic axe.

Tuirean : Finn’s sister. Her husband, Illan the magician, changed her into a bitch. So she gave birth to Finn’s dogs : Bran and Sceolan.

Uacthach : Daughter of Scathach, the Scots warrior witch. She was responsible for the initiation of Cuchulainn in matters of magic and battle and in the course of the initiation fell in love with him.

Uaitne : Dagda’s magic harp. She was able to play alone if her owner asked it of her. The Fomoires stole her at the end of the second Moy Tura battle. When Dagda met Na Fomoires to keep back his harp; first, she played the Youth Song and all the Fomoires laughed irrepressibly, after that, she played the Old Age Song and all the Fomoires were given to uncontrollable crying, finally, she played the Death Song and all of the Fomoires warriors fell into a deep sleep. Thus, Dagda was easily able to take back his harp without fear of reprisal.

Ulates : The People of Ulster. Cuchulainn, Conchobar and Amorgen were Ulates. They had the curse of goddess Macha hanging over them. Each year, they had to suffer like pregnant women for nine days and nine nights and for a period of nine times nine generations.

Eric & Kâ would like to thank Greg Doran for his contribution to the translation of most of all this glossary into comprehensive and fluent english.