Browse — Old Irish (still spoken)

---

Words that have been in the Irish lexicon since at least the Old Irish period (roughly 600–900 AD) and remain in everyday use.

144 entries.

Irish	Ogham	How to say it	English	Source	Note
Acallam na Senórach	᚛ᚐᚉᚐᚂᚂᚐᚋ ᚅᚐ ᚄᚓᚅᚑᚏᚐᚉᚆ᚜	AK-uh-lum nuh SHAN-or-ukh	colloquy of the old men	CELT — Acallam	Acallam na Senórach — the medieval framing-text in which the surviving Fenian heroes explain Ireland’s place-lore (Dindshenchas) to Saint Pádraig. The hinge between pagan and Christian Ireland.
Aengus	᚛ᚐᚓᚅᚌᚒᚄ᚜	AYN-guss	aengus	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Aengus Óg, god of love and youth. Son of the Dagda. His palace is the Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange).
Aided Chlann Tuireann	᚛ᚐᚔᚇᚓᚇ ᚉᚆᚂᚐᚅᚅ ᚈᚒᚔᚏᚓᚐᚅᚅ᚜	EYE-jud klun TIR-un	death of the children of tuireann	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Aided Chlann Tuireann. The Sons of Tuireann killed Lugh’s father; Lugh sets them an impossible quest for the Three Sorrows of Storytelling.
Aided Chú Chulainn	᚛ᚐᚔᚇᚓᚇ ᚉᚆᚒ ᚉᚆᚒᚂᚐᚔᚅᚅ᚜	EYE-jud khoo KHUL-in	death of cú chulainn	CELT — Táin	The Death of Cú Chulainn. Killed by his geasa colliding with each other; tied himself to a stone pillar to die standing.
ailm	᚛ᚐᚔᚂᚋ᚜	AL-im	ailm	CELT — Auraicept	Ailm — Ogham letter A. Tree: pine. The bríatharogam (Old Irish kenning) for ailm: ‘highest of bushes’ (ardam dossa).
aire	᚛ᚐᚔᚏᚓ᚜	AH-uh-ruh	care	CELT — Senchas Már
Airmid	᚛ᚐᚔᚏᚋᚔᚇ᚜	AR-mid	airmid	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Airmid — daughter of Dian Cécht, sister of Miach. Goddess of healing herbs. When her brother was killed, the herbs that grew from his grave revealed all medicine; her father scattered them so no one would know all cures.
An Bhóinn	᚛ᚐᚅ ᚁᚆᚑᚔᚅᚅ᚜	un VOH-in	the boyne	CELT — Lebor Gabála	The river Boyne. Named for the goddess Bóand. Newgrange sits on its banks.
An Cailleach	᚛ᚐᚅ ᚉᚐᚔᚂᚂᚓᚐᚉᚆ᚜	un KAL-yukh	the cailleach	Foclóir	The Cailleach — the divine hag, ancestress and creator-shaper of Ireland’s landscape. Mountains and bogs are her work.
An Mhí	᚛ᚐᚅ ᚋᚆᚔ᚜	un VEE	meath	Logainm	Meath — ‘the middle.’ Was once the fifth province (along with Ulster, Munster, Leinster, Connacht); the seat of the High Kings of Ireland at Tara.
An Mhór-Ríoghan	᚛ᚐᚅ ᚋᚆᚑᚏᚏᚔᚑᚌᚆᚐᚅ᚜	un VOR REE-uh-gun	the morrigan	CELT — Lebor Gabála	The Morrigan — phantom queen, goddess of war and battle-fate. Appears as a raven over the battlefield. Triple goddess (with Badb and Macha).
An Sionainn	᚛ᚐᚅ ᚄᚔᚑᚅᚐᚔᚅᚅ᚜	un SHIN-in	the shannon	CELT — Lebor Gabála	The river Shannon. Ireland’s longest river. Named for Sionann, granddaughter of Lir, who broke the rule against drinking from the well of wisdom and was carried away by the river that bears her name.
Aoife	᚛ᚐᚑᚔᚃᚓ᚜	EE-fuh	aoife	CELT — TáinCELT — Lebor Gabála	Aoife. Many in mythology: stepmother of the Children of Lir; warrior-queen who bore Cú Chulainn his son. Modern girls’ name.
Ard Mhacha	᚛ᚐᚏᚇ ᚋᚆᚐᚉᚆᚐ᚜	ord WAH-khuh	armagh	Logainm	Armagh — ‘height of Macha.’ The goddess Macha gave her name to the seat of Saint Patrick’s church and the historical primacy of Ireland.
Badb	᚛ᚁᚐᚇᚁ᚜	byve	badb	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Badb — battle-crow goddess. Sister of the Morrigan.
Balor	᚛ᚁᚐᚂᚑᚏ᚜	BAL-ur	balor	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Balor of the Evil Eye. Fomorian king. His one terrible eye killed whoever looked into it. Killed by his grandson Lugh at the Second Battle of Mag Tuired.
Banba	᚛ᚁᚐᚅᚁᚐ᚜	BAN-uh-vuh	banba	CELT — Lebor Gabála	One of the three queens of the Tuatha Dé Danann (with Ériu and Fódla). Ancient poetic name for Ireland.
Bealtaine	᚛ᚁᚓᚐᚂᚈᚐᚔᚅᚓ᚜	BAL-tin-uh	bealtaine	Foclóir	Bealtaine — already covered.
bean sí	᚛ᚁᚓᚐᚅ ᚄᚔ᚜	BAN SHEE	banshee	FoclóirTeanglann
Bhreithiúna	᚛ᚁᚆᚏᚓᚔᚈᚆᚔᚒᚅᚐ᚜	VREH-yoon-uh	brehon laws	CELT — Senchas Már	Brehon. The medieval Irish legal code — applied by the breitheamh (judge) caste, survived underground long after English Common Law was imposed.
Brendan	᚛ᚁᚏᚓᚅᚇᚐᚅ᚜	BREN-dun	brendan	FoclóirTeanglann	Saint Brendan the Navigator. Crossed the Atlantic in a currach in the 6th century, by the testimony of Navigatio Sancti Brendani. Feast day 16 May.
Bríd	᚛ᚁᚏᚔᚇ᚜	breed	bridget	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Brigid. Goddess of poetry, smithcraft, and healing in pre-Christian Ireland; also the Christian saint whose feast (1 February) marks the spring festival of Imbolc.
brón	᚛ᚁᚏᚑᚅ᚜	BROHN	grief	eDIL
brónach	᚛ᚁᚏᚑᚅᚐᚉᚆ᚜	BROHN-ukh	melancholy	eDIL	Sad.
Brú na Bóinne	᚛ᚁᚏᚒ ᚅᚐ ᚁᚑᚔᚅᚅᚓ᚜	broo nuh BOH-nyuh	brú na bóinne	Foclóir	Brú na Bóinne — the Boyne palace, modern Newgrange. Built 5,000 years ago; older than the pyramids and Stonehenge. Home of Aengus.
bóaire	᚛ᚁᚑᚐᚔᚏᚓ᚜	BOH-uh-ruh	cattle-lord	CELT — Senchas Már	Bóaire — literally ‘cow-lord.’ A free farmer in Brehon law. Cattle were the unit of wealth.
Bóand	᚛ᚁᚑᚐᚅᚇ᚜	BOH-und	bóand	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Bóand — goddess of the river Boyne, which carries her name. Wife of Nechtan; lover of the Dagda.
Cailleach Bhéarra	᚛ᚉᚐᚔᚂᚂᚓᚐᚉᚆ ᚁᚆᚓᚐᚏᚏᚐ᚜	KAL-yukh VAY-ruh	cailleach bhéarra	Foclóir	The Old Woman of Beara. The Cailleach in her Cork manifestation; lived seven youths and seven old ages, shaping landscape with her hammer.
caoineadh	᚛ᚉᚐᚑᚔᚅᚓᚐᚇᚆ᚜	KEE-uh-nagh	dirge	eDIL
Caílte	᚛ᚉᚐᚔᚂᚈᚓ᚜	KEEL-chuh	caílte	CELT — Acallam	Caílte mac Rónáin — fastest of the Fianna; in Acallam na Senórach, he tells the surviving lore of the Fianna to Saint Pádraig centuries after they died.
ceithearnach	᚛ᚉᚓᚔᚈᚆᚓᚐᚏᚅᚐᚉᚆ᚜	KEH-uh-ha-rnuhkh	kern	CELT — Senchas Már
Ciarán	᚛ᚉᚔᚐᚏᚐᚅ᚜	KEER-awn	ciarán	Foclóir	Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise. Founded the great monastery on the Shannon. Feast day 9 September.
Cill Dara	᚛ᚉᚔᚂᚂ ᚇᚐᚏᚐ᚜	kil DAR-uh	kildare	Logainm	Kildare — ‘church of the oak.’ Saint Brigid’s monastery, by the sacred oak.
Clann Lir	᚛ᚉᚂᚐᚅᚅ ᚂᚔᚏ᚜	klun LEER	children of lir	CELT — Lebor Gabála	The Children of Lir. Fionnuala, Aodh, Fiachra, and Conn — Lir’s four children, transformed into swans by their stepmother Aoife for 900 years. One of the Three Sorrows.
Claíomh Solais	᚛ᚉᚂᚐᚔᚑᚋᚆ ᚄᚑᚂᚐᚔᚄ᚜	KLEEV SUH-lish	sword of light	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Claíomh Solais — Sword of Light. One of the four treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann; brought from the city Findias.
Cnoc na hAdhairce	᚛ᚉᚅᚑᚉ ᚅᚐ ᚆᚐᚇᚆᚐᚔᚏᚉᚓ᚜	knuk nuh HAR-kuh	knocknarea	CELT — Táin	Knocknarea, Sligo. Topped by Queen Medb’s cairn (Miosgán Mhéabha) — said to contain her standing burial.
Coire Daghdha	᚛ᚉᚑᚔᚏᚓ ᚇᚐᚌᚆᚇᚆᚐ᚜	KIR-uh DOY-uh	cauldron of the dagda	CELT — Lebor Gabála	The Dagda’s cauldron — never emptied. One of the four treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Colm Cille	᚛ᚉᚑᚂᚋ ᚉᚔᚂᚂᚓ᚜	KUL-um KIL-uh	columba	FoclóirTeanglann	Saint Columba (Colm Cille — ‘dove of the church’). Founded Iona; brought Irish monasticism to Scotland and beyond. Feast day 9 June.
Conchobar	᚛ᚉᚑᚅᚉᚆᚑᚁᚐᚏ᚜	KUN-uh-khur	conchobar	CELT — Táin	Conchobar mac Nessa — King of Ulster in the Ulster Cycle. The treachery of his court drove Deirdre to her death.
Conn Céadchathach	᚛ᚉᚑᚅᚅ ᚉᚓᚐᚇᚉᚆᚐᚈᚆᚐᚉᚆ᚜	KUN KAYD-khah-ukh	conn of the hundred battles	Foclóir	Conn Céadchathach. Legendary High King of Ireland; conn means ‘sense, judgement.’
Connla	᚛ᚉᚑᚅᚅᚂᚐ᚜	KUN-luh	connla	CELT — Táin	Connla — son of Cú Chulainn and Aoife. Killed by his own father in a tragic recognition story (echoed in Persian and Russian epic — the international ‘father-son combat’ theme).
Cormac mac Airt	᚛ᚉᚑᚏᚋᚐᚉ ᚋᚐᚉ ᚐᚔᚏᚈ᚜	KUR-muk muk ARCH	cormac mac airt	Foclóir	Cormac mac Airt — the wise High King. Author of the Brehon law text Tecosca Cormaic (‘Instructions of Cormac’).
Crom Cruach	᚛ᚉᚏᚑᚋ ᚉᚏᚒᚐᚉᚆ᚜	krum KROO-ukh	crom cruach	Foclóir	Crom Cruach — pre-Christian idol said to be on Magh Sleacht (Plain of Adoration). Tradition says Pádraig destroyed it.
Cruach Phádraig	᚛ᚉᚏᚒᚐᚉᚆ ᚚᚆᚐᚇᚏᚐᚔᚌ᚜	KROO-ukh FAW-rig	croagh patrick	eDIL	Cruach Phádraig — the Irish name for Croagh Patrick. Cruach means ‘stack’ or ‘rick.’
Cruachan	᚛ᚉᚏᚒᚐᚉᚆᚐᚅ᚜	KROO-uh-khun	cruachan	CELT — Táin	Cruachan (Rathcroghan, Co. Roscommon). Royal seat of Connacht; Medb’s stronghold; entrance to the otherworld in the Táin.
Cú Chulainn	᚛ᚉᚒ ᚉᚆᚒᚂᚐᚔᚅᚅ᚜	koo-KHUL-in	cú chulainn	CELT — Táin	The Hound of Culann. Hero of the Ulster Cycle; defended Ulster single-handed in the Cattle Raid of Cooley.
Dagda	᚛ᚇᚐᚌᚇᚐ᚜	DAG-duh	dagda	CELT — Lebor Gabála	The Good God. Father-god of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Owner of the cauldron that never empties, the club that kills and revives, the harp that orders the seasons.
Deirdre	᚛ᚇᚓᚔᚏᚇᚏᚓ᚜	DAYR-druh	deirdre	CELT — Táin	Deirdre of the Sorrows. Prophesied to bring ruin to Ulster; her doomed love for Naoise is one of the great tragedies of Irish lore.
Dian Cécht	᚛ᚇᚔᚐᚅ ᚉᚓᚉᚆᚈ᚜	DEE-un kayt	dian cécht	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Dian Cécht — physician of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Made Nuada’s silver arm. Killed his own son Miach for outdoing him in healing.
Diarmuid	᚛ᚇᚔᚐᚏᚋᚒᚔᚇ᚜	JEER-muj	diarmuid	CELT — Acallam	Diarmuid Ua Duibhne. Hero of the Fenian Cycle; eloped with Gráinne (Fionn’s promised bride). Diarmuid agus Gráinne is one of the great Irish romances.
Dindshenchas	᚛ᚇᚔᚅᚇᚄᚆᚓᚅᚉᚆᚐᚄ᚜	JIN-shan-khuss	dindshenchas	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Dindshenchas — ‘place-lore.’ The medieval Irish corpus of poems and prose explaining how places got their names. Every hill, river, and field has its myth.
Doire	᚛ᚇᚑᚔᚏᚓ᚜	DUR-uh	derry	Logainm	Derry. Doire means ‘oak grove’ — the original sacred grove where Colm Cille founded a monastery in 546.
Donn	᚛ᚇᚑᚅᚅ᚜	dun	donn	Foclóir	Donn — god of the dead. Dwells on Tech Duinn, an island off Munster’s coast where the souls gather. Same word means ‘brown.’
draoi	᚛ᚇᚏᚐᚑᚔ᚜	dree	druid	eDIL	Druid. The pre-Christian priest-poet-judge of Irish society. Same word in modern Irish for ‘magician’ or ‘wizard.’
draíocht	᚛ᚇᚏᚐᚔᚑᚉᚆᚈ᚜	DREE-uhkht	enchantment	eDIL
dúchas	᚛ᚇᚒᚉᚆᚐᚄ᚜	DOO-khuss	heritage	eDIL	Heritage, native nature. Dúchas is what’s inherent — the inherited, native quality. Used both literally (a dog of native breed has dúchas) and metaphorically (an Irish person’s dúchas Gaelach).
eadhadh	᚛ᚓᚐᚇᚆᚐᚇᚆ᚜	AY-uh	eadhadh	CELT — Auraicept	Eadhadh — Ogham letter E. Tree: aspen. Kenning: ‘discernment of the dead’ (érgnaid féda).
earrach	᚛ᚓᚐᚏᚏᚐᚉᚆ᚜	AR-ukh	spring	eDIL	Spring (the season). Begins on Lá ‘le Bríde, St Brigid’s Day, 1 February — the old Irish spring is a month earlier than the English.
echtra	᚛ᚓᚉᚆᚈᚏᚐ᚜	EKH-truh	echtra	Foclóir	Echtra — ‘expedition.’ A genre of medieval Irish tales about heroes’ journeys to the otherworld. Echtra Bhran, Echtra Chonnla.
Echtra Chonnla	᚛ᚓᚉᚆᚈᚏᚐ ᚉᚆᚑᚅᚅᚂᚐ᚜	EKH-truh KHUN-luh	adventure of connla	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Echtra Chonnla. Connla, son of Conn of the Hundred Battles, is summoned by an otherworld woman who carries him off in a glass boat.
Emain Macha	᚛ᚓᚋᚐᚔᚅ ᚋᚐᚉᚆᚐ᚜	EH-vin MAH-khuh	emain macha	CELT — Táin	Emain Macha (Navan Fort, Co. Armagh). Royal seat of Ulster; Cú Chulainn and the Red Branch warriors based here.
enech	᚛ᚓᚅᚓᚉᚆ᚜	EN-ukh	honour	CELT — Senchas Már	Enech (modern eineach) — face, honour. A man’s enech-price (lóg n-enech) was the value the law placed on injuries to his honour. Insulting a man cost as much as wounding him.
esnad	᚛ᚓᚄᚅᚐᚇ᚜	ESS-nud	musical refrain	Foclóir	Esnad — the music of the otherworld. Refrains of fairy birds, sídhe-music that puts mortals into enchanted sleep.
Fand	᚛ᚃᚐᚅᚇ᚜	fond	fand	CELT — TáinCELT — Lebor Gabála	Fand — wife of Manannán, briefly the lover of Cú Chulainn before being magically separated from him.
fianna	᚛ᚃᚔᚐᚅᚅᚐ᚜	FEE-un-uh	the fianna	CELT — Acallam	The Fianna — wandering bands of warrior-poets in the Fenian Cycle. Led by Fionn mac Cumhaill.
Fionn	᚛ᚃᚔᚑᚅᚅ᚜	fyun	finn	CELT — Acallam	Fionn mac Cumhaill. Hero of the Fenian Cycle; leader of the Fianna, the wandering warrior-poets.
Fionnuala	᚛ᚃᚔᚑᚅᚅᚒᚐᚂᚐ᚜	FIN-OO-uh-luh	fionnuala	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Fionnuala (Fionnghuala — ‘fair shoulder’) — eldest of the Children of Lir. Modern girls’ name.
fios	᚛ᚃᚔᚑᚄ᚜	fis	knowledge	eDIL	Knowledge — but specifically the secret, deep, druidic kind. Fios was what the Salmon of Knowledge gave Fionn.
Fomóraigh	᚛ᚃᚑᚋᚑᚏᚐᚔᚌᚆ᚜	FUH-VOR-ee	fomorians	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Fomorians. The chaotic sea-people the Tuatha Dé Danann defeated at Mag Tuired. Often described as monstrous; sometimes one-eyed, one-legged.
Fódla	᚛ᚃᚑᚇᚂᚐ᚜	FOH-luh	fódla	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Third of the three queens of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
fómhar	᚛ᚃᚑᚋᚆᚐᚏ᚜	FOH-vur	autumn	eDIL	Autumn. Begins on Lúnasa, 1 August. Also means the harvest itself.
gallóglach	᚛ᚌᚐᚂᚂᚑᚌᚂᚐᚉᚆ᚜	GAL-OH-glukh	gallowglass	CELT — Senchas Már	Gallowglass — heavy mercenary infantry, Hebridean-Norse stock; literally ‘foreign warrior.’ Provided to Irish kings from the 13th century.
geimhreadh	᚛ᚌᚓᚔᚋᚆᚏᚓᚐᚇᚆ᚜	GIV-ruh	winter	eDIL	Winter. Begins on Samhain, 1 November — the old Irish year began here, in the dark.
Goibhniu	᚛ᚌᚑᚔᚁᚆᚅᚔᚒ᚜	GIV-nyoo	goibhniu	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Goibhniu — smith of the Tuatha Dé Danann. His weapons never missed; his ale conferred immortality.
Goll mac Morna	᚛ᚌᚑᚂᚂ ᚋᚐᚉ ᚋᚑᚏᚅᚐ᚜	GUL muk MUR-nuh	goll mac morna	CELT — Acallam	Goll mac Morna — one-eyed Fenian hero, sometimes Fionn’s friend, sometimes his rival.
Gráinne	᚛ᚌᚏᚐᚔᚅᚅᚓ᚜	GRAW-nyuh	gráinne	CELT — Acallam	Gráinne. Promised to Fionn but eloped with Diarmuid. Gives English-speakers the name Grace.
huath	᚛ᚆᚒᚐᚈᚆ᚜	HOO-uh	huath	CELT — Auraicept	Huath — Ogham letter H. Tree: hawthorn. Kenning: ‘a meet of hounds’ (cona-condal). The thorny hawthorn was sacred to the sídhe.
imbas	᚛ᚔᚋᚁᚐᚄ᚜	IM-buss	imbas	Foclóir	Imbas — the poetic inspiration / divine knowledge sought by the file (poet). Imbas forosnai was a divinatory ritual performed by poets.
Imbolc	᚛ᚔᚋᚁᚑᚂᚉ᚜	IM-uh-luk	imbolc	Foclóir	Imbolc — already in batch 2; for the festivals theme.
Imram Brain	᚛ᚔᚋᚏᚐᚋ ᚁᚏᚐᚔᚅ᚜	IM-rum BRAN	voyage of bran	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Imram Brain. Bran sails across the western sea, visits paradisal islands, and finds when he returns that centuries have passed.
Imram Maelduin	᚛ᚔᚋᚏᚐᚋ ᚋᚐᚓᚂᚇᚒᚔᚅ᚜	IM-rum MAYL-djin	voyage of maelduin	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Imram Maelduin — Voyage of Maelduin. The young Maelduin and his companions visit 33 wonder-islands while seeking his father’s killers. Influenced Tennyson; precursor to Lewis’s Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
iodhadh	᚛ᚔᚑᚇᚆᚐᚇᚆ᚜	EE-uh	iodhadh	CELT — Auraicept	Iodhadh — Ogham letter I. Tree: yew. Kenning: ‘oldest of woods’ (sinem feda). Yews live thousands of years.
Ita	᚛ᚔᚈᚐ᚜	EE-tuh	ita	FoclóirTeanglann	Saint Ita of Killeedy. Foster-mother to many of Ireland’s male saints. Feast day 15 January.
Kevin	᚛ᚓᚔᚅ᚜	KEH-vin	kevin	FoclóirTeanglann	Saint Kevin (Caoimhín) of Glendalough. Founded the monastic city in the Wicklow valley. Feast day 3 June.
leabhar	᚛ᚂᚓᚐᚁᚆᚐᚏ᚜	LYOW-ur	book	eDILGrimoire XI.2	Masculine. A book. Plural leabhair. Borrowed from Latin liber when the monks brought writing.
leannán sídhe	᚛ᚂᚓᚐᚅᚅᚐᚅ ᚄᚔᚇᚆᚓ᚜	LAN-awn SHEE	fairy lover	Foclóir	Leannán sídhe — fairy-lover. A spirit who takes a mortal as paramour, often inspiring great art at the cost of their life.
Lia Fáil	᚛ᚂᚔᚐ ᚃᚐᚔᚂ᚜	LEE-uh fawl	stone of destiny	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Lia Fáil — the Stone of Destiny on the Hill of Tara. Cried out under the rightful High King.
Lir	᚛ᚂᚔᚏ᚜	leer	lir	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Lir — sea-god, father of Manannán. The Children of Lir (Clann Lir) were turned into swans by their stepmother for 900 years.
Longes mac nUislenn	᚛ᚂᚑᚅᚌᚓᚄ ᚋᚐᚉ ᚅᚒᚔᚄᚂᚓᚅᚅ᚜	LUN-guss muk NISH-len	exile of the sons of uisliu	CELT — Táin	Longes mac nUislenn — Exile of the Sons of Uisliu. The Deirdre tragedy. The third of the Three Sorrows.
luchorpán	᚛ᚂᚒᚉᚆᚑᚏᚚᚐᚅ᚜	LUKH-ur-pawn	luchorpán	Foclóir	Luchorpán — ‘small body.’ The Old Irish form that English took as ‘leprechaun.’
Lugh	᚛ᚂᚒᚌᚆ᚜	loo	lugh	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Lugh of the Long Arm. King of the Tuatha Dé Danann; god of skill, oaths, and harvest. The August festival Lughnasa is named for him.
Lughnasa	᚛ᚂᚒᚌᚆᚅᚐᚄᚐ᚜	LOO-nuh-suh	lughnasa	Foclóir	Lughnasa — already covered.
luis	᚛ᚂᚒᚔᚄ᚜	lush	luis	CELT — Auraicept	Luis — Ogham letter L. Tree: rowan. Kenning: ‘delight of eye’ (lí súla) — for the rowan’s bright red berries that protect against evil.
lus mór	᚛ᚂᚒᚄ ᚋᚑᚏ᚜	LUHS MOHR	foxglove	eDIL
lus na sióg	᚛ᚂᚒᚄ ᚅᚐ ᚄᚔᚑᚌ᚜	luss nuh SHEE-ohg	fairy plant	eDIL	Fairy plant — foxglove. Sacred to the sídhe; the bell-shaped flowers.
Lúnasa	᚛ᚂᚒᚅᚐᚄᚐ᚜	LOO-nuh-suh	august	eDILGrimoire XI.9	August. Also the festival of the harvest, named for the god Lugh.
Macha	᚛ᚋᚐᚉᚆᚐ᚜	MAH-khuh	macha	CELT — TáinCELT — Lebor Gabála	Macha — horse-goddess. Cursed the men of Ulster with labour-pains in their hour of need (the source of Cú Chulainn’s solo defence in the Táin).
Mag Mell	᚛ᚋᚐᚌ ᚋᚓᚂᚂ᚜	mag mel	plain of joy	Foclóir	Mag Mell — ‘Plain of Joy.’ Another name for the Otherworld.
Mag Tuired	᚛ᚋᚐᚌ ᚈᚒᚔᚏᚓᚇ᚜	mag TIR-ud	plain of pillars	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Mag Tuired (Moytura) — site of the two great mythological battles. The First and Second Battles of Mag Tuired decided who would rule Ireland: the Tuatha Dé Danann defeated the Fomorians here.
Manannán	᚛ᚋᚐᚅᚐᚅᚅᚐᚅ᚜	MAN-uh-nawn	manannán	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Manannán mac Lir. Sea-god, ferryman to the otherworld, lord of Tír na nÓg.
Manannán mac Lir	᚛ᚋᚐᚅᚐᚅᚅᚐᚅ ᚋᚐᚉ ᚂᚔᚏ᚜	MAN-uh-nawn muk LEER	manannán mac lir	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Manannán mac Lir — son of Lir. Sea-god, ferryman to the otherworld, lord of Tír na nÓg. Owner of the Wave Sweeper boat that travels without sails.
Medb	᚛ᚋᚓᚇᚁ᚜	mayv	medb	CELT — Táin	Queen Medb of Connacht. Demanded the Brown Bull of Cooley; opponent of Cú Chulainn in the Táin. Originally a sovereignty goddess; later folded into the historical-king tradition.
Miach	᚛ᚋᚔᚐᚉᚆ᚜	MEE-ukh	miach	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Miach — son of Dian Cécht, surpassed his father in healing by regrowing Nuada’s flesh-and-blood arm; killed by his jealous father.
muin	᚛ᚋᚒᚔᚅ᚜	mwin	muin	CELT — Auraicept	Muin — Ogham letter M. Tree: vine. Kenning: ‘highest of beauty’ (airdiu maise).
Naoise	᚛ᚅᚐᚑᚔᚄᚓ᚜	NEE-shuh	naoise	CELT — Táin	Naoise — lover of Deirdre. Killed by the treachery of King Conchobar; central tragedy of the Ulster Cycle.
Niall Naoighiallach	᚛ᚅᚔᚐᚂᚂ ᚅᚐᚑᚔᚌᚆᚔᚐᚂᚂᚐᚉᚆ᚜	NEE-ul NAY-yul-ukh	niall of the nine hostages	Foclóir	Niall of the Nine Hostages. Late 4th-century High King; ancestor of the Uí Néill dynasty that dominated Ulster for centuries.
Niamh Chinn Óir	᚛ᚅᚔᚐᚋᚆ ᚉᚆᚔᚅᚅ ᚑᚔᚏ᚜	NEE-uv khin OR	niamh of the golden hair	CELT — AcallamCELT — Lebor Gabála	Niamh of the Golden Hair. Daughter of Manannán; took Oisín to Tír na nÓg for three centuries.
nion	᚛ᚅᚔᚑᚅ᚜	nyun	nion	CELT — Auraicept	Nion — Ogham letter N. Tree: ash. Kenning: ‘check on a peace’ (costud síde). Ash is the wood of weapons — spears especially.
Nuada	᚛ᚅᚒᚐᚇᚐ᚜	NOO-uh-duh	nuada	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Nuada Airgetlám — Nuada of the Silver Arm. King of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Ogma	᚛ᚑᚌᚋᚐ᚜	UG-muh	ogma	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Ogma — god of eloquence and writing. Said to have invented the Ogham script (named for him). Tuatha Dé Danann.
oirfideach	᚛ᚑᚔᚏᚃᚔᚇᚓᚐᚉᚆ᚜	UR-fij-ukh	entertainer	FoclóirTeanglann	Musician, entertainer (medieval Irish). Below the file (poet) in status.
Oisín	᚛ᚑᚔᚄᚔᚅ᚜	USH-een	oisín	CELT — Acallam	Son of Fionn mac Cumhaill, poet of the Fianna. Spent three centuries with Niamh in Tír na nÓg.
onn	᚛ᚑᚅᚅ᚜	un	onn	CELT — Auraicept	Onn — Ogham letter O. Tree: gorse (furze). Kenning: ‘helper of horses’ (congnaid ech).
peith	᚛ᚚᚓᚔᚈᚆ᚜	peh	peith	CELT — Auraicept	Peith — Ogham letter P. Tree: dwarf elder. Kenning: ‘sweetest grass’ (variant of gort’s). A late addition to the Ogham — P was rare in early Irish.
rann	᚛ᚏᚐᚅᚅ᚜	run	quatrain	FoclóirTeanglann	A verse, a quatrain. Native Irish poetry was metered into ranna.
ruis	᚛ᚏᚒᚔᚄ᚜	rush	ruis	CELT — Auraicept	Ruis — Ogham letter R. Tree: elder. Kenning: ‘redness of faces’ (rúamna gnúise).
sail	᚛ᚄᚐᚔᚂ᚜	sal	sail	CELT — Auraicept	Sail — Ogham letter S. Tree: willow. Kenning: ‘pallor of the lifeless’ (lí ambí).
Salmón an Eolais	᚛ᚄᚐᚂᚋᚑᚅ ᚐᚅ ᚓᚑᚂᚐᚔᚄ᚜	SAL-mun un OH-lish	salmon of knowledge	CELT — Acallam	The Salmon of Knowledge. Ate the hazelnuts of wisdom that fell into the Pool of Connla. Caught by Fionn, who tasted his thumb and gained all wisdom.
Samhain	᚛ᚄᚐᚋᚆᚐᚔᚅ᚜	SOW-in	november	eDILGrimoire XI.9	November. Also the festival that opens winter, the original Halloween.
samhradh	᚛ᚄᚐᚋᚆᚏᚐᚇᚆ᚜	SOW-ruh	summer	eDIL	Summer. Begins on Bealtaine, 1 May, in the old Irish reckoning.
saoi	᚛ᚄᚐᚑᚔ᚜	SEE-uh	egghead	eDIL
saoithe	᚛ᚄᚐᚑᚔᚈᚆᚓ᚜	SEE-huh	sages	Foclóir	Wise people, sages. Saoithe na Gaeilge — the wise ones of Irish.
Scáthach	᚛ᚄᚉᚐᚈᚆᚐᚉᚆ᚜	SKAW-hukh	scáthach	CELT — Táin	Scáthach — warrior-woman of the Isle of Skye; Cú Chulainn’s martial-arts teacher. ‘The Shadowy One.’
Sin	᚛ᚄᚔᚅ᚜	shin	sin	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Sin — the storm-witch who killed king Muirchertach mac Erca through enchantment, vengeance for her family.
Sliabh Liag	᚛ᚄᚂᚔᚐᚁᚆ ᚂᚔᚐᚌ᚜	shleev LEE-ug	slieve league	eDIL	Slieve League, Donegal. Ireland’s tallest sea cliffs at 601 metres.
Sliabh na mBan	᚛ᚄᚂᚔᚐᚁᚆ ᚅᚐ ᚋᚁᚐᚅ᚜	SHLEEV nuh man	slievenamon	CELT — Acallam	Slievenamon — Mountain of the Women, Co. Tipperary. Where Fionn watched the women race; he chose the swiftest, Gráinne, as his bride.
spéirling	᚛ᚄᚚᚓᚔᚏᚂᚔᚅᚌ᚜	SPAYR-ling	thunderstorm	eDIL	Thunderstorm — literally ‘sky-shouting.’
Sétanta	᚛ᚄᚓᚈᚐᚅᚈᚐ᚜	SHAY-tun-tuh	sétanta	CELT — Táin	Sétanta — Cú Chulainn’s name as a boy, before he killed the smith Culann’s hound and took its name.
sí	᚛ᚄᚔ᚜	shee	fairy	FoclóirTeanglann	The sídhe. Originally the Tuatha Dé Danann themselves; later the inhabitants of the otherworld, the fairy-folk.
Tara	᚛ᚈᚐᚏᚐ᚜	TAH-ruh	tara	FoclóirTeanglann	Hill of Tara. Ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland; the political and ritual centre of the island for two thousand years.
tinn	᚛ᚈᚔᚅᚅ᚜	CHIN	achy	eDIL	Sick.
Tochmarc Étaíne	᚛ᚈᚑᚉᚆᚋᚐᚏᚉ ᚓᚈᚐᚔᚅᚓ᚜	TUKH-mark AY-deen-uh	wooing of étaín	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Tochmarc Étaíne — The Wooing of Étaín. Étaín is reborn many times across the stories; one of the most beautiful Old Irish tales.
Trí Chomhairle	᚛ᚈᚏᚔ ᚉᚆᚑᚋᚆᚐᚔᚏᚂᚓ᚜	tree KHOH-rul-uh	three counsels	Foclóir	Three Counsels — a wisdom-genre in early Irish texts (e.g., Tecosca Cormaic, the instructions of King Cormac to his son).
tuath	᚛ᚈᚒᚐᚈᚆ᚜	TOO-UHH	overkingdom	CELT — Senchas Már
Tuireann	᚛ᚈᚒᚔᚏᚓᚐᚅᚅ᚜	TIR-un	tuireann	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Tuireann. Father of three sons whose tragic quest (Aided Chlann Tuireann) is one of the Three Sorrows of Storytelling.
Tír na nÓg	᚛ᚈᚔᚏ ᚅᚐ ᚅᚑᚌ᚜	TEER NAH NOHG	dreamland	eDIL
Tír Tairngire	᚛ᚈᚔᚏ ᚈᚐᚔᚏᚅᚌᚔᚏᚓ᚜	cheer TARN-gir-uh	land of promise	Foclóir	Tír Tairngire — Land of Promise. Manannán’s otherworldly paradise, often interchangeable with Tír na nÓg.
uaigh	᚛ᚒᚐᚔᚌᚆ᚜	OO-ee	grave	eDIL	Grave.
áthas	᚛ᚐᚈᚆᚐᚄ᚜	AW-huss	happy	eDIL	Joy. Tá áthas orm — “joy is on me” — means “I am happy.”
éiric	᚛ᚓᚔᚏᚔᚉ᚜	AY-rik	blood-money	CELT — Senchas Már	Éiric — the body-fine paid for unlawful killing in Brehon law. Calculated by the victim’s status.
Ériu	᚛ᚓᚏᚔᚒ᚜	AY-roo	ériu	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Ériu — the goddess from whom Ireland (Éire) takes her name. One of the three queens of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Étaín	᚛ᚓᚈᚐᚔᚅ᚜	AY-deen	étaín	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Étaín — beautiful otherworldly woman of Tochmarc Étaíne (The Wooing of Étaín). Reborn many times after a witch turned her into a fly.
Ó Brian	᚛ᚑ ᚁᚏᚔᚐᚅ᚜	oh BREE-un	o’brien	Foclóir	O’Brien. Descendants of Brian Ború, High King of Ireland (d. 1014).
Ó Néill	᚛ᚑ ᚅᚓᚔᚂᚂ᚜	oh NAYL	o’neill	Foclóir	O’Neill. ‘Descendant of Niall’ (probably Niall of the Nine Hostages). The Uí Néill dynasty dominated Ulster for centuries.

---