Page 33 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

A POR TR AIT OF IRELAND  31

Otherworld. Among these Origins of Irish
was Finn’s son Ossian who
was not only a formid able Place Names
warrior, like his father, but was The names of many of
also renowned as a wise and Ireland’s cities, towns and
knowledgeable poet. Through villages today are largely
time, Finn has come to be based on ancient Gaelic
commonly por trayed as a terms for prominent local
giant. Legend has it that he landmarks, some of which
constructed the Giant’s no longer exist. Here are
Causeway in County Antrim just a few elements of the
(see pp266–7). place names the traveller
The children of King Lir being turned may come across.
into white swans
today. The end of the children’s
900­year ordeal coincided with
the coming of Christianity.
They regained human form
but were wizened and weak.
They died soon afterwards, but
not before being baptized. The fort on the Rock of Cashel that
gives the town its name
Saint Brendan
Ar, ard – high, height
Brendan the Navigator, like Ass, ess – waterfall
many other 6th­century A, ah, ath – ford
monks, travelled widely. It is Bal, bally – town
known that although he Beg – small
A 19th-century engraving of Finn McCool lived in western Ireland he Ben – peak, mountain
dressed for battle visited Wales, Scotland and Carrick, carrig – rock
France. It is likely, though, Cashel – stone fort
The Children of Lir that his most famous Crock, knock – hill
journey is fictitious. This Curra, curragh – marsh
One of the saddest tales in Irish story tells of a shipload of Darry, derry – oak tree
folklore involves King Lir, who monks who, after seven Dun – castle
so adored his four children that years of all kinds of strange Eden – hill brow
their step mother was driven encounters designed to Innis, inch – island
wild with jealousy. One day she test their faith, found the Inver – river mouth
took the children to a lake and Land of Promise. It is essen­ Isk, iska – water
cast a spell on them, turning tially a Christian retelling of Glas, glass – green
them into white swans con­ the common tales of the Glen, glyn – valley
fined to the waters of Ireland Celtic Otherworld. The Feast Kil, kill – church
for 900 years. However, as soon of St Brendan on 16 May is Lough – lake, sea inlet
as she had done the deed, she celebrated in Kerry by the Mona, mone – peat bog
became racked with guilt and climbing of Mount Brandon. Mor – great, large
bestowed upon them the gift Mullen, mullin – mill
of exquisite song. The king then Rath, raha – ring fort
decreed that no swan in Ireland Slieve – mountain
should be Toom – burial ground
killed – an Tul, tulagh – small hill
act which
is still illegal

St Canice’s Cathedral in Kilkenny (the
town’s name means “church of Canice”)
Engraving showing St Brendan and his monks encountering a siren

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