Challenge of the clans (41 page)

(Da-var-koo) TTiough the word translates literally as "water dog," it is used to refer to a Master Otter, an Irish version of the Loch Ness monster. Over the centuries there have been many sightings of such

fidchell

Lough Lein

Mogh Nuadat

ollamh

creatures in Irish lakes. Finn is credited in the legends with killing a number of these creatures. His slaughter of one in Lough Derg in Donegal is said to have supplied its name (Red Lake). The Lough Lein monster is included on the long list of others slain.

(Fid-kell) A board game having some similarity with chess, played with pieces of silver and gold. After war and hunting, this game and hurling were the most popular pastimes of the Irish fighting man.

(Lock Leen) This is the present-day Lake Leane. It is located near Killarney in the county of Kerry.

(Ma Nu-a-dat) A legendary ruler of Munster and a notable opponent to Conn of the Hundred Battles. After fi-eeing Munster fi*om the cruel subjugation of the warlike Emaan, he warred against and won concessions fi-om the high king of Ireland. Conn was supported in these fights by the loyal Moma clan of the Fianna, but not by Finn and the Baiscne.

(Ol-laf) The highest rank of Irish bard. The position of such men was very high in Irish society (as the poet's still is today). He was ranked second only to the king in honor, and first in sacredness.

Samhain (Sam-an) One of four great

yearly celebration days marking the changing of the seasons. The date of Samhain, along with many of the Celtic customs and beliefs associated with it, has been retained by modern society under another name: Halloween.

Sidhe (Shee) A name for the hidden

dwelling places of the mystical Tuatha de Danaan race. Later the word came to be used as a name for the inhabitants of these underground places as well. The legendary beings exist, though much degenerated, in popular modern Irish folklore as leprechauns and banshees (Ban-Sidhe, meaning "woman of the Sidhe^').

Slieve Bladhma (Slee Bla-ma) A section of hills

and glens associated with the family of Muirne's grandfather, Nuada of the Silver Hand, once high king of all the Tuatha de Danaan tribes.

Tir-na-nog Legendary Land-of-the-Ever-

Young. It is felt to be the home of the Tuatha de Danaan, and has been often visited by Irish heroes and stray travelers. Unfortunately not included in any modem guidebooks, it is knovm to lie somewhere in the mists of the Western Sea (the Atlantic).

Tuatha de Danaan (Too-aha dae Don-an) A race

of beings with long lives and great magical powers. They once held sway in Ireland but withdrew to hidden, underground dwellings after their defeat by the invading Milesian tribes. They take little direct action in the affairs of mortal man, but they do watch over him with interest and sometimes help or hinder him. The belief in these beings (often called the "Other") still exists among some in Ireland today. The Banshee and the Leprechaun are the most popularly known modem remnants of the de Danaans.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kenneth C. Flint is a graduate of the University of Nebraska with a Masters Degree in English Literature. For several years he taught in the Department of Humanities at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Presently he is Chairman of Enghsh for the Plattsmouth Community Schools (a system in a suburban community of Omaha).

In addition to teaching, he has worked as a freelance writer. He has produced articles and short stories for various markets and has written screenplays for some Omaha-based fihn companies.

Mr. Flint became interested in Celtic mythology in graduate school, where he saw a great source of material in this long neglected area of western literature. Since then he has spent much time researching in England and Ireland and developing works of fantasy that would interest modem readers.

He is the author of four previous novels, A STORM UPON ULSTER, RIDERS OF THE SIDHE, CHAMPIONS OF THE SIDHE, and MASTER OF THE SIDHE. He is currently at work on another novel about Finn MacCumhai.

"A book to treasure."

—^Morsan Llyewelyn, author

of Lion of Ireland

the Ust RAinBow

by Parke Godwin

author of Firelord and

Beloved Exile

He was a headstrong young priest who would some day be called Saint Patrick. She was the passionate young queen of the ancient Celtic race called Faerie. In a strife-torn twilight land where the pagan gods still ruled, she taught him the powers of the earth and the pleasures of love. Together, they discovered a miraculous destiny in the enchanted realm that lay beyond the Last Rainbow.

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