The Last of the High Kings (19 page)

Aengus Óg
(A-ehn-gus OHG)—Celtic god of love, youth, and beauty.

Aidan
(Aid-ann, AY-den)—J.J. Liddy's two-year-old son.

Aisling
(ASH-ling)—J.J. Liddy's wife.

 

Bodhrán
(bo-RAHN, bow-RAWN)—A traditional Irish drum made from goatskin.

Box
—A traditional button accordion.

Burren
(taken from the Irish word
boireann)
—Great limestone barrier that spans Ireland's County Clare.

 

Cairn
(kern, carn)—A heap of stones, usually conical, that is typically created as a monument or landmark.

Cat-Heads
—Mythical tribe of warriors with human bodies and cat heads. According to Irish legend, this tribe, along with the Dog-Heads, was defeated in battle by Fionn mac Cumhail.

Céilí
(KAY-lee, KAY-li-he)—A dance.

Ciaran
(KEER-ahn, KEE a rahn)—Ciaran Byrne, J.J. Liddy's father.

 

Dagda, the
(DAH dah, DÄG'du, DAHG-dah)—Son of the goddess
Danu
and father of Aengus Óg, the Dagda is referred to as
The Good God
. He was the ruler and protector of the Tuatha de Danaan, a group of immortal beings who possessed magical abilities and excelled at art, poetry, music and warfare.

Dog-Heads
—Mythical tribe of warriors with human bodies and dog heads. According to Irish legend, this tribe, along with
the Cat-Heads, was defeated in battle by Fionn mac Cumhail.

Donal
(DO-nal)—J.J. Liddy's nine-year-old son.

 

Fianna
(fee-ina, fee'awn'a, fee-anna, FEEN-oh)—Legendary army of Irish warriors who served the High King of Ireland.

Fionn mac Cumhail
(fin, FYOON, Fee'nn MacCool)—The most heroic and celebrated leader of the Fianna.

 

Garda
(GAHR-duh, gar'-da, GAR-dah, GORR-doh, gorda)—Irish policeman.

Gardai
(gar-DEE, GORR-DEE, gawr-dhee)—Plural form of
policeman
.

Girleen
(gur-lean)—Little girl.

 

Haggard
—A small open area of farmland.

Hornpipe
—A dance tune in 4/4 time but with a distinctly different rhythm from a reel.

 

Jig
—A dance tune in 6/8 time. A slip jig is in 9/8 time.

 

Leaving cert
(leaving certificate)—Final course in the Irish secondary school system, which is completed after the learning certificate examination. Students taking the examination range in age from seventeen to nineteen.

 

Puck goat
—A wild mountain goat.

Púka
(pooka, phooka)—A mythical creature that appears in the form of a goat.

 

Reel
—A dance tune in 4/4 time.

 

Salmon of Wisdom
—According to legend, a salmon gains extraordinary wisdom after eating nine hazelnuts that have fallen into the Sacred Fountain of Wisdom. By accident, the young Fionn mac Cumhail tastes this Salmon of Wisdom and immediately possesses the salmon's profundity and knowledge. This great sagacity later enables him to become the revered leader of the Fianna.

Séadna Tobín
(SHAW-na, SHAY-na)—Kinvara pharmacist.

Set dance
—A dance with eight people, which has a number of different parts.

Slag heap
—A pile of waste materials created as a result of smelting metal.

Sliabh Carron
(Shleeve Carron)—Mountain that overlooks the Burren.

Souterrain
—An underground chamber or series of chambers, commonly found in ancient Irish ring forts.

 

Tír na n'Óg
(teer na NOGUE, Tier nah NOHG)—The Land of Eternal Youth.

 

Winterage
—A common practice among inhabitants of the Burren that involves seasonally moving livestock to allow for greater diversity of plant species.