WHO’S WHO—AND HOW TO SAY IT
Note: “kh” is pronounced as a soft “k” in the back of the throat.
Abhartach (AWV-ar-tokh) Aithirne’s son, a poet
Ailill (AL-il) King of Connaught
Aithirne (ATH-ir-na) Poet
Alba (AWL-ba) Present-day Scotland/Wales
Aoife (EE-fa) Warrior queen of Alba; mother of Conlaoch
Baile’s Strand (BOLL-ya) Beach near Dun Dealgan
Baire (BAR-ra) Conchobor’s ally
Ban drui (BAHN-dree) Female druid
Beltane (BYAL-tun-a) Spring festival—May 1; return of the light
Berach (BER-akh) Cuchulainn’s master at arms and Luaine’s trainer
Bricriu (BRIK-ru) Poet
Brocc (BRUK) Roisin’s father
Bronach (BRO-nakh) Apprentice on Isle of Women
Cathbad (CAW-vud) Chief Druid of Ulster
Celthair (KEL-thar) Host of feast where warriors are poisoned
Cluain-na-mBan (CLOON-na-MON) Isle of Women; presently Our Lady’s Island
Conall Cearnach (CON-al CAR-nokh) Warrior; avenges
Cuchulainn Conchobor (CON-kh-vur) King of Ulster; Cuchulainn’s uncle
Conlaoch (CON-laykh) Cuchulainn’s son by Aoife
Connaught (Con-AWT) Province of Ireland
Cooley Mountains (as written) Low mountain range just north of Dun Dealgan
Cruachan (CROO-khan) Connaught’s Royal Seat
Cuchulainn (Coo-KHULL-in) Luaine’s father
Cuingedach (KWING-a-dukh) Aithirne’s son, a poet
Cu Roi (Coo Roy) King of Munster; powerful druid
Cuscraid (COO-crid) Conchobor’s son
Daigh (DAY) Druid who presides over Luaine’s coming of age
Damnhait (DAV-nit) Apprentice on Isle of Women
Deirdriu (DARE-dru) Conchobor’s wife Donn Cooley (as written) Ulster’s great brown bull
Dun Dealgan (DOON DYAL-gan) Luaine’s first home
Dun Lethglaise (DOON LAY-GLASH-a) Celthair’s house; site of food-poisoning
Eirnin (ER-neen) Luaine’s tutor
Emain Macha (EV-in MOKH-a) Ulster’s Royal Seat
Emer (AY-ver) Luaine’s mother
Eoghan (OH-en) Warrior who kills Naoise
Fand (FOND) Woman of the Sidhe; loves Cuchulainn
Ferdia (FAR-dee-ah) Cuchulainn’s friend; fights for Connaught
Fergus (FER-gus) Trusted warrior; defects to Connaught
Fidchell (FID-chull) Game similar to chess
Fili (FEEL-y) Seer
Fingin (FIN-gwin) Conchobor’s healer
Finnbennach (FIN-ba-nokh) Connaught’s mighty white bull
Finnchad (FIN-khad) Conchobor’s son
Finscoth (FIN-scot) Luaine’s new name
Fintan (FIN-tan) Luaine’s raven Follaman (FOLL-a-vun) Conchobor’s son
Forgall (FOR-gul) Emer’s father
Gae Bolga (Guh BOLL-ga) Cuchulainn’s notched spear
Geanann (GA-nawn) Cathbad’s son; druid and healer
Geasa (GEES-a) Taboos
Laeg (LOYG) Cuchulainn’s charioteer
Laegaire (LAYR-a) Ulster warrior
Lasair (LA-sar) Cuchulainn’s poet; Luaine’s teacher
Leinster (LEN-ster) Province of Ireland
Liban (LEE-ban) Woman of the Sidhe
Luaine (LOO-in-ya) Cuchulainn’s daughter
Lugaid of the Red Stripes (LOO-ad); New High King at Tara
Lugh (LOO) God of sun and fine craftsmanship; rumored to be Cuchulainn’s father
Lughaid (LOO-ee) Warrior of Connaught
Lughnasadh (LOO-na-sa) Harvest festival—Aug. 1; named for god Lugh
Macha (MAW-kha) Master druid on the Isle of Women
Maeve (MAVE) Queen of Connaught
Manannan (MON-an-an) God of the sea
Miach (MEE-akh) Sencha’s wife Morrigu, The (MOR-ee-goo) Goddess of war and discord
Mug Ruith (MUG RITH) A sun god
Muireann (MWIR-in) Apprentice on the Isle of Women
Muirthemne (Mur-HEV-na) Area around Dun Dealgan
Munster (MUN-ster) Province of Ireland
Naoise (NEE-sha) Deirdriu’s lover
Neeth (as written) River near Dun Dealgan
Niall (NEE-ul) Horse master Ochain (UH-khan) Conchobor’s magic shield
Ogham (OH-am or OG-am) Ancient writing system
Orlagh (OR-la) Luaine’s horse
Osnait (OS-naid) Emer’s maid
Rathnait (RATH-nit) Teacher on the Isle of Women
Roisin (RO-sheen) Luaine’s maid
Rosnaree (Russ-na-REE) Battle site
Samhain (SAHV-in) First day of winter—Nov. 1; Celtic New Year
araid (SAWR-ud) Apprentice on the Isle of Women
Scathach (SKAW-thakh) Female Scottish warrior; Cuchulainn’s teacher
Seanan (SHAN-awn) Celthair’s groom
Sencha (SHEN-kha) Conchobor’s peacemaker
Setanta (SHAY-dan-da) Cuchulainn’s birth name
Sidhe (SHEE) The Tuatha de Danaan (see below)
Sualtim (SOO-al-div) Cuchulainn’s father
Tara (TAR-a) High king’s royal seat
Tlachta (TLOKH-ta) Chief Druid on the Isle of Women
Tomman (TUM-un) Roisin’s brother
Torc (TURK) Decorative neck ring
Treasa (TRASS-a) First level druid on the Isle of Women
Tuatha da Danaan (TOO-ah-tha DAY DAH-nan) An immortal race skilled in enchantments who live in a realm normally invisible to humans
Tullia (TULL-ya) Luaine’s nurse
Uath (OO-ah) Cu-Roi’s enchanted disguise
Ulster (UL-ster)Province of Ireland