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

Ceara (KYAR-a) Emer’s horse

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