The Children of Lir

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Irish Legends: The Children of Lir

The Children of Lir is a famous Irish legend which is a part of the Irish Mythological Cycle, a collection consisting of numerous tales and poems found in medieval manuscripts.

White Swan Animal Lir
White Swan

Lir and his Children

Bodb Derg was elected king of the Tuatha Dé Danann, much to the annoyance of Lir.  In order to appease Lir, Bodb gave one of his daughters to marry him, Aoibh. She bore him four children, one girl, Fionnuala, and three sons, Aodh and twins, Fiachra and Conn.

Children of Lir Sculpture in Dublin's Garden of Remembrance
Children of Lir Sculpture in Dublin’s Garden of Remembrance

Their mother Aoibh died and the children missed their mother terribly.  Bodb, wanting to keep Lir happy, sent another of his daughters, Aoife, to marry Lir.

Aoife grew jealous of the children’s love for each other and their father so she plotted to get rid of the children. On a journey with the children to Bodb’s house, she ordered her servant to kill them but the servant refused. In anger, she tried to do it herself but didn’t have the courage. Instead, she used her magic to turn the children into swans. When Bodb heard of this, he transformed Aoife into an air demon for eternity.

The Swans’ Journey

As swans, the children had to spend 300 years on Lough Derravaragh (a lake near their father’s castle), 300 years in the Sea of Moyle, and 300 years on the waters of Irrus Domnann Erris near to Inishglora Island (Inis Gluaire). To end the spell, they would have to be blessed by a monk. While the children were swans, Saint Patrick converted Ireland to Christianity.

After the children as swans spent their long periods in each region, they received sanctuary from MacCaomhog (or Mochua), a monk in Inis Gluaire.

 

Children of Lir 3D Round Drop Pendant TJH
3D Sterling Silver Pendant

Various Endings

Each child was tied to the other with silver chains to ensure that they would stay together forever. However Deoch, the wife of the King of Leinster and daughter of the King of Munster, wanted the swans for her own, so she ordered her husband Lairgean to attack the monastery and seize the swans. In this attack, the silver chains were broken and the swans transformed into old, withered people.

Another version of the legend tells that as the king was leaving the sanctuary with the swans, the bell of the church tolled releasing them from the spell. Before they died, they each were baptized and then later buried in one grave, standing, with Fionnuala, the daughter, in the middle, Fiacre and Conn, the twins, on either side of her, and Aodh in front of her.

Another ending is that they suffered on the three lakes for 900 years, then they heard the bell.  They came back to the land and a priest found them. The swans asked the priest to turn them back into humans, so he did.  Being over 900 years old, they died and lived happily in heaven with their mother and father.

Originally posted on November 4, 2012.

Interested in wearing a token of Irish folklore, family love, and sibling bonds? Here are some elegant ways to keep this Irish legend, and the stunning elegance of swans, close to your heart.

Children of Lir 3D Round Drop Pendant TJH
Children of Lir 3D Round Drop Pendant
Children of Lir 3D Round Drop Earrings TJH Sterling Silver Modern
Children of Lir 3D Round Drop Earrings
Dancing Stone Children of Lir Necklace
Dancing Stone Children of Lir Necklace
Classic Children of Lir Solvar Failte
Classic Children of Lir Solvar Failte
Childrenof Lir Pendant Silver Gold Plated Wings
Children of Lir Pendant Silver Gold Plated Wings

 

Children of Lir Vertical Banner
Vertical Banner

 

Eala Swan in Irish
Eala Swan in Irish

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