Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review Volumes 32 and 33.djvu/118

106 eastern Co. Louth, but much can be found in early Irish literature about such beings.

Fiachra and Finvarra seem to be the chief fairy kings in Co. Mayo and Galway, as Donn Dumhach is in Co. Clare and Donn Firinne in Co. Limerick. I have noted no outstanding banshee, such as Aibinn, Aine and Clidna are in Munster or the Hag of Black Head in' Co. Clare. Fiachra may be the famous king Fiachra Foltsnatach (a semi-historic prince, late in the fourth century) or Fiachra, of the fort of Dun Fiachrach in the Mullet named in the wars of Queen Medbh in the Taín bó Flidhais. He protects ancient hawthorns and "forts" and loves those who do the same. At Dun Fiachrach he is the owner of a remarkable water horse on which he used to leap over the chasm of that promontory fort. In the poem Fiachra (in one text Fiacha) "of the keen blade, son of Faobhar," was summoned, just before our era, to the aid of Oilioll Finn, husband of Flidais Foltchain, against the great invasion of Medbh to release Fergus and carry off the famous cow from Dundomhnaill. The cliff forts of the Mullet and its neighbourhood are all named there—Port, Dunmore (Dunnamo), Dun an Aeinphir, Dunaneanir and Dundearg, Dunkirtaan and Duniver.

The "high king," Finvarra, with his queen and court was seen on November Eve (Samain, when the Sid mounds open) by a fisherman on Inishark. Among the train were a girl and other deceased friends of the spectator. The man was (very imprudently on such a night) standing in an old rath or circle and fell insensible; a similar sight came to a poor woman at the same place, but she died of the shock. Finvarra rides on a horse with fiery red nostrils and is on special terms of friendship