Áine (deity)
Áine is a Celtic goddess associated with human love, fertility, and the attributes of light and radiance. Her name, meaning "bright," reflects her roles as both a moon goddess and a sun goddess. Revered for her connection to the abundance of summer, Áine was invoked by farmers seeking to enhance their crops and protect their livestock. She was known to shapeshift into animals, particularly a swan and a red horse named Lair Derg, which were considered sacred to her. Áine is also linked to the Eóghanacta, an ancient people of Munster, Ireland, where she is said to have resided in a fairy mound known as Cnoc Áine.
In mythology, Áine is depicted as a figure with long red hair, often wearing a yellow gown reminiscent of sunlight. Various legends illustrate her relationships with human figures, including a king who sought to dominate her and her eventual marriage to Maurice Fitzgerald, the Earl of Desmond. Áine's son, Geróid Iarla, possessed supernatural powers and was known for his magical abilities. The stories surrounding Áine incorporate themes of transformation and healing, with Lough Gur, near her home, serving as a site for healing rituals. Celebrations in her honor, such as torchlight processions during the summer solstice, continue to reflect her enduring cultural significance.
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Áine (deity)
Symbols: Moon; silver and white items
Country: Ireland
Father: Eógabail or Manannán Mac Lir
Siblings: Fenne; Grainne
Children: Geróid Iarla
Áine was a Celtic goddess of human love and fertility. As was true of many gods and goddesses in the Celtic pantheon, Áine had numerous and related roles including that of moon goddess and sun goddess. Her name was reflective of these roles as it meant "bright" and suggested radiance, light, and glow. Other roles of Áine were also linked to these attributes; she was associated with the abundance of summer and was the protector of animals and agriculture. Farmers invoked her to improve their crops and to guard their livestock. It was said that Áine could shape shift into figures such as a swan or a red horse named Lair Derg. These were considered her sacred animals. In the stories, Áine had long red hair and usually appeared wearing a yellow gown reminiscent of the colors of the sun and moon.
Áine was also known as the patroness of the Eóghanacta, a people who lived in the province of Munster in the southwestern part of Ireland. According to legend, Áine dwelt in Munster in the county of Limerick. Her home was a sidhe, a fairy mound, known as Cnoc Áine. Some families in Ireland still consider themselves descendants of the Eóghanacta dynasty.
In Mythology
In some versions of the myths, Áine was the daughter of Eógabail, a member of a race of Irish gods called the Tuatha Dé Danann. Eógabail was said to be the foster son of Manannán Mac Lir who was the god of the ocean. However, in other versions of the tale, Manannán Mac Lir was Áine’s father.
Various stories exist about Áine and her mortal lovers. In one tale, a semi-mythological king named Ailill Olom (also called Oilill Olomh) heard her playing sweet music on the hill of Cnoc Áine. When the king forced himself on her, Áine bit off his ear, earning him the nickname "Bare Ear." Some scholars believe that this story is an example of a common myth in which an outside ruler exerts control of a land by possessing the local goddess. However, in some interpretations of the story, Áine renders Ailill Olom unfit for his role as king because of his disfigured ear.
In yet another tale, Áine was linked to Maurice Fitzgerald, the second Earl of Desmond. According to the story, Fitzgerald stole Áine’s cloak while she was swimming in a river and refused to return it until she agreed to become his wife. Thus, Áine married the Earl of Desmond, and their son, Geróid Iarla, was born. This son was known as "the magician" because of his supernatural powers.
According to the myth, Áine warned her husband that he should never be surprised by anything their son did. However, one night there were many guests at the earl’s castle. A young woman—some say she was Áine—instigated a contest. She rose from the dinner table and in one leap bounded over the table, the guests, and the dishes. The earl asked his son if he could perform such a feat. At first Geróid demurred, but when his father commanded him to try, Geróid sprang from where he was, leaped into a bottle on the table and then leaped out. When the earl declared himself astonished, Geróid reminded his father of Áine’s warning. The son then departed from the castle saying, "Now I am forced to leave you," Just outside the castle, Geróid stepped onto the Camóg River, and as he touched the water, he became a goose and flew away. It was said that from then on, Geróid made his home in a magical realm at the bottom of nearby Lough Gur, an ancient lake not far from Cnoc Áine. Every seven years when the moon shone clearly, Geróid Iarla appeared on a white horse leading a parade of fairies across the lake and over the land. It was said that this tradition would continue until the horse’s silver shoes wore out.
Because the Earl of Desmond expressed surprise at the magical powers of their son, Áine was then free to leave her husband and return to the fairies with whom she lived.
In addition to being the home of her son, Lough Gur was also associated with Áine’s role as a healer. On a full moon known as All Heal Night, ailing people were brought to the lake. According to the legend, if the sick didn’t recover, Áine sang to them and eased their passage to the Otherworld.
Origins & Cults
Although Irish myths date back to ancient times, they were not written down until the sixth century. However, these early manuscripts were mostly looted by the Vikings in the late eighth century. As a result, the first written mention of Áine did not appear until 890–910 CE when it showed up in the Sanas Cormac or Cormac’s Glossary. This was a volume of Latin explanations for Irish words.
Much of Celtic mythology appeared in three cycles; the first of these was the mythological cycle. The story of the Tuatha Dé Danann was among the oldest in this cycle and dated to pre-Christian times. The tales about Áine were part of this mythological cycle. Cnoc Áine, her home in a mound, was similar to those of the other Tuatha after their defeat by the Milesians. While the Tuatha became known as the Aes sidhe or the people of the fairy mounds, Áine became known as the fairy queen of County Limerick.
At Cnoc Áine, people still recall the goddess Áine. She is identified with the summer solstice; torchlight processions take place in her honor on this midsummer night. At nearby Lough Gur, local storytellers interpret a Bronze Age stone circle, Neolithic buildings, and ancient monuments found there. They also weave stories of Irish gods and goddesses into the archaeological evidence of early people at the site.
Bibliography
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Goldbaum, Howard. "Knock Áine." Voices from the Dawn. Howard Goldbaum, n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2016. <http://www.voicesfromthedawn.com/knock-aine/>.
— — — . "Lough Gur." Voices from the Dawn. Howard Goldbaum, n.d. Web. 19 Jan. 2016. <http://www.voicesfromthedawn.com/lough-gur/>.
Monaghan, Patricia. "Áine." The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore. New York: Facts on File, 2004. Print.