Aodh (son of Lir)

Family: Children of Lir · Role: son of Lir · First appears: The Gods · The Fate of the Children of Lir · Part 1

In time, Aobh gave birth to Aodh (son of Lir) and his sister Fionnuala. He and his siblings Fiachra (son of Lir) and Conn (son of Lir) were loved by Aoife (wife of Lir) until she struck them with a Druid rod and changed them into swans at Loch Dairbhreach. She bound them to three hundred years at each of three waters, but left them their speech, sense and nobility, and gave them sweet music. When Lir found them, Fionnuala told him that they could not regain their forms until their nine hundred years were over.

After leaving Loch Dairbhreach, the siblings flew to Sruth na Maoile, where a storm scattered them across the sea. They found one another again at the Rock of the Seals: Fionnuala welcomed Aodh (son of Lir) and sheltered him beneath her breast feathers. At Carraig na Ron, winter froze their feet and feathers to the rock; after they escaped, their feathers and wings grew back and their sores healed. When their three hundred years there were done, they went to Irrus Domnann, then returned to Sidhe Fionnachaidh, where their father’s place stood empty.

At Inis Gluaire, Aibric befriended the birds, and later Mochaomhog welcomed them ashore. They trusted him, lived at his dwelling and heard Mass with him. Mochaomhog had silver chains made, pairing Aodh (son of Lir) with Fionnuala and Conn (son of Lir) with Fiachra (son of Lir). When Lairgnen seized them, their bird skins fell away; they were baptized, died and were buried as Fionnuala had asked, with Aodh (son of Lir) before her face.