Cliodna

Also known as: Cliodna of the Fair Hair · Family: Tuatha de Danaan · Role: daughter of Gebann · First appears: The Gods · The Ever-living Living Ones · Cliodna's Wave

In the story of Cliodna’s Wave, Cliodna, daughter of Gebann, a chief Druid in Manannan’s country, had never given her love to any man. When she saw Ciabhan, she loved him and agreed to leave with him the next day. They sailed from Manannan’s country and reached Teite’s Strand in Ireland, where Iuchnu betrayed her, playing music until she fell asleep in the curragh. “And then a great wave came up on the strand and swept her away.”

In the story of Tadg in Manannan’s Islands, Cliodna gave Tadg (son of Cian) birds to guide and comfort him on his way to Ireland, and a green cup that turned water into wine. She and Tadg bade farewell, and she blessed him and his people. They had thought their stay on the island was one day, but she told them they had been there “through the whole length of a year”.

Relationship record

Life events

• Cliodna gave Ciabhan her love and agreed to leave with him.(The Gods · The Ever-living Living Ones · Cliodna's Wave · 📍 Manannan's country)
  • With: Ciabhan
  • “But when she saw Ciabhan she gave him her love, and she agreed to go away with him on the morrow.”
• Ciabhan and Cliodna left Manannan's country together and reached Ireland.(The Gods · The Ever-living Living Ones · Cliodna's Wave · 📍 Teite's Strand)
  • With: Ciabhan
  • “And they went down to the landing-place and got into a curragh, and they went on till they came to Teite's Strand in the southern part of Ireland.”
• Iuchnu betrayed Cliodna by playing music until she fell asleep.(The Gods · The Ever-living Living Ones · Cliodna's Wave · 📍 the strand)
  • With: Iuchnu
  • “And Iuchnu, that was in the curragh with Cliodna, did treachery, and he played music to her till she lay down in the boat and fell asleep.”
• A great wave swept Cliodna away.(The Gods · The Ever-living Living Ones · Cliodna's Wave · 📍 the strand)
  • “And then a great wave came up on the strand and swept her away.”
• Cliodna gives Tadg birds and a magic cup, and foretells the circumstances of his death.(The Gods · The Ever-living Living Ones · Tadg in Manannan's Islands · Part 3)
  • With: Tadg (son of Cian)
  • “‘Those birds will go with you,’ Cliodna said then; ‘they will give you guidance on your way, and they will make music for you, and there will be neither sorrow or sadness on you, by land or by sea, till you come to Ireland. And bring away this beautiful green cup with you,’ she said, ‘for there is power in it, and if you do but pour water into it, it will be turned to wine on the moment. And do not let it out of your hand,’”
• Tadg and Cliodna part, and she blesses him and his people.(The Gods · The Ever-living Living Ones · Tadg in Manannan's Islands · Part 3)
  • With: Tadg (son of Cian)
  • “Then Cliodna and Tadg bade farewell to one another, and she gave her blessing to him and to his people.”
• Tadg learns that he and his people had spent a year in the island, though they thought it was one day.(The Gods · The Ever-living Living Ones · Tadg in Manannan's Islands · Part 3)
  • With: Tadg (son of Cian)
  • “It seems to us,” they said, “we are not in it but one day only.” “You are in it through the whole length of a year,” said she, “and through all that time you used neither food nor drink.”

The Gods · The Ever-living Living Ones · Cliodna's Wave

• parent: Gebann “Now Gebann, that was a chief Druid in Manannan's country, had a daughter, Cliodna of the Fair Hair, that had never given her love to any man.”
• courtship with Ciabhan “But when she saw Ciabhan she gave him her love, and she agreed to go away with him on the morrow.”
• enemies with Iuchnu “And Iuchnu, that was in the curragh with Cliodna, did treachery, and he played music to her till she lay down in the boat and fell asleep.”

The Gods · The Ever-living Living Ones · Tadg in Manannan's Islands · Part 3

• parent: Gebann “I am Cliodna of the Fair Hair,” she said, “daughter of Gebann, son of Treon, of the Tuatha de Danaan, a sweetheart of Ciabhan of the Curling Hair; and it is from me Cliodna's wave on the coast of Munster got its name; and I am a long time now in this island, and it is the apples of that tree you saw that we use for food.”
• courtship with Ciabhan “I am Cliodna of the Fair Hair,” she said, “daughter of Gebann, son of Treon, of the Tuatha de Danaan, a sweetheart of Ciabhan of the Curling Hair; and it is from me Cliodna's wave on the coast of Munster got its name; and I am a long time now in this island, and it is the apples of that tree you saw that we use for food.”

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Extracted from the original text of Gods and Fighting Men. Made with Rho MD.