Fiachra (son of Lir)

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

After Aobh gave birth to Fiachra (son of Lir) and Conn (son of Lir), she died at their birth. They were among the four children of Lir and Aobh, whom Aoife (wife of Lir) at first treated with affection, but then transformed into swans and cursed to remain in bird shapes for three hundred years at each of three waters. She left them their speech, sweet music, sense, and nobility. When Lir found them at Loch Dairbhreach, Fionnuala told him they could not regain their human shapes until their nine hundred years were over; he and his people stayed by the lake listening to the swans sing.

After leaving Loch Dairbhreach, the children flew to Sruth na Maoile. A storm scattered them across the sea, but they found one another again: Fionnuala sheltered Fiachra (son of Lir), who was cold, exhausted, and unable to speak, beneath her wing. In winter, their feet, feathers, and wing-tips froze to Carraig na Ron as they struggled to escape; after a year of hardship, their feathers and wings grew back and their sores healed. They later left Sruth na Maoile for Irrus Domnann, and, when their time there was over, returned to Sidhe Fionnachaidh. Finding their father’s place empty, they stayed the night singing.

At Inis Gluaire, Aibric befriended the birds, whose singing he loved, and recorded their story. After Mochaomhog came to Inis Gluaire, the children trusted him, lived at his dwelling, and attended Mass with him. He made silver chains, placing one between Aodh (son of Lir) and Fionnuala, and another between Conn (son of Lir) and Fiachra (son of Lir). When Lairgnen seized the swans, their bird skins fell away. The children were baptized and died; Fiachra (son of Lir) was buried on one side of Fionnuala, Conn (son of Lir) on the other, and Aodh (son of Lir) before her.