Fionnuala

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

In the course of time, Aobh gave birth to Fionnuala and her brother Aodh (son of Lir). At Loch Dairbhreach, Aoife (wife of Lir) struck the four children with a Druid rod and changed them into swans; she cursed them to endure three hundred years at each of three waters, though she restored their speech, sense and nobility, and gave them sweet music. When Lir found them, Fionnuala told him they were his children and that no one could restore their shapes before nine hundred years had passed. He and his people stayed beside the lake, listening to the swans sing.

After the children flew to Sruth na Maoile, a storm scattered them across the sea. At the Rock of the Seals, Fionnuala welcomed Conn (son of Lir), then Fiachra (son of Lir) and Aodh (son of Lir), sheltering them beneath her wings. In the cold that followed, they froze to the rock and tore their skin and feathers as they struggled free; after a year 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 spent, Fionnuala led them back to Sidhe Fionnachaidh, where they found their father’s place empty.

At Inis Gluaire, Aibric loved the birds and their singing. After the faith of Christ and blessed Patrick came to Ireland, Mochaomhog came to the island, and the children trusted him, lived at his dwelling and heard Mass with him. He had silver chains made, pairing Fionnuala with Aodh (son of Lir) and Conn (son of Lir) with Fiachra (son of Lir). When Lairgnen seized the swans, their bird skins fell away; the children were baptized and died, and were buried as Fionnuala had desired, with Fiachra (son of Lir) and Conn (son of Lir) at her sides and Aodh (son of Lir) before her face.