GLOSSARY

IRISH WORDS

Athair – Father

Aos sidhe – people of the mounds, fairy folk

Bean sidhe – woman of the mound, a harbinger of death

Briseadh geis naofa – breaker of geas or prohibition

Cailín - lass, girl

Cialleach – in folklore, the divine hag or queen of winter. If the

day is cloudy on February 1, she oversleeps and can’t collect

enough firewood, so winter will end soon. If the sun is shining,

she collects plenty and it will be a longer winter. Sort of like the

groundhog.

Dercad – a deep form of meditation

Eriu – ancient name for Ireland

Fealtóir – betrayer

Geis – a taboo or vow

In ainm an Athar, agus an Mhic, agus an Spiorad Naoimh – In

the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Leanbh = child

Léine – a tunic

Más é do thoil é – please

Máthair bandia – goddess mother

Mo ghra – my love

Sá ruithe geis – violator of a taboo or vowSaol gan bás – life

without end

Seanchara = old friend

Ta mo chroi istigh ionat – my heart is within you

Tir na nÓg – Land of Youth, the otherworld

Tlachtga = ritualistic site where the Samhain fires were relit and

dispersed throughout the countryside

Triubhas – trews or trousers

Tuaisceart, Conacht – the area of Connaught Ciarán comes

from

Tuamaí na Dearmad – Tombs of the Forgotten

Túatha de Ui Fiachrach Muaide – Ciarán’s túath or clan

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