A version of the folktale recorded by John O'Donovan in 1835 relates how the Fomorian warrior Balor, to frustrate a prophecy that he would be killed by his own grandson, imprisons his only daughter Eithne in the tower of Tory Island, away from any contact with men.
But Biroge of the Mountain helps a man called Mac Cinnfhaelaidh (Mac Kineely), whose magical cow (Glas Gaivlen rectéGlas Gaibhnenn) Balor stole, to gain access to the tower and seduce her. Eithne gives birth to triplets, but Balor gathers them up in a sheet and sends a messenger to drown them in a whirlpool. The messenger drowns two of the babies, but unwittingly drops one in the harbour, where he is rescued by Biróg. She takes the child back to his father, who gives him to his brother, Gavida the smith, in fosterage. The boy (identified in the tale only as the "heir of Mac Kineely") who grows up to kill Balor,[1] is more explicitly identified as Lugh in Lady Gregory and T. W. Rolleston' retelling.[2][3]
Lady Gregory refers to her as Birog the druidess, and T. W. Rolleston gives her orthography as Biróg.[2][3]
References
^O'Donovan, John (1856), Annála Ríoghachta Éireann: Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters, vol. 1, Dublin: Hodges, Smith, and Co., pp. 18–21 footnote S
^ abGregory, Lady Isabella Augusta (1905), Gods and fighting men: the story of Tuatha de Danann and of the Fianna of Ireland, London: John Murray, pp. 27–29
^ abRolleston, T. W., Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race, 1911, pp. 109–112.
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biróg, biroge, mountain, birog, irish, folklore, leanan, sídhe, female, familiar, spirit, cian, aids, folktale, about, wooing, balor, daughter, eithne, reinvented, druidess, lady, gregory, rolleston, retellings, attestations, editmain, article, glas, gaibhnenn. Birog Biroge of the Mountain Birog in Irish folklore is the leanan sidhe or the female familiar spirit of Cian who aids him in the folktale about his wooing of Balor s daughter Eithne She is reinvented as a druidess in Lady Gregory and T W Rolleston s retellings Attestations EditMain article Glas Gaibhnenn A version of the folktale recorded by John O Donovan in 1835 relates how the Fomorian warrior Balor to frustrate a prophecy that he would be killed by his own grandson imprisons his only daughter Eithne in the tower of Tory Island away from any contact with men But Biroge of the Mountain helps a man called Mac Cinnfhaelaidh Mac Kineely whose magical cow Glas Gaivlen recte Glas Gaibhnenn Balor stole to gain access to the tower and seduce her Eithne gives birth to triplets but Balor gathers them up in a sheet and sends a messenger to drown them in a whirlpool The messenger drowns two of the babies but unwittingly drops one in the harbour where he is rescued by Birog She takes the child back to his father who gives him to his brother Gavida the smith in fosterage The boy identified in the tale only as the heir of Mac Kineely who grows up to kill Balor 1 is more explicitly identified as Lugh in Lady Gregory and T W Rolleston retelling 2 3 Lady Gregory refers to her as Birog the druidess and T W Rolleston gives her orthography as Birog 2 3 References Edit O Donovan John 1856 Annala Rioghachta Eireann Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters vol 1 Dublin Hodges Smith and Co pp 18 21 footnote S a b Gregory Lady Isabella Augusta 1905 Gods and fighting men the story of Tuatha de Danann and of the Fianna of Ireland London John Murray pp 27 29 a b Rolleston T W Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race 1911 pp 109 112 This page or section lists people that share the same given name If an internal link led you here you may wish to change that link to point directly to the intended article This article relating to a Celtic myth or legend is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Birog amp oldid 1106008084, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
