Emerald Isle - an island comprising the republic of Ireland and Northern Irelandbattle of Boyne, Boyne - a battle in the War of the Grand Alliance in Ireland in 1690; William III defeated the deposed James II and so ended the Catholicism that had been reintroduced in England by the Stuarts Drogheda - in 1649 the place was captured by Oliver Cromwell, who massacred the Catholic inhabitants water spaniel - any dog of two large curly-coated breeds used for hunting waterfowl patronymic - a name derived with an affix (such as -son in English or O'- in Irish) from the name of your father or a paternal ancestor keen - a funeral lament sung with loud wailing ceilidh - an informal social gathering at which there is Scottish or Irish folk music and singing and folk dancing and story telling Aran Islands - three small islands belonging to Ireland at the entrance to Galway Bay British Isles - Great Britain and Ireland and adjacent islands in the north Atlantic Northern Ireland - a division of the United Kingdom located on the northern part of the island of Ireland Eire, Ireland, Irish Free State - a republic consisting of 26 of 32 counties comprising the island of Ireland; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1921 ben - a mountain or tall hill; "they were climbing the ben" island - a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water Ana - mother of the ancient Irish gods; sometimes identified with Danu Boann - Celtic goddess; mother of Angus Og Brigit - Celtic goddess of fire and fertility and agriculture and household arts and wisdom; later associated with Saint Bridget Dagda - chief Celtic god of the Tuatha De Danann; father of Angus Og and Brigit Dana, Danu - Celtic goddess who was the mother of the Tuatha De Danann; identified with the Welsh Don Fomor, Fomorian - one of a group of Celtic sea demons sometimes associated with the hostile power of nature Gwydion - Celtic sky god; a magician; giver of arts and civilization Ler, Lir - the sea personified; father of Manannan; corresponds to Welsh Llyr Manannan - Celtic god of the sea; son of Ler banshee - (Irish folklore) a female spirit who wails to warn of impending death Irishman - a man who is a native or inhabitant of Ireland Irishwoman - a woman who is a native or inhabitant of Ireland macushla - (an Irish term of address expressing affection) darling |