Legendary fictions of the Irish Celts

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Fictions of the Irish Celts.
The sepulchral mound lay a little to the north of the
ford of Claen. In time a hazel sprung from the turt
over her remains, and it was long known by the name of
Coll Biiona (Euan's Hazel).*
* The Irish Ban (wliite), Bean (woman), Fi)i)i (fair), and the
Latin Bonus, are cognate words. Here follow some names of
women in the Celtic :—Brighid, Fionula (fair shoulder), Grainne,
Sorcha (bright), Dervorglan (true oath), Dunfla (lady of the fort),
Eiver, Gormfla (blue eyed lady), Niamh (effulgence), Orfla (golden
haired lady), Siobail (pr. Shihail, Elizabeth), Sioban (pr. Shivaun,
Joanna). The six best women in Ireland and the world are mentioned
in this quatrain :
" The six best women that in the world were,
After Mary the Virgin-Mother,
Were Maev, Saav, and fair Sarai,
Faind, Eimer, and the sorrowing Acal."
Eimer was the hard-won bride of Cuchullain ; Acal, the wife of
Ere, son of King Cairbre, before mentioned. Conall Ceamach
slew him in revenge for the death of Cuchullain, and Acal, like
Queen Buona, died of grief for his loss. All good women should
be endowed with these gifts, viz. :—Beauty of person, a good voice,
skill in music, in embroidery, and all needlework, the gift of wisdom,
and the gift of virtuous chastity.
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