Áine is strongly associated with County Limerick. The hill of Knockainy (Cnoc Áine) is named for her, and was site of rites in her honour, involving fire and the blessing of the land, recorded as recently as 1879.[2]
In Irish mythology
In early tales she is associated with the semi-mythological King of Munster, Ailill Aulom, who is said to have "ravished" her, an affair ending in Áine biting off his ear - hence "Aulom", meaning "one-eared". By maiming him this way, Áine rendered him unfit to be King, thereby taking away the power of sovereignty.[2] The descendants of Aulom, the Eóganachta, claim Áine as an ancestor.[3]
In other tales Áine is the wife of Gearoid Iarla. Rather than having a consensual marriage, he rapes her (thought to be based on the story of Ailill Aulom), and she exacts her revenge by either changing him into a goose, killing him, or both.[1] Thus the Geraldines also claim an important association with Áine. The story may have various inspirations but it is the essence of the claim that matters, and this represents the most extreme degree of Gaelicization. The FitzGeralds would become known for being "more Irish than the Irish themselves".
In yet other versions of her myth, she is the wife or daughter of the sea god Manannán mac Lir. The feast of Midsummer Night was held in her honor. In County Limerick, she is remembered in more recent times as Queen of the fairies. This is also the most commonly believed derivation of the name Áine, however there is no definitive proof that this is the case.
Related goddesses
Áine (Ir. "brightness, glow, joy, radiance; splendour, glory, fame") is sometimes mistakenly equated with Danu as her name bears a superficial resemblance to Anu.[1]
"Aynia", reputedly the most powerful fairy in Ulster, may be a variant of the same figure.[4]
About seven miles from Áine’s hill, Cnoc Áine (Knockainy) in County Limerick, is the hill of the goddess Grian, Cnoc Gréine. Grian (literally, "sun") is believed to be either the sister of Áine, another of Áine's manifestations, or possibly "Macha in disguise".[5] Due to Áine's connection with midsummer rites, it is possible that Áine and Grian may share a dual-goddess, seasonal function (such as seen in the Gaelic myths of the Cailleach and Brighid) with the two sisters representing the "two suns" of the year: Áine representing the light half of the year and the bright summer sun (an ghrian mhór), and Grian the dark half of the year and the pale winter sun (an ghrian bheag).[5]
From: Wiki
Queens : Áine
Name: Áine 'Brightness', 'Delight'
Race: Tuatha Dé Danann
Title: 'The Leanaun Sidhe'
Properties: Goddess of Healing, The Spark of Life, Vitality, Fertility, Protection, Prosperity
Sisters: Grian (The Sun Goddess), Aoife.
Father: Manannan Mac Lír
Foster-Father: Eoghanach fairy king of Munster
Grandfather: Lír
Associated Deities: Danu Morrigan Brigit Crom Dubh
Province: Munster
Patroness of: The Eoghanacht Sept of Munster
Associated Sites: Cnoc Áine, Co. Limerick, Tobar Áine, Co. Tyrone, Dun Áine (Dunany) Co. Louth, Lios Áine/ Cnoc Áine Co. Derry, Cnoc Áine near Teelin, Co Donegall.
Raped by: Ailill Olom
Bean Sidhe of: The Corr family of Derry - she wails to presage the death of family members at Alt na Sion (Vale of Storms)
Associated Herbs, Trees & Fungi:
Healing : Angelica Balm Blackberry Cowslip Elder Fennel Flax Garlic
Goat's Rue Mugwort Nettle Oak
Fertility : Hawthorn Mistletoe Oak
Prosperity : Alfalfa Ash Elder
Protection : Agrimony Angelica Ash Birch Blackberry
Bladderwrack Broom Elder Fennel Flax
Holly Lavender Mallow Mistletoe Mugwort Nettle Oak Parsley
Áine was a goddess of the Celtic peoples and later in christian times she became known as a fairy queen. There is an ancient cairn and three small ring barrows known as Mullach an Triuir on the summit of Cnoc Áine which is near Knockainy village in Co. Limerick. She was revered up until the 19th century when men and women brought large torches of hay up to the summit of Cnoc Áine where they circled the ring barrows anti-clockwise before going down again and sprinkling the ashes of the torches over their fields and livestock.
Among herbalists and folk-healers Áine was understood to be responsible for the vital spark of life which they understood traversed the entire body every twenty-four hours.
No bloodletting was undertaken on days associated with Áine as it was believed that the vital spark would flow away and leave the patient dead. The Friday, Saturday and Sunday following Lughnasadh Day (Aug 1st) were sacred to her.
Her name means 'Delight, Pleasure, Agility and Melody'. She is often deemed to be a more approachable version of the Goddess Anu.
She is also associated with Omagh in Co. Tyrone and Derry where there are wells dedicated to her called Tobar Aine. There is a stone called Cathair Áine near Dunany Point in Co. Louth and it is said that insane people and animals are drawn to sit on this stone and that once they do they can never regain their senses.
In the time of the Tuatha Dé Danann she helped the family of Eoghanacht take over the hill at Knockainy ever afterwards known as Áine's hill and she resided in the eastern part of the sidhe or fairy mound.
Like all the people of the Sidhe, she was kind and helpful to those that respected and venerated her but she exacted revenge on any that displeased or harmed her. The 2nd century King of Munster, Ailill Olom found this out to his cost when he was overtaken by lust at the sight of her and raped her. She bit off his ear and then later on she had him killed for this insult to her.
From: here
Name: Áine 'Brightness', 'Delight'
Race: Tuatha Dé Danann
Title: 'The Leanaun Sidhe'
Properties: Goddess of Healing, The Spark of Life, Vitality, Fertility, Protection, Prosperity
Sisters: Grian (The Sun Goddess), Aoife.
Father: Manannan Mac Lír
Foster-Father: Eoghanach fairy king of Munster
Grandfather: Lír
Associated Deities: Danu Morrigan Brigit Crom Dubh
Province: Munster
Patroness of: The Eoghanacht Sept of Munster
Associated Sites: Cnoc Áine, Co. Limerick, Tobar Áine, Co. Tyrone, Dun Áine (Dunany) Co. Louth, Lios Áine/ Cnoc Áine Co. Derry, Cnoc Áine near Teelin, Co Donegall.
Raped by: Ailill Olom
Bean Sidhe of: The Corr family of Derry - she wails to presage the death of family members at Alt na Sion (Vale of Storms)
Associated Herbs, Trees & Fungi:
Healing : Angelica Balm Blackberry Cowslip Elder Fennel Flax Garlic
Goat's Rue Mugwort Nettle Oak
Fertility : Hawthorn Mistletoe Oak
Prosperity : Alfalfa Ash Elder
Protection : Agrimony Angelica Ash Birch Blackberry
Bladderwrack Broom Elder Fennel Flax
Holly Lavender Mallow Mistletoe Mugwort Nettle Oak Parsley
Áine was a goddess of the Celtic peoples and later in christian times she became known as a fairy queen. There is an ancient cairn and three small ring barrows known as Mullach an Triuir on the summit of Cnoc Áine which is near Knockainy village in Co. Limerick. She was revered up until the 19th century when men and women brought large torches of hay up to the summit of Cnoc Áine where they circled the ring barrows anti-clockwise before going down again and sprinkling the ashes of the torches over their fields and livestock.
Among herbalists and folk-healers Áine was understood to be responsible for the vital spark of life which they understood traversed the entire body every twenty-four hours.
No bloodletting was undertaken on days associated with Áine as it was believed that the vital spark would flow away and leave the patient dead. The Friday, Saturday and Sunday following Lughnasadh Day (Aug 1st) were sacred to her.
Her name means 'Delight, Pleasure, Agility and Melody'. She is often deemed to be a more approachable version of the Goddess Anu.
She is also associated with Omagh in Co. Tyrone and Derry where there are wells dedicated to her called Tobar Aine. There is a stone called Cathair Áine near Dunany Point in Co. Louth and it is said that insane people and animals are drawn to sit on this stone and that once they do they can never regain their senses.
In the time of the Tuatha Dé Danann she helped the family of Eoghanacht take over the hill at Knockainy ever afterwards known as Áine's hill and she resided in the eastern part of the sidhe or fairy mound.
Like all the people of the Sidhe, she was kind and helpful to those that respected and venerated her but she exacted revenge on any that displeased or harmed her. The 2nd century King of Munster, Ailill Olom found this out to his cost when he was overtaken by lust at the sight of her and raped her. She bit off his ear and then later on she had him killed for this insult to her.
From: here
Goddess of love and fertility; also known as the Fairy Queen of Munster. She encouraged human love, but was of course opposed to rape and the forceful nature of love. Aine was also known as a goddess of fertility in that she had control and command over crops and animals. She was known to have made a magical vow to never sleep with a man of grey hair. She was able to hold this vow even after her sister strove to sabotoge her by way of her lover Fionnis.
Other Names: Aine Marina, Aine of Knockaine
Father: Eogalail
Husband: Gerald Earl of Desmond
Lover: King Aillel Olim, Fionnis
Children: Geroid Iarla
Siblings: Miluchrach
Festivals: Midsummer's Eve
Planets: Sun, Moon
Animals: Red Mare, Rabbit, Swan
Element: Air
Direction: Northwest
From: here
Other Names: Aine Marina, Aine of Knockaine
Father: Eogalail
Husband: Gerald Earl of Desmond
Lover: King Aillel Olim, Fionnis
Children: Geroid Iarla
Siblings: Miluchrach
Festivals: Midsummer's Eve
Planets: Sun, Moon
Animals: Red Mare, Rabbit, Swan
Element: Air
Direction: Northwest
From: here
Sky goddess or sun goddess. Ainé was also seen the Irish goddess of human love and goddess of fertility of animal and agriculture.
Ainé (Aine) was the daughter of Eógabal and She was the sister of Fer Í. In some other texts, she was the daughter of Fer Í and Eógabal was her grandfather.
She appeared as the patron goddess of the province Munster, where her festival was celebrated on Midsummer Eve at Knockainy (Hill of Aine).
In the tale Cath Maige Mucrama (Battle of Mag Mucrama), her father was Eógabal, the foster son of Manannán, whom Ailill Aulomm (son of Eógan Mór) killed. Ailill then raped her, where she conceived Eógan. Eogan later became the king of Munster, and was the founder of the famous dynasty - the Eóganacht.
From: Aíne
Ainé (Aine) was the daughter of Eógabal and She was the sister of Fer Í. In some other texts, she was the daughter of Fer Í and Eógabal was her grandfather.
She appeared as the patron goddess of the province Munster, where her festival was celebrated on Midsummer Eve at Knockainy (Hill of Aine).
In the tale Cath Maige Mucrama (Battle of Mag Mucrama), her father was Eógabal, the foster son of Manannán, whom Ailill Aulomm (son of Eógan Mór) killed. Ailill then raped her, where she conceived Eógan. Eogan later became the king of Munster, and was the founder of the famous dynasty - the Eóganacht.
From: Aíne
In Irish mythology, Áine ("awnya") is a goddess of love, growth, and cattle, also perhaps associated with the sun. She is the daughter of Egobail, and sister of Aillen and/or Fennen. In some of the tales that mention her, she is the wife of Gearóid Iarla. In other tales, rather than having a consensual marriage, he raped her, and she exacted her revenge by either changing him into a goose, killing him, or both. In yet other versions of her myth, she is the wife or daughter of the sea god Manannán mac Lir. The feast of Midsummer Night was held in her honor.
In County Limerick, she is remembered in more recent times as a "fairy queen".
There is an ancient cairn and three small ring barrows known as Mullach an Triuir on the summit of Cnoc Áine (Áine’s hill) which is near Knockainy village in Co. Limerick and was the site of rites in her honour, involving fire and the blessing of the land.
About seven miles from Áine’s hill, is the hill of the goddess Grian, ( Cnoc Gréine ). Grian (literally, "sun") is believed to be either the sister of Áine, or another of Áine's manifestations. Due to Áine's connection with midsummer rites, it is possible that Áine and Grian may share a dual-goddess, seasonal function (such as seen in the Gaelic myths of the Cailleach and Brighid) with the two sisters representing the "two suns" of the year: Áine representing the light half of the year and the bright summer sun, and Grian the dark half of the year and the pale winter sun.From: here
In County Limerick, she is remembered in more recent times as a "fairy queen".
There is an ancient cairn and three small ring barrows known as Mullach an Triuir on the summit of Cnoc Áine (Áine’s hill) which is near Knockainy village in Co. Limerick and was the site of rites in her honour, involving fire and the blessing of the land.
About seven miles from Áine’s hill, is the hill of the goddess Grian, ( Cnoc Gréine ). Grian (literally, "sun") is believed to be either the sister of Áine, or another of Áine's manifestations. Due to Áine's connection with midsummer rites, it is possible that Áine and Grian may share a dual-goddess, seasonal function (such as seen in the Gaelic myths of the Cailleach and Brighid) with the two sisters representing the "two suns" of the year: Áine representing the light half of the year and the bright summer sun, and Grian the dark half of the year and the pale winter sun.From: here
Áine is a very powerful goddess of the Irish tradition. Áine is the daughter of Manannan Mac Lir and is seen on the sea from time to time. A large stone in Ireland, Cathair Áine, is reputed to attract wild dogs from many counties around. These dogs are then seen running madly into the sea at Áine's call. She is seen in a boat with her father Manannan and sister Aoife going around Inishowen. Áine is often viewed as a goddess of sustenance, healing and fertility. Belief in Áine, and sightings of her have continued down the ages. During the Irish Potato Famine, for example, Áine was seen on the top of a hill where she offered food to those who were starving. Clearly the care of Áine transcends the ages and does not wane with time.
Áine is the spark of life that the Irish understand as traveling through the body during a 24 hour period. What this "vital spark" was is not known. It is perhaps related to native forms of Irish medicine that have been lost.
Days of the year that are set aside to honor Áine are the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, following Lúnasa. On these days some folk would climb to the top of Cnoc Áine with torches. They would circle the barrows there anti-clockwise in a dance, and then descend the hill taking the ashes from the hay torches with them to be sprinkled over their fields for a better harvest.
However, Áine has a dark side. She was once raped by a King Ailill Olom who coveted Áine's beauty. During the rape Áine fought back and bit Ailill's ear off earning him the name "Aillil Bare-Ear". After the rape Áine swore vengeance on Ailill and eventually contrived his death. This story is about what happens when a ruler decides to rape the Land rather than enter into a marriage with Her. Áine knows the energies of a righteous vengeance quite intimately. She said:
"Ill have you been to me, to have done me violence and to have killed my father. To requite this I too will do you violence and by the time we are done I will leave you with no means of reprisal."
To me this is a warning about what the Land will eventually do to us all if we continue on the path of resource rape, and environmental poisoning that our current society follows. Áine will protect herself.
The "Paps of Áine" are a set of two breast-like mountains in southern Ireland that have been sacred to Her for as long as memory reaches. The Paps are inhabited by the Sidhe and is a place of great brí. In Colorado, our group considers the Spanish Peaks, or Wahatoya, to be a place sacred to Áine. The Wahatoya are, in form and appearance, very similar to the Paps in Ireland.
From: Áine
Áine is the spark of life that the Irish understand as traveling through the body during a 24 hour period. What this "vital spark" was is not known. It is perhaps related to native forms of Irish medicine that have been lost.
Days of the year that are set aside to honor Áine are the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, following Lúnasa. On these days some folk would climb to the top of Cnoc Áine with torches. They would circle the barrows there anti-clockwise in a dance, and then descend the hill taking the ashes from the hay torches with them to be sprinkled over their fields for a better harvest.
However, Áine has a dark side. She was once raped by a King Ailill Olom who coveted Áine's beauty. During the rape Áine fought back and bit Ailill's ear off earning him the name "Aillil Bare-Ear". After the rape Áine swore vengeance on Ailill and eventually contrived his death. This story is about what happens when a ruler decides to rape the Land rather than enter into a marriage with Her. Áine knows the energies of a righteous vengeance quite intimately. She said:
"Ill have you been to me, to have done me violence and to have killed my father. To requite this I too will do you violence and by the time we are done I will leave you with no means of reprisal."
To me this is a warning about what the Land will eventually do to us all if we continue on the path of resource rape, and environmental poisoning that our current society follows. Áine will protect herself.
The "Paps of Áine" are a set of two breast-like mountains in southern Ireland that have been sacred to Her for as long as memory reaches. The Paps are inhabited by the Sidhe and is a place of great brí. In Colorado, our group considers the Spanish Peaks, or Wahatoya, to be a place sacred to Áine. The Wahatoya are, in form and appearance, very similar to the Paps in Ireland.
From: Áine
Other Sites:
King Ailill Olom and the rape of Áine
Áine: Fate
Áine Clí
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