Clíodhna

In Irish mythology, Clíodhna (Clídna, Clionadh, Clíodna, Clíona, transliterated to Cleena in English) is a Queen of the Banshees of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Clíodna of Carrigcleena is the potent banshee that rules as queen over the sidheog (fairy women of the hills) of South Munster, or Desmond.[1]

In some Irish myths, Clíodhna is a goddess of love and beauty, and the patron of County Cork.[2] She is said to have three brightly coloured birds who eat apples from an otherworldly tree and whose sweet song heals the sick people.[2] She leaves the otherworldly island of Tír Tairngire ("the land of promise") to be with her mortal lover, Ciabhán, but is taken by a wave[2] as she sleeps due to the music played by a minstrel of Manannan mac Lir in Glandore harbour in County Cork: the tide there is known as Tonn Chlíodhna, "Clíodhna's Wave".[3] Whether she drowns or not depends on the version being told, along with many other details of the story.

She had her palace in the heart of a pile of rocks, 5 mi (8.0 km) from Mallow, which is still commonly known by the name of Carrig-Cleena, and numerous legends about her are told above the Munster peasantry.[4]

Associated families

In general, it has been observed that Clíona is especially associated with old Irish families of Munster. Clíona has long been associated with the lands that had been the territory of the Ui-Fidgheinte (O'Donovans and O'Collins) during their period of influence (circa 373 A.D. to 977 A.D.), or were later associated with what had been the Ui-Fidghente territory (MacCarthys and FitzGeralds).

Clíona is referred to as an unwelcome pursuer in Edward Walsh's poem, O’Donovan’s Daughter. And, in an ode praising Donel O'Donovan upon his accession to the chiefship of Clancahill, Domhnall Ó Donnabháin III he is referred to as the "Dragon of Clíodhna".[5]

Clíodhna is also associated with the MacCarthy dynasty of Desmond, who adopted her as their fairy woman, and the O'Keeffes and FitzGerald dynasty, with whom she has had amorous affairs[4] Clíodhna appears in the name of one O'Leary in a medieval pedigree,[6] as Conor Clíodhna or "Conor of Clíodhna", and it is notable that the family were originally based in the area of Rosscarbery, very near to Glandore, before moving north to Muskerry. The O'Learys belong to the ancient Corcu Loígde.

Surviving traditions of Clíodhna in narrative and poetry associate her with the O'Keeffes and O'Donovans. The latter, originally from Uí Fidgenti in North Munster with its own traditions, where their original goddess was Mongfind, later moved south to Carbery on Cuan Dor Harbour, Clíodhna's traditional abode on the South Munster coast, and she then features in poetry associated with them. The O'Keeffe narrative tradition is more extensive, and Clíodhna has other Desmond associations too.

Rivalry with Aibell

Clíodhna is said to be a rival of Aibell, in one tale, Clíodhna cast a spell that turned Aibell into a white cat.[7]

The Blarney Stone

The most traditional story of the famous Blarney Stone involves Clíodhna.[8] Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, the builder of Blarney Castle,[9] being involved in a lawsuit, appealed to Clíodhna for her assistance. She told him to kiss the first stone he found in the morning on his way to court, and he did so, with the result that he pleaded his case with great eloquence and won. Thus the Blarney Stone is said to impart "the ability to deceive without offending". He then incorporated it into the parapet of the castle.[10] To be fair, Clíodhna does not take credit for all the blarney of the MacCarthys. Queen Elizabeth noted in frustration that she could not effect a negotiation with Cormac MacCarthy, whose seat was Blarney Castle, as everything he said was 'Blarney, as what he says he does not mean'.[11]

John O'Donovan

In her capacity as banshee, Cleena is mentioned by the Irish antiquarian John O’Donovan.[12] Writing in 1849 to a friend, O'Donovan says:

When my grandfather died in Leinster in 1798, Cleena came all the way from Ton Cleena to lament him; but she has not been heard ever since lamenting any of our race, though I believe she still weeps in the mountains of Drumaleaque in her own country, where so many of the race of Eoghan Mor are dying of starvation.

Michael Collins

Irish revolutionary Michael Collins also had knowledge of Clíodhna. Stories were told of her in the Rosscarbery school he attended, and they took Sunday trips to Clíodhna's rock. Here, according to Michael's friend Piaras Béaslaí:[13]

Michael heard many a wonderful tale of Clíodhna's enchantments, of wrecks and perils, and drownings and treasure trove.

It is worth noting that Collins was descended from the Ó Coileáins of Uí Chonaill Gabra.[14] Both the Ui Chonaill and the Ui Donnobhans were tribes within the Ui-Fidghente.

Origins

It has been suggested that Clídna derives from the Gaulish goddess Clutonda or Clutondae[15]

In other media

The banshee queen Clíodhna herself features as a playable goddess and villainess in the MOBA Smite (video game) as the Celtic pantheon's assassin, released in October 2021.[16]

See also

References
  1. Wood-Martin, William Gregory (1895). Pagan Ireland: An Archaeological Sketch: A Handbook of Irish Pre-Christian Antiquities. London: Longmans, Green, and Co. pp. 132–133.
  2. Matson, Gienna (2004). Celtic Mythology A to Z. Chelsea House. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-60413-413-1.
  3. Gregory, Augusta (1905). Gods and Fighting Men: The Story of the Tuatha de Danan and of the Fianna of Ireland. J. Murray. p. 121. ISBN 978-0901072375. cliodna's wave.
  4. Monaghan, Patricia (2004). The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore. Facts on File. p. 90. ISBN 978-0-8160-4524-2.
  5. O'Donovan, John (1856). Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters. Vol. 5. p. 1548.
  6. Irish Pedigrees: O'Leary.
  7. Matson, Gienna (2004). Celtic Mythology A to Z. Chelsea House. p. 2. ISBN 978-1-60413-413-1.
  8. MacKillop, James. A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Oxford. pp. 43–44, 91.
  9. Irish Pedigrees: MacCarthy, Lords of Muskry #119.
  10. Marsh, Richard; Penn, Elan; McCourt, Frank. The Legends & Lands of Ireland. Penn Publishing. pp. 107–110.
  11. Francis, Charles (2009). Wisdom Well Said: Anecdotes, Fables, Legends, Myths, Humor, and Wise Sayings that Capture the Human Condition. Levine Mesa Press. p. 263. ISBN 9780982388709.
  12. Yeats, William Butler (2008). The Collected Works of W.B. Yeats Vol. VI: Prefaces and Introductions. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1439106235.
  13. Coogan, Tim Pat (2002). Michael Collins: The Man Who Made Ireland. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 11. ISBN 978-0312295110.
  14. Coogan, Tim Pat (2002). Michael Collins: The Man Who Made Ireland. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 5–6. ISBN 978-0312295110.
  15. Crowe, J. O'Beirne (January 1869). "Religious Beliefs of the Pagan Irish". Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland: 319.
  16. TitanDaddy. "The Queen of the Banshees - 8.10 Update Notes". Smite Game. Hirez Studios. Retrieved 5 October 2021.

Further reading
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