University of Virginia Library

The Tribe, or Tuath, of De Danaan was one of the great mythical races of invaders of Ireland. They defeated the Firbolgs at the battle of Moy Tura of the South, near Cong, but were themselves defeated at Tailtin, now Telltown, in Meath, by the Sons of Milith, or Milesians. After the battle they assumed the Faed fia, or veil of darkness, and retreated to their hills, where they continued to dwell, a divine race, invisible or appearing at will. They divided the north and west of Ireland between their chiefs, under Bov Derg, who was clected their High-King (Ard-Righ), as here told. Many of their heroes became divinities, Lir and his son Manannan being deities of the sea. Manannan, their Arch-Druid, had his dwelling in the Isle of Man, which took its name from him. There he taught many champions, both of the De Danaan and the Milesians, the arts of war and magic. Among the most famous of his pupils was Lugh Lamh-fhada (long-arm), whose vengeance on the Sons of Turann is the subject of the third “Sorrow of Story-telling.”

The Lir of this poem is the Lear of Shakspeare, and his name should be similarly pronounced. The o is long in such proper names as Bōv Derg, Angus Ōg, Mochaom Ōg, Carrigna-rōn, and the u is long in dūn.