The Power of Water in Irish Mythology

It is generally accepted that in ancient times, our ancestors believed one could access the Otherworld via water.

It’s understandable; water’s surface acts as a mirror to reflect the sky, mountains, trees all around them. It looked the same as their world, and yet different, easily banished with the merest touch of the surface. Not only that, but the water could be quick to take life if one fell into it, offering the return of only the empty shell of a body. Where could the spirit have gone, if not into the Otherworld?

Ireland is full of lakes and rivers, each of them with their own legends attached.

Co Cavan, where I live, is said to have a lake for each day of the year, and I am inclined to believe it; a new watery vista is revealed at every turn and twist of the road, whichever one you might be travelling.

These lakes and pools were thought to be filled from the Otherworld, and as such, bathing in them, or drinking their water, would bestow Otherworldly magic on the mortal concerned, such as poetic inspiration, wisdom and knowledge, or healing. 

The largest lake in the county is called Lough Sheelin; it’s about 6.5km long and 1.5km wide. Its name derives from the Irish Loch Síodh Linn, meaning ‘Lake of the Fairy Pool’, such a romantic name!

Local folklore claims it was not always so big. Originally, it was just a small spring, from which the fairy folk, or Sidhe, allowed the local villagers to collect drinking water, but the rule was that they must always replace the cover.

One day, a careless villager forgot to do this, and the Sidhe were so incensed, they caused the water to rise up, flooding the well and the nearby village, and thus forming the lake as we see it today.

Lough Ramor

Lough Ramor

A few minutes drive in the other direction brings us to another large lake, Lough Ramor (Loch Ramhar in Irish). Its ancient name is Muinreamhair, which means literally, ‘fat neck’. Although this sounds like an insult, it is thought to actually be named after an ancient King or warrior of the area, and refers to his muscle and strength.

Incidentally, legend claims that Lough Ramor first ‘burst forth’ nine years after Nemed came to Ireland, a few hundred years after ‘the Great Flood’.

Loughanleagh is a mountain in Co Cavan which hosts three ancient cairns at the highest point (1119ft) on its summit. It takes its name from a small  lake which was also to be found there, known as Loch an Leighis, which means ‘Lake of Cures’.

Its water and mud were famous for curing skin complaints, and even as late as the C18th, sufferers would come in their thousands at partake of the lakes curative properties, although this practice almost certainly derived from far more ancient origins. Unfortunately, the lake no longer exists; sadly, turf cutting in the vicinity has drained all water from the bed.

I first came across this legend of the healing lake when reading a translation of the Cath Maige Tuiredan ancient document detailing the Battles of Moytura. In it, the Tuatha de Danann invade Ireland. Dian-Cecht, the Danann’s physician blesses the Well of Slaine, or Healing, throwing into it one of every type of herb growing in Ireland (along with a few choice incantations).

Here, the wounded Danann warriors could bathe and thus be healed and fully restored, ready for the next day’s fighting. Later, realising this, their enemy the Fomori attacked the Danann camp, filling the lake with boulders dragged from the River Drowse, so rendering the lake impossible to bathe in, and forming the huge cairn of Heapstown.

Ireland boasts its fair share of water deities, among them Lir, Manannán mac Lir, Boann and Sinnan. Lir and Manannán were gods of the sea, but Boann and Sinnan were river goddesses.

The longest river in Ireland is the Shannon ( from the Irish Abha na Sionainne), which runs for 360kms across the landscape. Its source is the Shannon Pot, or Legnashinna (from the Irish Lag na Sionna, meaning ‘hollow of Shannon’), a well 16m wide and up to 14.6m deep, located on the side of Cuilcagh Mountain (the highest point of the Breffni Mountains at 2182ft), near Blacklion in… wait for it… my beloved Co Cavan! The Shannon Pot is a particular kind of lake known as a turlough, which is a seasonal pool usually found in limestone karst areas of Ireland, which flood in autumn and drain in spring.

The Shannon Pot, courtesy of wikipedia

The Shannon Pot, courtesy of wikipedia

As you have probably guessed by now, the Shannon is named after a young lady calleded Sinann, who happened to be the grand-daughter of Lir, god of the sea. She decided to visit Connla’s Well and ate the fruits of the Tree of Knowledge, although she knew it was forbidden. As a result, the waters of the well rose up, carrying her out to sea and drowning her there. So the River Shannon was formed.

This story is remarkably similar to that of Boann. This time, Connla’s well is the source of the River Boyne, which is now known as Trinity Well. Boann goes there seeking knowledge against the will of her husband, Nechtan, who owns the well. Again, the waters rise and carry her out to sea, where in some versions she is drowned, but in others survives although maimed.

Is it just my sceptical mind, or do these stories bear some sign of Christianisation? That knowledge is the preserve of men only, and that women must obey their husbands, or suffer dire consequences…

Ler, or Lir, means ‘sea’ in old Irish, but this god is also sometimes known as Allód. He is the father of Manannán mac Lir, but is rather more well known for the story of his other offspring, the Fate of the Children of Lir, although it is by no means certain that this is in fact the same Lir

In this tale, Aedbh, Lir’s first wife and mother of his children dies, so he takes another wife, Aoife. Lir is devoted to his children, and in a fit of jealousy, Aoife casts a horrific spell on them turning them into swans for the duration of a magical lifetime lasting 900 years, which they spent at Lough Derravaragh, the Sea of Moyle, and the waters of Inis Gluaire.

This story forms part of the Trí Trauighe Scéalaigheachta, or the ‘Three Sorrows of Storytelling’ along with the Fate of the Sons of Uisneach, and the Fate of the Children of Tuirean.

There is too much to tell of Manannán mac  Lir, so I’m saving him for a post all of his own, coming soon!

In Irish mythology, the Otherworld islands, said to be Manannán’s home, lie ‘beyond the ninth wave’. The ninth wave is said to be greater than any other wave before it, and is also known as the ‘Wave of Transformation’.

The Tuatha de Danann attempted to protect Ireland from the attack of the invading Milesians by shrouding the land in fog and storms. They ordered the Milesians to go back beyond the ninth wave but the poet Amergin countered the Danann magic, and breached the spell; supposedly, it was the ninth wave itself which broke through.

The Imramma is a sacred sea voyage in Irish mythology which takes the traveller beyond the ninth wave in search of the magical Otherworld and the Gods which inhabit it. In this way, we can see that the voyage is more a spiritual journey than a physical one, the wave of transformation perhaps bringing with it the wisdom and knowledge we all ultimately seek.

Or get one of these!

17 Comments on “The Power of Water in Irish Mythology


  2. His name was Manannán mac Lir. Not the pronunciation mark and the small ‘m’ in mac. It should not be a capital as this is not a surname. Secondly, his father’s name was Lear, not Lir. Lir is the genetive form but not the singular or personal name form. Lear is pronounced as LARR.


    • Hi Proinsias, thanks for your comment. I have looked through the post you have commented on, and I can’t see anywhere that I have spelled Manannán mac Lir wrong; all references include the pronunciation mark, or fada as it is called, and the small ‘m’ in mac. Although Lir is grammatically incorrect, as it is in the genitive form, it is the more popular, well-known anglicised version of his father’s name, which you correctly point out is Lear. Thanks for reading!☺


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  4. Ali – I am an environmental artist in Florida and my work focuses on the power of Water in myth, goddess culture and healing. I stumbled upon your blog today and wanted to say thank you. Do you have any advice on images or a book to read that explores Women and Water in Irish Myth, especially as it relates to the pre christian . Thank you and keep up the good work.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hi Sarah, glad to meet you. I’m afraid I don’t have the answer you’re looking for. Everything I have learned about Irish mythology has come from reading the old stories, in as many versions as I could get, preferably the old translations of the original documents themselves. I’m sorry about that. But if there is anything I can help you with, or if you have any more questions, I will do my best to help you.


    • Google Assaroe Falls, Ballyshannon, Co.Donegal, called after the Dagda Ess Ruaid or Aed and check them out before they moved the river for their ‘fake’ waterfall!


  5. Reblogged this on beyondtheflow and commented:
    I spent so much time in or near the water (lately that has also included rain) and given my Irish heritage, I found this fascinating xx Rowena


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  8. I love your scepticism and guess you are probably right to see Christian finger-pointing in the legends concerning wells and female deities. All conquerors do it, impose their religion by incorporating and perverting some of the strongest elements of the local religion and the Christians were no exception. I don’t think there were apples in the biblical garden of Eden, but since the apple was such a potent symbol in celtic mythology I imagine they pinched it. What miserable stories they churned out to replace the magic of the old ones!


    • You are absolutely right! In terms of the well, it may also have had female womb-like connotations, in that, it was a life giving vessel containing nurturing fluid. If so, they would have done their utmost to disassociate the female from such powerful places…

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks Craig! I love researching it too, especially if it relates to a place I know. I’m always learning something new, and then I wonder, how did I miss that before? My brain can only hold so much at any one time… wbich means I have to start deleting stuff. Good job I’ve got a blog to save it all to!


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