Myths and Legends

The Wisdom - the story is neverending -

Myths and legends are present in all cultures. The story teller enthralls the listener with their words, spoken or written. And whatever the tale there is always a learning, a wisdom, for each member of the audience as they resonate with the character's actions. Psychologists confirm that the story will speak to our unconscious as well as conscious mind. It may be based on a literal fact, a passing on of history, yet it often explains our personal lives and show us truths about ourselves and the world in which we live.

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The Wisdom - in the name is the understanding -

The River Boyne's name is traditionally linked to the goddess Boan or Boand. And thence to Bo - Cow - and Finne - White. A 2nd century map of Ireland by the Greek Ptolemy names it as Bovinda, and Giraldus Cambrensis in the 12th century calls it Boandus. Stretches of the river have had different names associated with them - although the following takes the River beyond Ireland's shores...

From: Metrical Dindsenchas -

Sid Nechtáin is the name that is on the mountain here, the grave of the full-keen son of Labraid, from which flows the stainless river whose name is Boand ever-full.

Fifteen names, certainty of disputes, given to this stream we enumerate, from Sid Nechtáin away till it reaches the paradise of Adam.

Segais was her name in the Sid to be sung by thee in every land: River of Segais is her name from that point
to the pool of Mochua the cleric.

From the well of righteous Mochua to the bounds of Meath's wide plain, the Arm of Nuadu's Wife and her Leg
are the two noble and exalted names.

From the bounds of goodly Meath till she reaches the sea's green floor she is called the Great Silver Yoke
and the White Marrow of Fedlimid.

Stormy Wave from thence onward unto branchy Cualnge; River of the White Hazel from stern Cualnge to the lough of Eochu Red-Brows.

Banna is her name from faultless Lough Neagh: Roof of the Ocean as far as Scotland: Lunnand she is in blameless Scotland-- The name denotes her according to its meaning.

Severn is she called through the land of the sound Saxons, Tiber in the Romans' keep: River Jordan thereafter in the east and vast River Euphrates.

River Tigris in enduring paradise, long is she in the east, a time of wandering from paradise back again hither
to the streams of this Sid.

Boand is her general pleasant name from the Sid to the sea-wall; I remember the cause whence is named the water of the wife of Labraid's son.

Nechtain son of bold Labraid whose wife was Boand, I aver; a secret well there was in his stead, From which gushed forth every kind of mysterious evil.

There was none that would look to its bottom but his two bright eyes would burst: if he should move to left or right, he would not come from it without blemish.

Therefore none of them dared approach it save Nechtain and his cup-bearers:- these are their names, famed for brilliant deed, Flesc and Lam and Luam.

Hither came on a day white Boand (her noble pride uplifted her), to the never-failing well to make trial of its power.

As thrice she walked round about the well heedlessly, three waves burst from it, whence came the death of Boand.

They came each wave of them against a limb, they disfigured the soft-blooming woman; a wave against her foot, a wave against her perfect eye, the third wave shatters one hand.

She rushed to the sea (it was better for her) to escape her blemish, so that none might see her mutilation; on herself fell her reproach.

Every way the woman went the cold white water followed from the Sid to the sea (not weak it was), so that thence it is called Boand.

Boand from the bosom of our mighty river-bank, was mother of great and goodly Oengus, the son she bore to the Dagda – bright honour! in spite of the man of this Sid.

Or, Boand is Bo and Find from the meeting of the two royal streams, the water from bright Sliab Guaire and the river of the Sids here.

Dabilla, the name of the faithful dog who belonged to the wife of Nechtain, great and noble, the lap-dog of Boand the famous, which went after her when she perished.

The sea-current swept it away, as far as the stony crags; and they made two portions of it, so that they were named therefrom.

They stand to the east of broad Breg, the two stones in the blue waters of the lough: Cnoc Dabilla [is so called] from that day to this from the little dog of the Sid.