The Enbarr (Énbarr) or Aonbharr of
Manannán ( ga, Aonbharr Mhanannáin) is a horse in the Irish
Mythological Cycle
Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narrat ...
which could traverse both land and sea, and was swifter than wind-speed.
The horse was the property of the sea-god
Manannan mac Lir, but provided to
Lugh Lamh-fada ( ga, Luġ Lámhfhada) to use at his disposal. In the story ''
Oidheadh Chloinne Tuireann'' ("The Fate of the Children of Tuireann"), Lugh refused to lend it to the sons of Tuireann, but was then forced to lend the self-navigating boat ''Sguaba Tuinne'' (Wave-sweeper) instead.
Forms
Aenbharr or Aonbharr ( ga, Aonbarr) occur in ''
Oidheadh Chloinne Tuireann''.
In
P.W. Joyce
Patrick Weston Joyce, commonly known as P. W. Joyce (1827 – 7 January 1914) was an Irish historian, writer and music collector, known particularly for his research in Irish etymology and local place names of Ireland.
Biography
He was born i ...
's retelling the horse is also called Enbarr of the Flowing Mane.
[ The forms Énbarr, Enbhárr are given by James Mackillop's dictionary.][
]
Etymology
The meaning of this name has variously defined. As a common noun ''enbarr'' is glossed as "froth" in the medieval Cormac's glossary
''Sanas Cormaic'' (or ''Sanas Chormaic'', Irish for "Cormac's narrative"), also known as ''Cormac's Glossary'', is an early Irish glossary containing etymologies and explanations of over 1,400 Irish words, many of which are difficult or outdated. ...
.[ O'Donovan, John tr. (1868),]
Enbarr
, ''Sanas Chormaic'', p. 66.
The modern Irish form Aonbharr is glossed as "One Mane" by O'Curry
Curry is a common surname used in Ireland, Scotland and England. Currey is a less common variant. In England and Scotland, the is thought to derive from local place names and, in Scotland, also possibly from MacMhuirich (surname), MacMhuirrich ...
, "the one or unrivalled mane" by O'Curry and O'Duffy, and "unique supremacy" by James Mackillop's dictionary.[Énbarr, Enbhárr]
, Mackillop (1998) ed., ''Oxford Dictionary of Celtic Mythology'', p. 182
Welsh scholar John Rhys
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Second E ...
thought the name meant "she had a bird's head", and evidently considered it a mare
A mare is an adult female horse or other equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four ...
.
In romance
In the romance ''Oidheadh Chlainne Tuireann'' (OCT, The Fate of the Children of Tuireann), the Tuatha Dé Danann
The Tuath(a) Dé Danann (, meaning "the folk of the goddess Danu (Irish goddess), Danu"), also known by the earlier name Tuath Dé ("tribe of the gods"), are a supernatural race in Irish mythology. Many of them are thought to represent deity, ...
oppressed by tribute enforced by the Formorians
The Fomorians or Fomori ( sga, Fomóire, Modern ga, Fomhóraigh / Fomóraigh) are a supernatural race in Irish mythology, who are often portrayed as hostile and monstrous beings. Originally they were said to come from under the sea or the eart ...
gather an assembly on a hill, and Lugh arrives among an army of the "Fairy Cavalcade from the Land of Promise" ( ga, an Marcra Sidh ó Thir Tairrngire). Aonbharr of Manannán was the horse Lugh was riding. The horse was quicker than the "naked cold wind of spring", and could travel over land or sea with equal ease. It also had the property that whoever was mounted on its back could not be killed. And Lugh was dressed in various armor from the sea-god adding to his invulnerability.[ Note that in P. W. Joyce's retelling the fairy cavalcade appeared as "warriors, all mounted on white steeds", which suggests as embellishment that Lugh's horse was white also.).][ But the sea-horses are only figurative phrasing for "crested waves" according to the DIL.
Lugh refused to loan the horse to the sons of Tuireann, claiming that would be the loan of a loan, but in making this refusal, was later trapped into lending the self-navigating ''currach'' (]coracle
A coracle is a small, rounded, lightweight boat of the sort traditionally used in Wales, and also in parts of the West Country and in Ireland, particularly the River Boyne, and in Scotland, particularly the River Spey. The word is also used of s ...
boat) called the "Besom of the Sea" ( ga, scuab tuinné), also called Sguaba Tuinne or Wave-sweeper.
Pop Culture
Enbarr appears in the 2013 video game, ''Final Fantasy XIV
''Final Fantasy XIV'' is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed and published by Square Enix. Directed and produced by Naoki Yoshida, it was released worldwide for Windows and PlayStation 3 in August 2013, as a rep ...
''. Enbarr can be obtained through the extreme level on The Whorleater, as a random drop.
Enbarr appears as a minor character in the Nate Temple series by Shayne Silvers. He is the horse of Manannán mac Lir
Manannán or Manann, also known as Manannán mac Lir ("son of the sea"), is a warrior and king of the Otherworld in Irish mythology who is associated with the sea and often interpreted as a sea god, usually as a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann ...
and is responsible for removing the main character, Quinn MacKenna, from the Otherworld and taking her to Fae.
Enbarr is the namesake of Enbarr Ltd, an Irish startup company that developed equine health management software, StablePro.
Explanatory notes
References
;Citations
;Bibliography
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and
{{Celtic mythology (Fenian)
Fenian Cycle
Irish legendary creatures
Mythological cycle
Horses in mythology
Lugh