Bodhmall
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Bodhmall (or bodhmann, Bómall,''Dóiteoir na Samhna'', by Darach Ó Scalaí, Bodmall, or Bodbmall) is one of Fionn mac Cumhaill's childhood foster mothers in the Fenian Cycle of
Irish mythology Irish mythology is the body of myths native to the island of Ireland. It was originally oral tradition, passed down orally in the Prehistoric Ireland, prehistoric era, being part of ancient Celtic religion. Many myths were later Early Irish ...
and the daughter of Tréanmór mac Suailt. She is a
druid A druid was a member of the high-ranking class in ancient Celtic cultures. Druids were religious leaders as well as legal authorities, adjudicators, lorekeepers, medical professionals and political advisors. Druids left no written accounts. Whi ...
ess and the sister of Fionn's father
Cumhal Cumhall (earlier Cumall, pronounced roughly "Coo-al" or "Cool") or Cumhall mac Trénmhoir ("son of Trénmór/Tréanmór" meaning "strong-great") is a figure in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology, a leader of the fianna and the father of Fionn m ...
, and both she and her female partner
Liath Luachra Liath Luachra or the "Grey one of Luachair", is the name of two characters in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. Both appear in ''The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn'', which details the young life and adventures of the hero Fionn mac Cumhaill. Alfred Nu ...
are known as great warriors. Bodhmall's story appears in '' The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn''. When Cumhal is slain by Goll mac Morna, his wife
Muirne Muirne or Muireann Muncháem ("beautiful lips") was the sister of Uirne and the mother of Fionn mac Cumhail in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. She had many suitors, but her father, the druid Tadg mac Nuadat, had foreseen that her marriage ...
fears for their son's safety. Bodhmall and Liath Luachra come to her, and take the boy to be raised in the forest of Sliabh Bladhma. There they teach him to hunt, and accompany him on some of his early adventures. When he grows up and news of his exploits spreads, the warrior women fear he will attract the attention of Goll's men. They send him out to find his own way, having taught him all they know.


References

*MacKillop, James James MacKillop (1998). ''Dictionary of Celtic Mythology''. Oxford. . Fenian Cycle Druids {{Celt-myth-stub