Manannán Mac Lir – Irish God Of Sea, Healing, Weather And Master Of Shapeshifting

A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com – Manannán mac Lir (or Manann) – “son of the sea”) – is a sea god in Irish mythology and the Welsh tradition: his other name is Manawydan. Generally, Manannán mac Lir is a popular figure in Irish mythology, and some Irish traditions even attempted to portray him as a historical figure.

Stephen Reid’s illustration – Manannán’s boat – The High Deeds of Finn and other bardic romances of ancient Ireland by T. W. Rolleston. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/14749/14749-h/14749-h.htm#IL16  –  Public Domain

Manannán mac Lir was also a god of the weather and healing. His father was Lir, an old and obscure god of the sea and ocean.

Manannán mac Lir had a beautiful wife, Fand (Fiand), who lived with his consent with a hero,  Cuchulainn. Later, when she had to part with him, the god of the sea used to wear their mantle so that they would never meet again.

He raised the god Lugh (Luga) and was a foster father to other children. Manannán mac Lir never lived on land but dwelled on a legendary island Tír Tairngiri (‘ Country of Promise’), or Mag Mell (‘ Plain of Joy’). Even Emain Abhlach (‘Island of Apple Tree’) was associated with this sea god and the island of Avalon in later legends.

Source:  AncientPages.com – Read the rest of the article – here.