NAME Ocelos
GENDER M
SYMBOL goose
CATEGORY deity
TYPE healer god
CULTURE Bell Beaker - Silures tribe
COUNTRY Wales
REGION Gwent
SITES curative spring at Caerwent
AGE Neolithic / Bronze / Iron
DATES BC 3rd mill-BC 1st c
REMARKS Ocelos was associated with the curative spring
at Caerwent in southern Wales in the land of the Silures
tribe. The Silures were a very ancient people believed to
be descendants of the Neolithic Bell Beaker People.
NAME Ochall Ochne
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Roscommon
TERRITORY Connacht
CENTERS Sidhe Cruachu
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
BATTLES Danann Civil War
ENEMIES Goidel
SEE ALSO Bodb Dearg / Daghda / Fionnbharr / Fruich /
Ilbhreach / Lir / Midhir / Rucht Chnint
REMARKS Ochall Ochne was the chieftain of the Danann of
Connacht and made his home at Sidhe Cruachu. After the
Goidel had conquered Ireland, the Danann became immersed in
a civil war when Daghda appointed Bodb Dearg as head
chieftain of the Danann. The main chieftains involved in
the war were Bodb Dearg, Ilbhreach, Lir, Midhir, Ochall
Ochne and Fionnbharr.
Ochall Ochne had a swineherd named Rucht Chnint who
was a rival of Fruich, the swineherd of Bodb Dearg. Ochall
dismissed Rucht because the health of his boars suffered
when the two herders began to squabble.
NAME Octriallach
ALTERNATIVE Oichtriallach / Olltriallach / Ochtriallach
GENDER M
FESTIVAL summer solstice
CATEGORY warrior
CULTURE Fomorii / Fir Domnann tribe
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Sligo
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Plain of Towers (Magh Tuireadh) / Ardagh (Achad
Aba) / Lough Arrow
SITES Spring of Health / Cairn of Octriallach
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
BATTLES second battle of Magh Tuireadh (north Moytura)
RELATIVES Indech (father); Omna, Goll and Irgol (half-
brothers); Breg, Meng and Mebal (half-sisters);
Beelzebub (ancestor)
ENEMIES Danann / Bruidne / Casmael
SEE ALSO Breg / Diancecht / Indech
REMARKS During the battle of north Moytura, Octriallach
killed the Danann druids Bruidne and Casmael. It was also
Octriallach who uncovered the location of Diancecht's
Spring of Health at Achad Aba (Ardagh) between Lough Arrow
and Magh Tuiredh.
Octriallach led a raid against the well (Tiprait
Slainge) and had his warriors fill the well with stones
from the Drowes river. The heap of stones became known as
The Cairn of Octriallach.
GENDER F
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman) / warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel (Milesian) - Artabri tribe
COUNTRY Spain / Ireland
REGION Galicia / Meath
LANDMARKS Magh Odba
CENTERS Brigantia (A Corunna)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 15th c
BATTLES Sliabh Mish / Taillcenn / Druim Lighean
RELATIVES Golamh (father); Conaing (mother); Eremon
(husband/half-brother); Muimne, Luigne and
Laigne (sons); Dil (sister); Donn, Airioch,
Arannan, Eber, Amhairghin, Ir, Colptha (half-
brothers); Bile (grandfather); Bregon (great-
grandfather); Brego, Bladh, Fuad, Murthemne,
Cualgne, Cuala, Eibleo, Nar and Ith (cousins)
SEE ALSO Amhairghin / Arannan / Bile / Bladh / Bregon /
Colptha / Donn / Eber / Eremon / Fuad / Golamh /
Ir / Ith
REMARKS Odba, daughter of Golamh and Conaing, married
her half-brother Eremon. During the invasion of Ireland,
Eremon left her and her sons in Spain and took Tea as his
new wife.
Odba and her sons secured their own ship for the
invasion. When she died her burial site near Tara in Co.
Meath was named Magh Odba.
NAME Odgar
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE horse warrior / son of the Ard Righ Eirinn
CULTURE Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY England / Wales / Ireland
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 6th c
ACCESSORIES Cauldron of Diwrnach
RELATIVES Adoh (father)
SEE ALSO Cadw / Culhwch / Isbaddaden / Olwen
REMARKS Isbaddaden said that Odgar was the only person
who could take a tusk from Ysgithwyn (Chief Boar) while he
was still alive, but in fact the tusk was taken by Cadw.
The tusk was needed to shave Isbaddaden, chief of the
Giants. The cauldron of his steward Diwrnach the Irishman
was also needed for cooking the food of the feast for the
wedding of Culhwch and Olwen.
NAME Odras
GENDER F
CATEGORY herder
TYPE cowherd
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
CENTERS Buchat Buasach's Bruidhean (hostel)
RELATIVES Odarnatan (father)
ENEMIES Morrighan
SEE ALSO Danu
REMARKS Odras was the daughter of Odarnatan, keeper of
Buchat Buasach's hostel, where she was the cowherd. The
Morrighan (Danu) brought a bull named Slemuin (smooth) to
mate with the best cow in the herd.
The Morrighan then tried to steal the cow by getting
it to follow the bull through the Cave of Cruachan and into
The Otherworld. Odras chased after the Morrighan but
somewhere in the woods of Falga, the Morrighan cast a spell
on her, and turned Odras into a pool of water (blood).
NAME Odysseus
ALTERNATIVE Ulysses / Ulixes
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE chariot warrior / head chieftain / mariner
CULTURE Achaean
COUNTRY Spain
REGION Andalucía
TERRITORY Ithaca
LANDMARKS Mount Neriton
SITES Troy (Gogmagog Hills) / Ys
CENTERS Cadiz (Ithaca)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 13th c / BC 1240 (defeat of Troy)
BATTLES Trojan War
ACCESSORIES ship with oars
RELATIVES Laertes (father); Penelope (wife); Telemachus
(son); Circe (consort); Telegonus (son)
ENEMIES Trojans
REMARKS Odysseus, son of Laertes the Argonaut, was the
head chieftain of the territory of Ithaca and led 12
boatloads of warriors to fight as the Achaeans against the
Trojans in the land of Troad. When he left Ithaca to go
and fight in the war, his son was still an infant. Odysseus
was a hero of the Trojan War and contributed his idea of
using the Trojan Horse, probably a catapult or battering
ram.
The Trojan Horse helped bring about the end to the war
and on his way home with his warriors, Odysseus stopped to
sack the town of Ismarus (Ys). He then had to fight the
Cicones, who had supported the Trojans with battle-line
spearmen during the Trojan War. He and his crew escaped
only because they had protected the family of the priest
who watched over the grove of the sun god's sanctuary.
A storm blew his fleet of ships off course and they
became lost at sea. Odysseus and his small fleet then
became involved in a series of adventures when he followed
the way of the initiate. By following the secret code of
the constellations of the zodiac, he was led on a series of
adventures and visited many strange places.
At one place they were given a fruit which had a
euphoric effect; at another they found a floating island
surrounded by an unbreakable bronze wall. On one island
they found two types of animals, one which grazed by day
and the other by night.
After 19 years of trials and tribulations, Odysseus
finally arrived home. He went immediately to talk with his
swineherd Eumaeus, and found that his wife was being
harassed by 12x9 suitors, who had assumed that he was dead
and moved into the fortress in his absence.
When his faithful wife was informed of his return, she
implemented a plan and announced that she would marry
whoever could bend the great bow that had belonged to her
husband. Odysseus entered the fortress in the disguise of
a beggar and was the only one who succeeded in the task, at
which point he showered his intruders with arrows and with
the help of his son and the goddess Athena he killed them
all.
Odysseus was later unwittingly slain by his other son
Telegonus, who was born of Circe whom he had impregnated
while he was on his voyage of initiation. Odysseus and his
son Telemachus had gone to investigate the devastation
caused by a ship-wrecked warrior. Odysseus was killed
before he or the stranger found out that they were father
and son.
NAME Oengus
ALTERNATIVE Aenghus / Anghus {an'gus) / Angus / Aonghus
{Ĉneesh} / Aongus (Unique Force) / Oenghus /
Oengus {engus}
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior
TYPE chariot warrior (young)
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Moda Loga / Ath da Fert (Ford of 2 Gravemounds)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid (died)
ACCESSORIES sling
RELATIVES Oenlam Gabe (father)
ENEMIES Host of Connacht
REMARKS Oengus, the son of Oenlam Gabe (the one-handed
smith), was a young Ulster warrior who drove the Host of
Connacht before him from Moda Loga to Ath da Fert as he
showered them with stones from his sling. Connacht
warriors finely attacked him in mass and killed him.
NAME Oengus Olmucaid
ALTERNATIVE Aenghus / Anghus {an'gus) / Angus / Aonghus
{Ĉneesh} / Aongus (Unique Force) / Oenghus /
Oengus {engus} / Olmucach / Olmuccaid
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg / Magh Glinde Dercdon / Magh
nOensciath / Magh Cuili Coeil / Aelmag / Mag
Luirg / Magh Muccrima / Magh Luachra Dedad /
Magh Arcaill
SITES Argatos
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 13th c / BC 1256-1238 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
BATTLES Cluain / Cliar / Cnucha / Sliabh Cailce / Magh
nOensciad / Glas Fraechain / Cul Ratha / Sliabh
Cua / Airid Rigfeda
RELATIVES Fiachu Labrainne (father); Maen (son); Eremon
and Tea (ancestors)
ENEMIES Eochu Mumu
SEE ALSO Enna Airgdech / Eochu Mumu / Eremon / Fiachu
Labrainne / Tea
REMARKS Oengus Olmucach, son of Fiachu Labrainne, was a
descendant of Eremon and Tea and became the 11th high
chieftain of Ireland. He succeeded Eochu Mumu when he
killed him in the battle of Cluain.
Oengus won the battles of Cliar, Cnucha, Sliabh
Cailce, Magh nOensciad and Glas Fraechain. He also fought
and won 50 battles against the Cruithine (Picts), Fir Bolg
and the Oirce. Oengus fought 12 battles against the Toisi,
4 battles against the Colaisi and killed Smirgoll son of
Smethra in the battle of Raiced. Oengus also defeated his
enemies in the battles of Cul Ratha, Sliabh Cua and Airid
Rigfeda.
During his reign, 3 lakes burst their banks and the
sea flooded between Eba and Roscete. Oengus created the 7
(8) plains of Magh Glinde Dercdon, Magh nOensciath, Magh
Cuili Coeil, Aelmag, Mag Luirg, Magh Muccrima, Magh Luachra
Dedad and Magh Arcaill.
Oengus was slain at Argatos by Enna Airgdech, son of
Eochu Mumu, of the bloodline of Eber.
NAME Oengus Tuirmech Temrach
EPITHET The Reckoner
ALTERNATIVE Aenghus / Anghus {an'gus) / Angus / Aonghus
{Ĉneesh} / Aongus (Unique Force) / Oenghus /
Oengus {engus} / Oengus Turbech
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES BC 4th c / BC 394-334 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
RELATIVES Eochu Ailtlethan (father); Enna Airgnech (son);
Fiacha Fer Mara (son/grandson); Eterscel
(brother); Eremon and Tea (ancestors)
SEE ALSO Eremon / Tea
REMARKS Oengus Tuirmech Temrach, son of Eochu
Ailtlethan, was a descendant of Eremon and Tea and a high
chieftain of Ireland. Poets claim he was the first Goidel
to make reckonings and was therefore called The Reckoner.
Oengus sired a son called Enna Airgnech who was the
ancestor of Conn Cet-cathach. Enna Airgnech killed Nia
Segamain and ruled Ireland as high chieftain for 28 years.
Oengus also sired another son, by his daughter, who
was taken to Dun Aignech and put into a boat of 1 hide then
sent to sea dressed in the purple and golden robe of a high
chieftain. The baby was found by fisher-folk at Traig
Brenainn and he was named Fiacha Fer-mara. From his
descendants came the Clanna Erainn, Albanaig and the Dal
Fiatach.
Oengus Tuirmech Temrach was the high chieftain of
Ireland for 60 years until he died at Tara. He was
followed by Conall Collamrach as the high chieftain.
NAME Oghma
EPITHET Son of Knowledge / Of the Honey-mouth / Of the
Sun-like Countenance (Grianainech) / Of the
Smiling Face (Grian Aineach)
ALTERNATIVE Oghma {Og'mu} / Ogma mac Ethlenn / Oghmae mac
Ethlend / Oghmae Ealauthen / Oghmai mac Etnae /
Oghmau / Ogma / Ogmae mac Etnae / Ogmai
GENDER M
SYMBOL oak club / sun symbol for a head
FESTIVAL summer solstice
CATEGORY deity / hero / warrior / poet
TYPE god of knowledge/eloquence/literature/poetry/war
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Sligo / California / Navada
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Plain of Towers (Magh Tuireadh)
SITES Land of the Living (Tir na mBeo)
CENTERS Sidhe Airceltrai
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
BATTLES second battle of Magh Tuireadh (north Moytura)
(died)
ACCESSORIES club
RELATIVES Eladu (father); Etain (mother/consort); Delbaeth
(son); Bress, Daghda, Elloth, Bress and Delbaed
(half-brothers); Net (ancestor)
ENEMIES Indech
SEE ALSO Bress / Daghda / Delbaeth / Domnu / Eladu /
Etain / Indech / Net
REMARKS Oghma, son of Eladu and Etain, was a descendant
of Net. His epithet, the Son of Knowledge, referred to his
father being Eladu (fir), the tree of knowledge. Oghma was
accredited with inventing ogham as a form of writing. He
was a champion warrior and carried a club of oak, which
indicates a status of supernatural hero.
During the battle of north Moytura, Oghma was killed
by Indech son of Domnu. Oghma's home was Sidhe Airceltrai
and after his death he became known as the god of poetry
and eloquence and as the one who led the souls of the dead
to Tir na mBeo (Land of the Living) in The Otherworld.
There are two pictographs in America, one in
California and the other in Nevada, depicting a human with
a sun symbol for a head. It is believed by some to be
Oghma.
NAME Ogmios
EPITHET The Strong Man / The Walker
ALTERNATIVE Ogmia / Hercules
GENDER M
CATEGORY deity / poet
TYPE sun god / god of eloquence / teacher
COUNTRY France / England / Wales
TERRITORY Gaul
SITES Richmond
AGE Iron
DATES AD 2nd c
ACCESSORIES whip / golden and amber chains
REMARKS In France, Ogmios was described by the Greek
writer Lucian in AD 2nd century as being a strong ancient
bald man who was dressed in the skin of a lynx and leading
a willing group of students with golden and amber chains
that attached their ears to his tongue. Ogmios represented
strength in his eloquence which is attained only in old
age.
A clay tablet with the name Ogmia inscribed on it was
found at Richmond, England. The image was that of a man
with long curly hair. He had sun rays around his head and
he was holding a whip in his hand.
NAME Ogyruan
GENDER M
CATEGORY deity
TYPE god of the bards
CULTURE Briton
COUNTRY Wales / England
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 6th c
RELATIVES Gwenhyvar (daughter)
SEE ALSO Gwenhyvar
REMARKS Ogyruan was considered to be a deity of the
bards and was the father of Gwenhyvar.
NAME Oisin
EPITHET Little Deer
ALTERNATIVE Oisian / Oisin {ush-een, essheen} / Oissen /
Oissene / Oss (fawn) / Ossian
GENDER M
SYMBOL deer
CATEGORY deity / hero / warrior / filidh
TYPE god of youth / battle-line / historical poet
CULTURE Danann / Goidel / Pictish / Fomorii / Fianna -
Clanna Ui Tarsigh
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
REGION Dublin / Antrim
TERRITORY Leinster / The Otherworld - Land of Youth
(Tir na nOg)
LANDMARKS Loch Lein / Alvin Hills / Dodder
SITES Allen Hill / Well of Uisneach / Glenasmole /
Cairn of Ben Edar (Howth) / Ossian's Grave
CENTERS Raith Almu (Fort of Almain)
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
ACCESSORIES beauty spot / diadem of the god of youth
RELATIVES Fionn (father); Sadb (mother); Eibhir (wife);
Finn and Oscar (sons); Plur na mBan (daughter);
Samhair and Cebha (half-sisters); Aedh,
Ailbhinn, Cairell, Daire, Fergus Finnbheoil,
Raighne (half-brothers)
ENEMIES Fovor
SEE ALSO Aideen / Ailbhinn / Cailte / Cairell / Cebha /
Daire / Eibhir / Fergus Finnbheoil / Fionn mac
Cumhaill / Fovor / Oisin / Oscar / Sadb /
Samhair
REMARKS Oisin was a son of Fionn mac Cumhaill and a
descendant of Eber of the Milesian (Goidel). He was raised
by his mother in the forest because she had been changed
into a deer by the filidh Fer Doirich. While in that form
she would lick Oisin's forehead and he developed a tuft of
hair that was known as his beauty spot. When his father
found him on Ben Bulban he was 7 years old, naked and with
a head of long hair. Fionn named him little deer (Oisin)
and when the boy learned to speak he told the story of how
he was raised in the wild. As Oisin grew, he became a
member of the Fianna and was respected as a warrior, hunter
and a poet.
One day while Oisin was hunting near Loch Lein, a
beautiful young maiden came riding into the midst of the
Fianna on a white steed. She claimed that she was Splendor
of the Golden Hair and her name was Eibhir. She had heard
stories of Oisin's valor, excellence of body and quickness
of mind and wanted to take him back to the Land of Youth
(Tir na nOg) in The Otherworld. Oisin was won over by her
beauty, charm, and promises of wealth and long life. He
jumped on the horse with her and rode west across the sea.
On the way he saw many wondrous things: a white hound
with red ears chasing a hornless doe, a young maiden
holding a golden apple and riding a brown horse across the
waves followed by a young man on a white steed and dressed
in red and purple satin. Oisin and Eibhir then passed a
raith where the daughter of the head chieftain of the Land
of the Living was being held captive by a giant named
Fovor. Oisin volunteered to be her champion and fought the
giant on her behalf for 3 nights and days before he finally
managed to kill him.
Oisin and Eibhir then continued on their way to the
Land of Youth where they were married. During his time
there, they had 3 children: Finn, Oscar and Plur na mBan
(Flower of Maids).
As time passed, Oisin longed to see Fionn, Oscar and
the rest of the Fianna and told Eibhir he would make a
visit to see them. Eibhir warned him 3 times not to alight
from his horse and set foot on the soil of Ireland or he
would die because he had been away longer than he realized.
Oisin rode the white steed back to Ireland, where he
saw the Alvin hills of Leinster but the raith had fallen
and was covered with weeds and nettles. Travelling on, he
met a gathering of people in Glenasmole and he could not
help noticing that they were of a puny nature. Because of
his large stature they asked his help in moving a large
boulder.
Oisin leaned from his horse to push the standing stone
but the girth of his saddle broke and he fell to the
ground. He began to age rapidly, wrinkling and withering
right before the people who were gathered around.
The people sent for Patrick, a man of the new Roman
religion. He fed and cared for Oisin as he died and Oisin
told him stories of the greatness of the Fianna and their
deeds of valor.
One day when Oisin was with Patrick and his companions
at the pillar-stone of Uisneach, Oisin went to look for
water. He walked backwards so that he would know if anyone
was following him and soon he came to the white-rimmed well
of Uisneach. In the well he found 8 salmon and with these
and 8 sprigs of watercress and brooklime he made a feast.
Patrick told him that Fionn and the Fianna were in
hell and that if he became a Christian he would be saved.
Oisin replied that if Patrick's god was real and as
powerful as he claimed, he would rescue the heroes of the
Fianna himself. He told Patrick he preferred to die as he
had lived, knowing he would be with his friends in the
Otherworld.
Oisin died in the Glen of the Thrushes (Glenasmole or
Gleann na Smol), a valley close to Tallaght Dublin where
the Dodder rises. He was said to have been buried under
the cairn of Ben Edar (Howth) with Aideen, his daughter-in-
law. Another story says that he was buried in Antrim at a
site known as Ossian's Grave.
NAME Olc Siche
ALTERNATIVE Olc Acha
GENDER M
CATEGORY druid
TYPE artificer / blacksmith / wizard
COUNTRY Ireland
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3nd c
RELATIVES Achtan (daughter); Cormac (grandson)
SEE ALSO Achtan / Art Aenfer / Cormac mac Airt
REMARKS Olc realized his good fortune when Art Aenfer
stopped over at his smithy on his way to battle. He told
his daughter Achtan to sleep with Art because it had been
divined that a special birth would be the result.
His daughter gave birth to a baby boy who was to
become known as Cormac mac Airt. Olc gave the boy five
protecting gessa against wounding, drowning and every ill.
NAME Oll and Othine
GENDER M
CATEGORY warriors
TYPE bodyguards for Ailill and Medbh
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Roscommon
TERRITORY Connacht
SITES Imorach Smiromrach (Edge of the Marrow Bath)
CENTERS Raith Cruachain (Rathcroghan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid
ENEMIES Cethern / Ulster
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Cethern macFintain / Medbh
REMARKS Oll and Othine were the personal bodyguards for
Ailill and Medbh. During the cattle raid into Ulster the
two were described as having bushy-hair, blue cloaks held
together by silver fibulas and silver torcs around their
necks. They both carried long shields with silver chains
on them and a band of silver around them. They each
carried a 5-pointed spear decorated with a vein of silver.
Connacht lived by the pulse of the moon goddess and
Oll and Othine show their association by the emphasis on
silver and the number 5. When Cethern attacked, they
caused the 3rd wound when they made 2 cuts.
NAME Olloman
EPITHET Ollamh (Master Poet)
ALTERNATIVE Ollam / Ollum
GENDER M
CATEGORY Ollamh
TYPE master poet
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
BATTLES second battle of Magh Tuireadh (north Moytura)
RELATIVES Ernmas (mother); Delbaeth (father); Ai (son);
Macha, Danu, Badbh and Elcmar (sisters); Fiachu
and Indui (brothers); Brénos, Iuchar, Iucharba,
Glonn, Gnim and Coscar and (half-brothers); Neto
and Corpre Crom (half-brother/nephew); Eire,
Fodhla and Banbha (half-sisters/nieces); Fea and
Nemhain (nieces); Oghma and Etarlam
(grandfathers); Magog, Iarbonel, Ordan and Net
(ancestors)
ENEMIES Caicher
SEE ALSO Ai mac Ollamain / Badbh Catha / Banbha / Brénos
/ Bress / Danu / Delbaeth / Eire / Elcmar
/
Ernmas / Fea / Fiachu / Fodhla /
Iarbonel /
Indui / Macha / Maga / Magog /
Nemhain / Net /
Neto / Oghma / Ordan
REMARKS Olloman was the son of Delbaeth and Ernmas and a
descendant of Net and Ordan. Olloman and his father were
killed by Caicher, son of Namadach.
NAME Olwen
EPITHET White Track
ALTERNATIVE Ola / Olgen / Olwedd / Olwen / Owain
GENDER F
SYMBOL Trefoils / Venus
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman) / guard
TYPE guardian of the apple orchards of Myrddin
CULTURE Briton
COUNTRY Wales
TERRITORY The Otherworld
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 6th c
RELATIVES Isbaddaden (father); Culhwch (husband)
SEE ALSO Culhwch / Myrddin Wyllt / Isbaddaden
REMARKS Olwen was in the habit of going to the herders'
house to wash her hair. She was described as having hair
that was more golden that the flowers of the broom. Her
skin was whiter than the foam of a wave and the palms of
her hands and her fingers were whiter than a blooming
trefoil in spring. Her breasts were whiter than that of a
swan and her cheeks were redder than fox-glove.
Olwen wore a reddish gold torc studded with precious
stones and gems and a silk cloak of flaming red. Her eyes
were as bright as any hawk or falcon and 4 trefoils
(clover) would appear in each of her tracks.
When Culhwch approached her with a proposal of
marriage she warned him that her father would make many
demands that were impossible to keep but that he should
agree to do whatever he asked.
NAME On-niona
ALTERNATIVE Onn Nion (Furze Ash)
GENDER F
FESTIVAL spring equinox
CATEGORY deity
TYPE fertility goddesses
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
SITES ash-groves
REMARKS On-niona was associated with ash groves and was
venerated during the spring equinox at the end of ash
month. Her name refers to the trees Onn and Nion which
give the letters O and N to the Celtic tree alphabet.
NAME Ordan
ALTERNATIVE Ordam
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
CULTURE Danann
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 17th c
RELATIVES Aldui (father); Cait Conaitchend and Etarlam
(sons); Echtach (grandson); Ernmas
(granddaughter); Edlco (brother); Net (cousin);
Magog and Iarbonel (ancestors)
SEE ALSO Edlco / Ernmas / Magog / Net / Iarbonel
REMARKS Ordan, son of Aldui, was a descendant of the
Nemedian soothsayer, Iarbonel. Ordan and Net were the two
progenitors of one of the most important branches of the
family tree Danann. Like his cousin Net he most likely
never left the Hebrides.
NAME Orgetorix
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Brenin
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Gallic - Helvetii tribe
COUNTRY Switzerland
TERRITORY Gaul
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c / BC 58 ca.
ENEMIES Caesar
SEE ALSO Casticos / Dumnorix
REMARKS Orgetorix wanted the combined forces of the Ĉdui
under Dumnorix, the Sequani under Casticos, and the
Helvetii to take two years for preparation and on the third
year move the three tribes to better lands. However, some
of the chieftains of the Helvetii did not want to leave and
arguments broke out.
The council of chieftains of the Helvetii put
Orgetorix on trial and he arrived with his complete
household of 10,000 people as well as all his dependents
and debtors. He was acquitted but soon ended up dead
either by suicide or murder.
NAME Orlam
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel / Gailioin
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Connacht
SITES Disert Lochaid (Lochat's hermitage) / Tamlacht
Orlaim (Orlam's grave)
CENTERS Raith Cruachain (Rathcroghan)
AGE Irone
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid (died)
ACCESSORIES Fertedil was his charioteer
RELATIVES Ailill (father); Medbh (mother); Andoe,
Athramail, Gaib Uile, Mathramail, Milscothach,
Mingor and Morgor (brothers); Finnabair and Sadb
Sulbair (sisters); Furbaide (half-brother);
Eremon and Tea (ancestors)
ENEMIES Cu Chulainn / Cualnge / Pictland / Ulster
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Cu Chulainn / Eochaidh
Feidhleach / Eremon / Fertedil / Finnabair /
Furbaide / Mane / Medbh / Tea
REMARKS Orlam was a son of Medbh who was a daughter of
Eochaidh Feidhleach and a descendant of Eremon and Tea of
the Milesians. During the Cualgne cattle raid Orlam
suffered the bad luck of a broken axle on his chariot.
Orlan decided to rest by a pillar stone while,
Fertedil, his charioteer cut a new axle from a tree. Out
of nowhere came Cu Chulainn, challenged him to combat and
cut off his head. His grave site became known as Tamlacht
Orlaim (Orlam's grave).
NAME Ortiagon
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE horse warrior
CULTURE Galatian - Tolistoboii tribe
COUNTRY Turkey
LANDMARKS Sakary (Sangarios) river
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd c
RELATIVES Chiomara (wife)
SEE ALSO Chiomara
REMARKS Ortiagon was a charismatic warrior chieftain who
was respected for his fairness. He was well educated and
proved to be an excellent diplomat and statesman.
NAME Osbrit Longhand
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE son of a chieftain
CULTURE Pictish ?
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey
SITES Da Derga's Hostel
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
ACCESSORIES broad spear / curved shield
RELATIVES Lindas and Oswald (foster-brothers)
ENEMIES Ingcel / sons of Donn Desa
SEE ALSO Conaire / Da Derga / Donn Desa / Ingcel
REMARKS Osbrit and his two foster-brothers Lindas and
Oswald fought to protect Conaire the high chieftain of
Ireland when Ingcel and the sons of Donn Desa attacked him
at Da Derga's hostel on Magh Liffey.
The 3 foster-brothers were all sons of chieftains from
Britain and were described as having yellow manes of hair
and wearing medium short frocks of linen with purple plaids
over them. They carried broad spears and red curved
shields.
NAME Oscar
EPITHET The Bent One of Bones (Crom nan Cnaimh) / High
Brown Hair of Albainn
ALTERNATIVE Os (deer) / Car (lover)
GENDER M
SYMBOL club / flag - Squab Ghabhaidh (The Terrible
Broom)
CATEGORY hero / warrior / Rigfeinnid
TYPE champion / battle-line / head chieftain
CULTURE Danann / Goidel / Pictish / Fomorii / Fianna -
Clanna Baoisgne {Bascna}
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY The Othereworld / Munster
LANDMARKS Gabhra Aicle (tributary of the Boyne)
SITES Skrene hill near Garrisontown
AGE Iron (late)
DATES AD 3rd c / AD 268 (died)
BATTLES Cnoc-an-aire / Gabhra (Gowra) {Gav-ra}
ACCESSORIES club / blue spear of 9 enchantments (Ogham
charms on shaft)
RELATIVES Oisin (father); Eibhir (mother); Aideen (wife);
Plur na mBan (sister); Finn (brother); Fionn
(grandfather); Cumhal (great-grandfather); Murna
(great-grandmother); Diarmaid (cousin)
ENEMIES Meargach / Cairbre
SEE ALSO Aideen / Badbh Catha / Cairbre Lifechair /
Cumhal / Diarmaid ua Duibhne / Eibhir /
Fionn
mac Cumhaill / Goll / Grainne / Meargach / Murna
/ Oisin
REMARKS Oscar, son of Oisin, son of Fionn, was a
descendant of Eber of the Milesian (Goidel). Oscar was the
second son of Oisin and Eibhir so he left The Otherworld to
join his grandfather and the Fianna.
As a youth, Oscar was so awkward he was called Crom
nan Cnamh (The Bent One of Bones). Then one day when he
saw some of his friends losing a battle, he went into a
frenzy and killed two enemy chieftains and a friend with a
club from a tree. After that battle he was respected as a
warrior and feared for his battle frenzy.
In time, Oscar became the chieftain of the Munster
Fianna, which was the Fianna of his great-grandfather
Cumhal. His flag was Squab Ghabhaidh (The Terrible Broom)
which symbolized his habit of sweeping his enemy aside. In
the battle of Cnoc-an-aire, Oscar killed Meargach, which
brought about trouble from his wife.
During the years that Fionn spent chasing Diarmaid,
Oscar refused to help. Once on the chase Oscar was playing
taileasg with Goll under a rowan tree where Diarmaid and
Grainne were hiding in the upper branches. Diarmaid, who
was a better player than Oscar, dropped berries onto the
places where Oscar was to move. This was how Oscar beat
Goll at taileasg and kept him from finding Diarmaid and
Grainne. Oscar threatened Fionn when he would not bring
the wounded Diarmaid his lifesaving water.
During Oscar's time as head chieftain of the Fianna
(Rigfeinnid), Goll was killed and Cairbre became the new
high chieftain of Ireland. Cairbre, unlike his father, did
not like the influence of the Fianna and plotted ways to
end them. He married his daughter to a chieftain of the
Desi and refused to pay the Fianna their traditional tax of
her weight in gold. This led to the Battle of Gabhra on
the hill Skrene, by the stream Gabhra Aicle near Tara, in
the year AD 268.
On his way to battle with his 300 champions, Oscar
came upon the washer-woman (Babdh) washing the clothes of
those to die. He asked for a prophecy of the battle to
come, and she replied that the Fianna would slay 900 of the
enemy, including the king, but that the prime champion of
the Fianna would be slain.
Before the battle, Cairbre proposed that Oscar and he
exchange spear-shafts, knowing that Oscar had a
supernatural shaft. Oscar said that he would agree only if
they would also exchange spear-heads, knowing that Cairbre
had an enchanted spear-head. The exchange of spears became
real when they thrust at each other in single combat during
the following battle.
Oscar died from the wounds he received, and was
carried from the battlefield on a bier made of spears, his
body covered by his flag. Fionn arrived in a ship from the
Land of the Living and wept over his grandson. The battle
brought about the end of the Fianna as an influence in
Ireland.
NAME Osla Cyllellfawr
EPITHET Big-Knife
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE horse warrior
CULTURE Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY Wales / England / Ireland
REGION Gwent
LANDMARKS River Usk / Severn river
CENTERS Kaerusk (Caerleon-on-Usk)
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 6th c
ACCESSORIES Bronllafn (short wide sword)
SEE ALSO Arthur
REMARKS Osla Cyllellfawr was a warrior of Arthur's from
his camp at Kaerusk and was noted for his huge knife
(Bronllafn) that he carried. He once laid his sword in the
scabbard across the narrowest points of a river and the
warriors crossed over on it.
Osla drowned while chasing the wild Irish boar Twrch
Trwyth son of Taredd Wledig. While fording the Severn
river, his great knife fell out of the scabbard and the
scabbard filled up with water, hauling him under.