Лир балаларының аңызы (Lir balalarynyń ańyzy)

Legend from Irish mythology

The Children of Lir (Oidheadh chloinne Lir) is a legend from Irish mythology. It is a tale from the post Christianisation period that mixes magical elements such as druidic wands and spells with a Christian message of Christian faith bringing freedom from suffering.

Named in Irish as Oidheadh Chlainne Lir, the tale is today often known simply as "The Children of Lir" but the title has also been rendered as The Tragic Story of the Children of Lir or The Fate of the Children of Lir, or, from the earlier title Aided Chlainne Lir, as The Violent Death of the Children of Lir. The English translation should properly be "The Children of Lear", Lir being a genitive, but the mistranslation has become culturally embedded. In post 18th century scholarship, the tale has often been grouped with the Oidheadh chloinne Uisnigh ("The Fate of the Children of Uisnigh") and Oidheadh chloinne Tuireann ("The Fate of the Children of Tuireann") as the Trí truagha na sgéalaigheachta, i. e. "The three sorrows of storytelling," also known as "The Three Sorrowful Tales of Erin." Scholar and folklorist Robin Flower has suggested that all three tales may have had a common author sometime in the 14th century, by someone in the circle of the Mac Fhirbhisighs in north west Connacht. These three tales have been collated and translated from the Irish language into English. Manuscripts containing early versions of the tales include MS 72.1.38 and MS 72.2.6 at the National Library of Scotland, MS Egerton 164 at the British Library, and MS 24 A 13, and MS E vi 4 at the library of the Royal Irish Academy. three hundred more on Sruth na Maoilé; and three hundred at Iorrus Domnann and Inis Gluairé. She also foretold that by expiration of the period of the spell, Lairgenn (the great grandson of the King of Connacht), and Deoch (the great granddaughter of the King of Munster) would be wed. Aoife relented a little and allowed the children to retain the power of speech, stating they would sing plaintive songs without equal, and that they would not be distressed by being in the forms of birds. Aoife then returned to Bodb's court — when he asked why the children were not with her, she claimed that Lir did not trust him with them, but Bodb was suspicious and sent messengers to Lir. [24 32] On receiving the messenger, Lir became sad, realising that Aoife had done some harmful act. He then set out, and at the shores of Loch Dairbhreach, he encountered the swans singing with human voices. They told him of Aoife's evil act, and Lir and his people lamented, though that night they stayed and listened to the swans' song. Lir reached Bodb, and told him of Aoife's treachery. Bodb cursed her, saying her suffering would be greater than the children's, and asked what the worst form of being was that she could imagine — Aoife stated a Demon of the air was the worst, and on this Bodh struck her with a druid's wand, metamorphosing her into such a demon, so she flew off and remained that way. [33 45] Bodb and the people of the De Danann went to Loch Dairbhreach and listened to the swans' singing. Milesians came too, and the music calmed and delighted all who heard it. After three hundred years the time came for the swans to go north to the cold Sruth na Maoilé. At this time it was proclaimed that no swan should be killed in Erin. At the Maoilé a cruel storm separated them, and though they eventually reunited their time there was wretched, with extremes of cold and weather to contend with, but they could not leave, as it was their lot to stay in the waters there. [46 52] Eventually the swans came across a company of the De Danann and of the Milesians who had been seeking them, led by Aodh and Fergus sons of Bodb near the mouth of the Banna. The swans enquired and received good news about the De Danann, Lir, and Bodb. After the allotted time the swans then left for Iorrus Domhnann. There they encountered a young man who took an account of their adventures. [53 55] One night at Iorrus, the cold and weather became so intense that the waters froze, and the swans' feet froze to the ice. Because of their suffering they pleaded to the "King of Heaven" to ease the plight of birds, and having and professing faith in a "true God, perfect, truly intelligent" their pleading was heard, and from then they were protected from storms and bad weather. Eventually the time allotted to Iorrus Domhnann passed and they decided to go to Sioth Fionnachaidh, where Lir lived. [56 61] However once there, they found it deserted, derelict, and overgrown. The next day they set off for Inis Gluairé — there many birds congregated around them at the lake. Eventually Saint Patrick and Christianity came to Ireland, and one day the holy man Mochaomhóg arrived at Inis Gluairé — the swans heard him ringing a bell calling matins, and became frightened at the sound. However Fionnghuala declared the sound of the bell would liberate them from the curse of the spell, and so they listened to it. When it finished they sang a song. The holy man heard their song, and discovered that it was swans that sang it. Speaking to them he asked if they were the Children of Lir, stating that he had travelled to that place for their sake. [62 66] The swans put their trust in the holy man, and allowed him to bind them with silver chains. The birds felt no fatigue or distress in their situation in the company of the monk. Eventually the account of the swans reached Deoch, the wife of Lairgnen, the King of Connacht — she asked him to get the swans for her. He sent messengers immediately but the monk Mochaomhóg refused, making Lairgnen angry. He went to Mochaimhóg himself, and attempted to grasp the swans, but on his touch the swans' feathers fell off revealing three very old men, and an old woman, all lean, and very bony. On this Lairgnen left. [67 70] Fionnghuala asked the monk to baptise them and to bury each, stating she sensed they were close to death. They were baptised, then died, and were buried. Mochaomhóg was sad for them. That was the fate of the children of Lir.

Folklorists have supposed a connection between the Irish tale The Children of Lir and tale type ATU 451, "The Maiden who Seeks her Brothers", of the international Aarne Thompson Uther Index.

Folk rock group Loudest Whisper recorded an album The Children of Lir based on a stage presentation of the legend in 1973–74. Folk metal band Cruachan published a song called "Children of Lir" on their album Folk Lore in 2002. Pagan metal group Primordial wrote a song called "Children of the Harvest" based on the legend. "Children of Lir" is a song depicting the legend sung by Sora in her album Heartwood. Mary McLaughlin has an album Daughter of Lír on which there are two songs dealing with this legend, "Fionnuala's Song" and "The Children of Lir". Sinéad O'Connor's song "A Perfect Indian" from the album Universal Mother contains references to "Lir's children".

A statue of the Children of Lir, created by the sculptor Oisin Kelly and cast by Ferdinando Marinelli Artistic Foundry of Florence, Italy, is in the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square in Dublin, Ireland. It symbolises the rebirth of the Irish nation following 900 years of struggle for independence from England and, later, the United Kingdom, much as the swans were "reborn" following 900 years. Another statue depicting the legend is located in the central triangular green of the village of Castlepollard, County Westmeath, some three miles northeast of Lough Derravaragh. A plaque outlines the famous story in several languages. A sculpture of the Children of Lir is situated in Ballycastle, County Antrim, close to the beach on the Sea of Moyle, where the children were cursed to spend 300 years.

Wilhelmina Geddes (Irish Artist 1887–1955). Stained Glass staircase window of eight panels commissioned by Belfast City Council Libraries, Museums and Art Committee 2 September 1929, completed March 1930. Currently located in the Ulster Museum, Belfast, not on display.