The Enbarr (Énbarr) or Aonbharr of Manannán () is a horse in the Irish

Mythological Cycle The Mythological Cycle is a conventional grouping within Irish mythology. It consists of tales and poems about the god-like Tuatha Dé Danann, who are based on Ireland's pagan deities, and other mythical races such as the Fomorians and the Fir ...

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 () 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 () occur in '' Oidheadh Chloinne Tuireann''. In P.W. Joyce'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 been 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 outda ...

. O'Donovan, John tr. (1868),
Enbarr
, ''Sanas Chormaic'', p. 66. The modern Irish form Aonbharr is glossed as "One Mane" by O'Curry, "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 Ep ...

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 equidae, 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 th ...

In romance

In the romance ''Oidheadh Chlainne Tuireann'' (OCT, The Fate of the Children of Tuireann), the

Tuatha Dé Danann The Tuatha Dé Danann (, meaning "the folk of the 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 deities of pre-Christian Gaelic ...

oppressed by tribute enforced by the

Formorians The Fomorians or Fomori (, Modern ) 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 earth. Later, they were portrayed as sea raider ...

gather an assembly on a hill, and Lugh arrives among an army of the "Fairy Cavalcade from the Land of Promise" (). 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 Patrick Weston "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 in Ballyorgan in the Ba ...

's retelling the fairy cavalcade appeared as "warriors, all mounted on white steeds", which suggests as embellishment that Lugh's horse was white also. 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 of Ireland and also particularly on the River Boyne, and in Scotland, particularly the River Spey. The word is also used for ...

boat) called the "Besom of the Sea" (), also called Sguaba Tuinne or Wave-sweeper.

In popular 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 and released worldwide for PlayStation 3 and Windows in August 2013, it replaced ...

''. 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 Shayne may refer to: * Shayne (name) * John T. Shayne & Company, American, Chicago-based woman’s clothier See also * Shane (disambiguation) * Shana (disambiguation) Shana or Shanna may refer to: People Shana * Shana (singer), American singer S ...

. He is the horse of

Manannán mac Lir or , also known as ('son of the Sea'), is a Water deity, sea god, warrior, and king of the Tír na nÓg, otherworld in Irish mythology, Gaelic (Irish, Manx, and Scottish) mythology who is one of the . He is seen as a ruler and guardian of t ...

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. In the 2019 video game '' Fire Emblem: Three Houses'', "Enbarr" is the name of the Imperial Capital of the Adrestian Empire.

Explanatory notes

References

;Citations ;Bibliography * * and {{Celtic mythology (Fenian) Fenian Cycle Irish legendary creatures Mythological Cycle Mythological horses Lugh