ABERFFRAW.(W). The ancient royal seat of the kings of Gwynedd on Ynys Mon(Anglessy) and site of Branwen's marriage feast.

ABRED.(W).A synonym for Annwn, the innermost circle from which all life sprang.

ACCASBEL.(I).A follower of Partholon who built the first tavern in Ireland.

ACHREN.(W).A synonym for the otherworld.

ADHNUALL.(I).A hound belonging to Fionn Mac Cumhail that was stolen by Arthur, son of the king of Britain. The Fianna chased him and recovered the hound. Later, after a battle in Leinster, Adhnuall strayed and circled ireland three times until he returned to the battlefield. Reaching a hill where three of the Fianna were buried, he gave three howls and died.

ADNA.(I).Chief poet of Ireland during the early days of Conchobhar Mac Nessa and a champion of the Red Branch. He was father of the poet Neide. The name is also given to an explorer sent by Ninus, King of Assyria, to report on conditions in Ireland.

AEDAN.(I).The warrior who slew Mael Fhothartaig, son of Ronan King of Leinster. The deed was done on the order of Ronan himself, for he was jealous of his own son. Aedan was slain in turn by the sons of Mael Fhothartaig.

AEDH.(I).There are many who bear this name in the Irish sagas.Among them is the father of Macha Mong Ruadth.He was king of ireland in the fourth century B.C.,ruling alternatively with his brothers Dithorba and Cimbaeth. Another was son of Fionn Mac Cumhail. Then there was a king of Oriel(Airgialla)who carried a shield called Dubhghiolla (black Servant)on whose rim Badb, one of the goddesses of war, perched in the form of a crow. Aedh was said to be the original name of Goll Mac Morna, the leader of the Fianna who slew Fionn's father. Another prominent Aedh was the poet Eisirt to the kingdom of the Faylinn, a land of little people ruled by Iudan.

Another Aedh was the son of the god Bodb Dearg. Yet another was son of Ainmire who became High King and made war on the wily Brandubh, king of Leinster. This Aedh was defeated and perished at Brandubh's hands because he lost a magic cowl that protected him from being wounded or slain in battle. In another version he is slain by Ron Cerr, a spy of Brandubh, while a christian addition has him given the cowl given him by St. Colmille.

Aedh is one of the four children of Lir, the ocean god, who was changed into a swan by his stepmother, Aoife. Another was a son of Miodchaoin. he and his two brothers , Corca and Conn, were slain by the three sons of Tuireann.
Yet another was a giant, sometimes given as Aeda.
He was a youing man, smooth-featured and of surpassing beauty,who bore a red shield and a huge spear. He slew Bebhionn, daughter bof Treon of the land of Maidens, because she refused to wed him. Bebhionn was abeautiful giantess who sought aid from Fionn Mac Cumhail and his Fianna because she had become betrothed to Aedh against her will. After she was slain, the Fianna chased him, but when they reached the sea they found Aedh in agreat war galley that was waiting for him and he escaped.

Finally we have Aedh Dubh. He slew the High King Diarmuid Mac Cearbal in the house of Banban in accordance with a prophecy given by the druid Bec Mac De.

AEI, Plain of.(I) The place of the bull strife at the end of the Tain saga.
This was where Donn, the rown ull of Cuailgne, and Finnbhenach, the White Horned Bull of Connacht, had their last great battle. They fought for three days and nights before the White Horned Bull was slain, but the Brown Bull was mortally wounded.

AES(I)Sometimes Oes. People or folk. Aes Sidhe,"the people of the hills," oraes dana,a learned class of people that included poets, judges, doctors of medicine, metalworkers, and woodworkers.

AETHLEM.(W)One of two hunting dogs in the saga of Culhwch and Olwen that can only be held by Cyledyr.
The other is Aned.