Sacrifices. In Celtic literature there is little evidence of human sacrifice being practised except in a story in the Dinnsenchas tract (Book of Leinster), which speaks of children being sacrificed to Cromm Cruach, an idol set up by Tighernmas on Magh Slecht. The story is put forward as an aberration rather than a norm. Cromm Cruach was quickly overthrown.

Sadb. [I] Daughter of Bodb Dearg. She was turned into a fawn by the "Dark Druid." One day, hunting near the Hill of Allen, Fionn Mac Cumhaill came across a fawn and his two hounds refused to kill it. Another version has Fionn crushing his hound to death between his legs to prevent it from killing the fawn. That night the fawn takes on Sadb's mortal form and becomes Fionn's mistress. They live happily for a while until the Dark Druid discovers them and turns Sadb back into a fawn. She vanishes and Fionn searches Ireland . until, near Ben Bulben, he finds a naked boy who has been raised by a fawn. Fionn recognises in him his son by Sadb and calls him Oisin (Little Fawn)..

Saidhthe Suaraigne. [I] "Bitch of evil," one of the hounds of Cromm Dubh.

Sainnth. [I] Son of Imbath and father of Macha who cursed the inen of Ulster.

sat Fhada. [I] Son of a king of Greece who, when his father died, was sent into exile in Ireland and then joined the Fianna. The Fianna restored him to his kingdom but not before he had been mortally wounded and restored to life by a magic cup.

Salmon of Knowledge. [I] See Fintan.

Salmon of Llyn Llyw. [W] The oldest and wisest of living things, who eventually tells Culhwch where Mabon is being held prisoner. Samaliliath. [I] A Partholon who introduced ale into Ireland according to the myths.

Samhain. [I] One of the gods, a brother of Cian and Goibhniu. He was looking after a magical cow, Glas Gaibhnenn, which belonged to his brother Cian. Balor of the Evil Eye, disguised as a little red-haired boy, tricked him into parting with it. Samhain's role as a god is not clearly defined, although one of the four major Celtic festivals was named after him. The Feis na Samhna, or the Samhain Festival, was held on the evening of October 31 into the following day, November 1. It marked the end of one pastoral year and the beginning of the next. It was an intensely spiritual time, for it was the one period when the Otherworld became visible to mankind and when spiritual forces were let loose on the human world. Christianity took this pagan festival over as a harvest festival. The feast became St. Martin's Mass (Martinmas). The festival also became All Saints' Day or All Hallows, and the evening prior was Hallowe'en, still celebrated as the night when spirits and ghosts set out to wreak vengeance on the living and when evil marched unbridled across the world. In all the Celtic countries, fires were extinguished and could only be rekindled from a ceremonial fire lit by the druids. Significant events happened on Samhain or its equivalent. It was the time when the Fomorii oppressed the people of Nemed and when the De Danaan defeated the Fomorii at the second battle of Magh Tuireadh. Samhair. [I] Daughter of Fionn Mac Cumhail who marries Cormac Cas, son of Ailill Olom of Munster. Cormac Cas is recorded as ruling in the third century A.D. He built a palace for his bride and their bed was supported by three pillar stones. Hence, the palace was called Dun-tri-lag, the fortress. of the three pillar stones, which is now Duntryleague, Co. Limerick. It is recorded that Cormac Cas received a terrible wound on his head but recovered.

Sandda. [W] " Angel Face. " A warrior at Arthur's fortress who was so fair no man dared attack him during the Battle of Camluan for fear he was an angel. He is asked to help Culhwch in his quest. Scithach nUanaind. [I] Also known as Scathach Buanand (VictOri- ous) .Daughter of Ard-Greimne of Lethra. She is the most famous of female warriors. Living on Scathach's Island (scathach, "shadow"), which is thought to be Skye, she ran a military academy at which the heroes of Ireland received their training in the martial arts from her. Her most famous pupil was Cuchulainn, to whom .she taught his famous battle leap and also gave the Gae-Bolg, the terrible spear. Cuchulainn trained with her for a year and a day, during which time her daughter, Uathach, was his mistress. Later he joined Scathach in her battle. against her sister Aoife, reputed to be the strongest of female warriors. Cuchulainn defeated Aoife in combat and she became his lover and bore him a son, Connlaf.

Sceanb. [I] Wife of the harpist Craiftine. She became lover of Cormac Cond Longes, who her husband then had kIlled in a Jealous fury.

Scena. [I] Wife of Amairgen, son of Milesius. She died on the voyage to Ireland and was buried at Inbhirscena, said to be an ancient name for the mouth of the Kenmare River in Co. Kerry .

Scenmed. [I] Sister of Forgall Manach. Following his death, when Cuchulainn eloped with Forgall's daughter, Emer, Scenmed raised an army and followed the Ulster champion to exact vengeance. Cuchulainn defeated and slew her. Sceolan. [I] A hound of Fionn Mac Cumhail but also his nephew. With its brother Bran it was born to Fionn's sister (sometimes referred to as sister-in-law and even aunt),. Tuireann, while she was transformed into a bitch-dog by magic practised by the jealous mistress of her husband, Ullan. See Tuireann.

Sciathbhreag. [I] "Speckled shield." A member of the Fianna. Scoriath. [I] King of the Fir Morca in Gaul and father of the beautiful Moriath. He welcomed Moen to his court, allowed him to marry his daughter, and supplied him with an army of Gauls to help him establish himself as king of Leinster and exact vengeance on his evil great-uncle Cobhthach.

Scota. [I] Daughter of the Egyptian pharaoh Cingris. She became wife (of Niul and mother of Goidel, the progenitor of the Gaels. There is a second Scota who was daughter of the Egyptian pharaoh Nectanebus and wife of Milesius. She was killed fighting the De Danaan and was buried in Scotia's Glen, three miles from Tralee in Co. Kerry.