Mongfind (Modern Irish: Mongfhionn, literally "fair/white hair") is a figure from Irish legend. She is said to have been the wife, of apparent Munster origins, of the legendary High King Eochaid Mugmedón and mother of his eldest three sons, Brión, Ailill and Fiachrae, ancestors of the historical Connachta. She was Eochaid's first wife; his second wife, Cairenn, gave birth to Niall of the Nine Hostages. Several tales depict Mongfind as an adversary of Niall. Mongfind is also said to have been the sister of Crimthann mac Fidaig, King of Munster and the next High King of Ireland, whom she is said to have killed with poison in a bid to make her son king.[1][2] She drank the poisoned drink to convince Crimthann, and died soon after at Samhain.[2][3]
According to Cormac's Glossary,[4] she was a goddess the pagan Irish worshipped on Samhain. This was also called the Féile Moingfhinne i.e. "Festival of Mongfind".[2][3] Later legend, as documented in Patrick Weston Joyce's Social History of Ancient Ireland, makes her a banshee. A prominent hill called Cnoc Samhna ("Hill of Samhain")[5] or Ard na Ríoghraidhe ("Height of the Kingfolk") in County Limerick is associated with a tale linked to Mongfind. "Anocht Oíche Shamhna Moingfhinne banda" is children's rhyme from County Waterford which translates as "Tonight is the eve of Samhain of Mongfhionn the goddess".[citation needed]
Variant spellings of her name include Mongfhind, Mongfinn, Mongfhinn and Mongfionn.
Mongfind and her brother, children of Fidach and grandchildren of Dáire Cerbba in most sources, are sometimes said to belong to an early or peripheral branch of the Eóganachta. However, this is unlikely, as the evidence suggests that, if historical, they belong to a distinct people associated with other kingdoms, possibly the Dáirine, who may be referred to as their people in an obscure poem in Old Irish by Flann mac Lonáin (d. 896).[6] In the Banshenchas she is called "Mongfind of the Érnai" (Érainn), and given a later son Sidach following the Connachta.[7] Dáire Cerbba is stated in Rawlinson B 502 to have been born in Mag Breg (Brega), Mide,[8] much of which probably remained Érainn territory at the time of his supposed floruit. It is difficult to distinguish the Dáirine from the Érainn in the surviving corpus.
^Stokes 1903a, 1903b
^ abcO'Grady 1892
^ abStokes 1903a
^ed. 1868
^Placenames Database of Ireland
^{MS folio 150b} Book of Leinster
^"Banshenchus: The Lore of Women". Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
Mongfind (Modern Irish: Mongfhionn, literally "fair/white hair") is a figure from Irish legend. She is said to have been the wife, of apparent Munster...
jealous Mongfind forces her to do heavy work, hoping to make her miscarry. She gives birth as she is drawing water, but out of fear of Mongfind, she leaves...
Adventures of the Sons of Eochaid Mugmedon", he is said to have had two wives: Mongfind, daughter of Fidach, who bore him four sons, Brion, Ailill, Fiachrae and...
gained territory in Britain and Gaul, but died poisoned by his sister Mongfind. It is possible that he was also recognized as king of Scotland. This Crimthann...
and preserved in the name of the Corcu Loígde Macha Medb (Medb Lethderg) Mongfind The Morrígan, Badb, Nemain - also known as "The Thee Morrígna" Mór Muman...
including Anann, Áine, Grian, Clíodhna, Aimend, Mór Muman, Bébinn, Aibell and Mongfind. The druid-god of Munster is Mug Ruith and Tlachtga is his daughter. Another...
or royston-crow." Boa Island Clídna Irish mythology in popular culture Mongfind Dinneen, Patrick S., ed. (1927). "Maċa". Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla:...
mac Fidaig') tells how Mongfind kills her brother, King Crimthann of Munster, so that one of her sons might become king. Mongfind offers Crimthann a poisoned...
is also named as the daughter of Midir and Aed the Red. Cliodna Grian Mongfind Ó hÓgáin, Dáithí (1991). Myth, Legend & Romance: An encyclopaedia of the...
prince, the son of the high king Eochaid Mugmedón (d.362) by his wife Mongfind, sister of Crimthann mac Fidaig (d.367). He was ancestor of the Uí Fiachrach...
Ireland and of territories overseas, and brother of the Queen and Goddess Mongfind Note: considered Eóganacht (if vehemently opposed by them) in some dynastic...
Nine Hostages. When she was pregnant with Niall, Eochaid's first wife Mongfind was jealous and made her do heavy labour, hoping to make her miscarry....
Eoganachta. According to these tracts he was the son of Conall Corc by Mongfind daughter of Feredach, King of the Picts of Scotland. Hence the alternate...
contains a reference to Gormlaith, but the depiction is derived from Keating. Mongfind Ni Mhaonaigh, Maire (2002). "Tales of Three Gormlaith's in Medieval Irish...
Connachta Crimthann mac Fidaig King of Munster and High King of Ireland Mongfind Eochaid Mugmedon Cairenn Brion Fiachrae Ailill Niall Noígíallach, died...
engineering company Castlelyons Castlemartyr Cobh Crimthann mac Fidaig Mongfind Scoti Attacotti Mahoonagh O'Donovan List of Celtic tribes Kingdoms of Ireland...
hair gives birth to the son of a king, but is frightened by the queen Mongfind, who is wicked, beautiful, with long fair hair. This harkens back to the...
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