Celtic/Irish Legends

 
     A long, long time ago in Ireland, when the Gods walked among the people, there was a marvelous magical well named Segais. The well was shaded by nine magical hazel-trees. The trees bore crimson nuts and when they ripened, they fell into the well. The property of the nuts was such that who ever ate any of them immediately was gifted with the knowledge of everything that was in the world. Brilliantly colored divine salmon swam in the well and ate the crimson nuts so that they too, had wisdom of everything that was. For that reason, they were known as the salmon of knowledge.

       Now this fine, wonderful well was owned by one named Nechtain. Who, some say was a man. Others say a God. God or man, Nechtain was very jealous and possessive of the magical well surrounded by the hazel trees of crimson fruit and the salmon of knowledge that lived in the well and no one was permitted to go to the well except himself and his three cup-bearers; Flesc, Lam and Luam.

       It came to pass one day, that the wife of Nechtan, the soft-ripening Boand decided to visit the well and see its wonders. Without the knowledge of Nechtain, Boand approached the well. Some say She walked around the well three times in the tuathal direction. Other say she merely peered into its' magical depths. Whatever the case, the well split asunder and the waters gushed forth. Some have said that Boand ran away to hide her shame of having broken geis, never to be seen again. Others still say that three waves crashed over Boand. The first wave tore off a limb. The second wave destroyed a leg. The third, blinded one eye and she ran away to hide her disfigurements.

       Once burst, the Well of Segais could not be retained. It's waters gushed out in great torrents and rushed across the land to empty at last in the sea. Though the sides of the well can no longer be found, you can still see the waters as they sweep across Ireland in the River Boyne named after the Goddess Boand. The first stretch of water is still called Segais and flows from Carbery Hill to this day, to enter into the Boyne river and flow to the eastern sea.

       As to Boand, she lived on to give birth to Oengas Mac Oc, the Handsome God of Letters; Fand of perfect form and face, the Goddess of Poetry and Brigit the Goddess of the Hearth, and she herself, still lives today. Someday, if you ever get the chance to walk the shores along the River Boyne after the fall of night, listen closely for her laughter in the lapping water, sniff the air for the hazel scent of her and watch closely for her cloaked form. Just perhaps, if you have the true luck of the Irish, you will feel the brush of her hair against your cheek as she glides by on her appointed rounds along the River of Knowledge that was her gift to Ireland.      
 
     A long, long time ago in Ireland, when the Gods walked among the people, there was a marvelous magical well named Segais. The well was shaded by nine magical hazel-trees. The trees bore crimson nuts and when they ripened, they fell into the well. The property of the nuts was such that who ever ate any of them immediately was gifted with the knowledge of everything that was in the world. Brilliantly colored divine salmon swam in the well and ate the crimson nuts so that they too, had wisdom of everything that was. For that reason, they were known as the salmon of knowledge.

       Now this fine, wonderful well was owned by one named Nechtain. Who, some say was a man. Others say a God. God or man, Nechtain was very jealous and possessive of the magical well surrounded by the hazel trees of crimson fruit and the salmon of knowledge that lived in the well and no one was permitted to go to the well except himself and his three cup-bearers; Flesc, Lam and Luam.

       It came to pass one day, that the wife of Nechtan, the soft-ripening Boand decided to visit the well and see its wonders. Without the knowledge of Nechtain, Boand approached the well. Some say She walked around the well three times in the tuathal direction. Other say she merely peered into its' magical depths. Whatever the case, the well split asunder and the waters gushed forth. Some have said that Boand ran away to hide her shame of having broken geis, never to be seen again. Others still say that three waves crashed over Boand. The first wave tore off a limb. The second wave destroyed a leg. The third, blinded one eye and she ran away to hide her disfigurements.

       Once burst, the Well of Segais could not be retained. It's waters gushed out in great torrents and rushed across the land to empty at last in the sea. Though the sides of the well can no longer be found, you can still see the waters as they sweep across Ireland in the River Boyne named after the Goddess Boand. The first stretch of water is still called Segais and flows from Carbery Hill to this day, to enter into the Boyne river and flow to the eastern sea.

       As to Boand, she lived on to give birth to Oengas Mac Oc, the Handsome God of Letters; Fand of perfect form and face, the Goddess of Poetry and Brigit the Goddess of the Hearth, and she herself, still lives today. Someday, if you ever get the chance to walk the shores along the River Boyne after the fall of night, listen closely for her laughter in the lapping water, sniff the air for the hazel scent of her and watch closely for her cloaked form. Just perhaps, if you have the true luck of the Irish, you will feel the brush of her hair against your cheek as she glides by on her appointed rounds along the River of Knowledge that was her gift to Ireland.