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LIR

Lir is a figure from Irish mythology, traditionally regarded as a sea deity. In medieval Irish literature he is described as a ruler or guardian of the ocean and the father of Manannán mac Lir, another prominent sea god. Lir’s exact status and genealogy vary between sources; in some accounts he is linked to the Tuatha Dé Danann, while in others he is portrayed as a sovereign of the sea. The name Lir is commonly associated with the Irish word for sea.

The best-known tale involving Lir is The Children of Lir. In this story his children are transformed

Name and language: The Irish word lir means "sea," and the name is used in modern times

Legacy: The myth of Lir and the Children of Lir has influenced Irish folklore, poetry, and later

into
swans
by
a
jealous
stepmother
and
are
doomed
to
live
on
the
waters
for
centuries,
regaining
human
speech
only
briefly
before
their
deaths
are
permitted.
The
narrative
emphasizes
themes
of
grief,
transformation,
and
longing
and
exists
in
several
medieval
manuscripts
with
varying
details.
as
a
given
name
or
as
a
literary
element
associated
with
the
sea.
This
association
is
central
to
Lir’s
character
in
most
sources.
literature,
contributing
to
a
recurring
motif
of
the
sea
as
a
site
of
transformation,
memory,
and
loss
in
Irish
culture.