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 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.

Name and language: The Irish word lir means "sea," and the name is used in modern times as a given name or as a literary element associated with the sea. This association is central to Lir’s character in most sources.

Legacy: The myth of Lir and the Children of Lir has influenced Irish folklore, poetry, and later literature, contributing to a recurring motif of the sea as a site of transformation, memory, and loss in Irish culture.