Also called Áine Chlair, Aine of Knockainey.
Their story
Áine is the fairy queen and goddess of Knockainey in County Limerick. One tale tells how King Ailill Olom attacked her, and she bit off his ear, which is why he was called bare-eared. Into the nineteenth century people carried burning bundles of straw around her hill on Midsummer Eve and then waved them over the fields and cattle for luck. Local legend also says she bore the magician Earl Gerald of Desmond, who sleeps under Lough Gur.
Best times to give to them
- Midsummer Eve (St John's Eve)
- Bealtaine
- Lughnasadh
What they like being given
- meadowsweet or summer flowers
- milk and honey
- a candle kept safely lit
- strawberries or summer fruit
How to honour them
- Walk a hill or field on Midsummer Eve with a lantern and give thanks for the long light.
- Stand up for your own boundaries; her story honours a woman who fought back.
- Visit Knockainey or Lough Gur in County Limerick respectfully.
How they can help you
- confidence and boundaries
- love
- summer abundance
- healing after harm
Symbols
- the hill of Knockainey
- straw torches
- Lough Gur
- meadowsweet
The Midsummer torch custom is recorded from local folklore; much else about her worship is uncertain.
Sources
- MacKillop, Oxford Dictionary of Celtic Mythology
- Ó hÓgáin, Myth, Legend and Romance
More Celtic goddesses
- Brigid Keeper of the sacred flame
- The Morrígan Great Queen of battle and prophecy
- Danu Mother of the Tuatha Dé Danann
- Rhiannon The queen on the white horse
- Cerridwen Keeper of the cauldron of inspiration
- Epona Great Mare, protector of horses
- Arianrhod Lady of the silver wheel
- Airmed Keeper of the healing herbs