The Dindshenchas Concerning the Shannon River
Searles

Mon Jan 18 21:20:57 1999
I have previously posted a dindshenchas (place name story) about the Well of Segais and the Boyne River that described how knowledge was brought into the world from its streams when Bo/ann challenged the well.  The story of the river Shannon parallels the story of the Boyne and demonstrates how the Irishviewed all rivers and knowledge to be interconnected at their source.  This source IMO is the Goddess Danu whose is the Mother of the Tuatha De/ Danann, the gods of order and skill.  She is the Mother Goddess of the Irish and the source of all rivers of knowledge.*p*Here is an entry from The Dictionary of Irish Mythology by Peter Berresford Ellis about the Shannon River and its goddess, Sinann:*p*"Sionan. Daughter of Lir's son Lodan. She went to the Well of Knowledge at the source of the Shannon, even though it was forbidden.  As with Bo/ann, the water of the well rose up and chased her westward and drowned her.  The path of the water became the river Shannon, named after her.  The Shannon has its source in Co. Cavan and, at 170 miles in length, is the longest river in the British Isles. The story is a complete parallel to that of Bo/ann and the formation of the Boyne."*p*Here's the Dindshechas about Sinann:*p*"The noble name of Sinann, search it out for us,*br*since ye venture to lay bare its origin:*br*not paltry was the action and the struggle*br*whereby the name of Sinann became immortal.*p*Sinann, radiant, ever-generous,*br*was once a maiden right active*br*till she met all earthly misfortune,*br*the daughter of Lodan from heroic Luchar.*p**br*In the still Land of Promise (Tir Tarngire),*br*that no storm of bloodshed mars,*br*the deathless maid gained the fame that was her undoing,*br*the daughter of bright Luchar, whom I celebrate.*p*A spring (not sluggish) under the pleasant sea*br*in the domain of Condla (it was fitting,*br*as we recount in telling the tale): -*br*to gaze upon it went Sinann.*br*A well of lasting sorrow*br*is by the edge of a chilly river*br*(as men celebrate its fame),*br*whence spring seven main streams.*p*Here thou findest the magic lore of Segais*br*with excellence, under the true spring:*br*over the well of the mighty waters*br*stands the poets' music-haunted hazel.*p*The spray of the Segais is sprinkled*br*on the well of the strong gentle lady,*br*when the nuts of fair Crrnmond fall*br*from its royal bosom bright and pure.*p*Together in plenteous foison*br*shoot forth all at once from the goodly tree*br*leaf and flower and fruit;*br*none of them all is unlovely.*p*In this wise, clear without falsehood,*br*they fall afterwards in their season*br*upon the honoured well of Segais*br*at the like hour, with like excellence.*p*Nobly they come, with bright activity,*br*seven streams, in an untroubled gush,*br*back into the well yonder,*br*whence rises a murmur of musical lore.*p*Let us recount the entire journey*br*whereon went Sinann of noble repute*br*to Lind Mna Feile in the west*br*with the choicest of her splendid equipment.*p*There lacks not any treasure we could desire*br*to the noble lady of the (bright ocean).save magic lore in its sequences:-*br*it was a wonted practice for her fresh life.*p*The Well fled back (clear fame*br*through the murmur of its musical lore!)*br*before Sinann, who visited it in the north,*br*and reached the chilly river.*p*The woman of Luchar full of gentleness*br*followed the stream of Segais*br*till she reached the river's brink*br*and met destruction and utter frustration.*p*There the comely lady was drowned*br*and perished under heavy injury:*br*though the woman of warlike ardour is dead,*br*her noble name clave to her river.*p*Hence with zealous affection*br*is called the Pool of the pure-white modest woman.*br*In every place (an easy visit) is known*br*the noble pleasant name of this Sinann."*p*The Well of Segais in Irish mythology is the Well of Knowledge that is accessed by knowledge seekers, Druids and Poets.  It is said to have five or seven streams coming from it (one for each of the senses, depending on one's classification system). surrounding it, are nine hazel trees that drop their nuts into the well which contains the Salmon of Knowledge. It is this type of fish that Fionn was said to have accidentally tasted when he acquired his ability to divine and foretell.  The tale of Sinann is a parallel to the tale of Bo/ann at the Well of Segais near Newgrange.  It is an Irish Pandora's box type of story, yet it is more closely tied to the creation of the physical world and knowledge, rather than chaos and disruption.  I see in the tale myself the process for obtaining knowledge that involves an inward journey (into the well) and a surrender to its source (akin to death and a second birth or initiation).  In both cases, the source of the knowledge is approached through a feminine deity.  Indeed the Irish Wisdom Goddess is named Brighid and is said to be a daughter of Bo/ann and The Dagda.*p*Many places in Ireland have such place name stories or "dindshenchas."  There are three collections of them known: The Metrical Dindshenchas - collected and translated by Edward Gwynn (my source), the Banshenchas, and the Prose Dindshenchas.  Almost all of these collections draw from the dindshenchas in the Book of Leinster. This knowledge of tradition and place surrounded a person in ancient Ireland. Every stream and hill had a story about the deities and the ancestors. The Land was a Goddess and also the living history of the People.*p*Searles