Angus Ōg - Irish god of Love
Angus Ōg (Angus the Young), son of the Dagda, by Boanna
(the river Boyne), was the Irish god of love. His palace was supposed
to be at New Grange, on the Boyne. Four bright birds that ever
hovered about his head were supposed to be his kisses taking shape in
this lovely form, and at their singing love came springing up in the
hearts of youths and maidens. Once he fell sick of love for a maiden
whom he had seen in a dream. He told the cause of his sickness to his
mother Boanna, who searched all Ireland for the girl, but could not
find her. Then the Dagda was called in, but he too was at a loss,
till he called to his aid Bōv the Red, king of the Danaans of
Munster—the same whom we have met with in the tale of the Children
of Lir, and who was skilled in all mysteries and enchantments. Bōv
undertook the search, and after a year had gone by declared that he
had found the visionary maiden at a lake called the Lake of the
Dragon's Mouth.
Angus goes to Bōv, and, after being entertained by him
three days, is brought to the lake shore, where he sees thrice fifty
maidens walking in couples, each couple linked by a chain of gold,
but one of them is taller than the rest by a head and shoulders.
“That is she!” cries Angus. “Tell us by what name she is
known.” Bōv answers that her name is Caer, daughter of Ethal
Anubal, a prince of the Danaans of Connacht. Angus laments that he is
not strong enough to carry her off from her companions, but, on Bōv's
advice, betakes himself to Ailell and Maev, the mortal King and Queen
of Connacht, for assistance. The Dagda and Angus then both repair to
the palace of Ailell, who feasts them for a week, and then asks the
cause of their coming. When it is declared he answers, “We have no
authority over Ethal Anubal.” They send a message to him, however,
asking for the hand of Caer for Angus, but Ethal refuses to give her
up. In the end he is besieged by the combined forces of Ailell and
the Dagda, and taken prisoner. When Caer is again demanded of him he
declares that he cannot comply, “for she is more powerful than I.”
He explains that she lives alternately in the form of a maiden and of
a swan year and year about, “and on the first of November next,”
he says, “you will see her with a hundred and fifty other swans at
the Lake of the Dragon's Mouth.”
Angus goes there at the appointed time, and cries to
her, “Oh, come and speak to me!” “Who calls me?” asks Caer.
Angus explains who he is, and then finds himself transformed into a
swan. This is an indication of consent, and he plunges in to join his
love in the lake. After that they fly together to the palace on the
Boyne, uttering as they go a music so divine that all hearers are
lulled to sleep for three days and nights.
Angus is the
special deity and friend of beautiful youths and maidens. Dermot of
the Love-spot, a follower of Finn mac Cumhal, and lover of Grania, of
whom we shall hear later, was bred up with Angus in the palace on the
Boyne. He was the typical lover of Irish legend. When he was slain by
the wild boar of Ben Bulben, Angus revives him and carries him off to
share his immortality in his fairy palace.
Angus Ōg, Irish
god of love, New Grange
Angus is the
special deity and friend of beautiful youths and maidens
