batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l5034-l5139
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l5034-l5139
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
passage_locator:
label: 'CHAPTER XIII. HIS CALL TO CONNLA / CHAPTER XIV. TADG IN MANANNAN''S ISLANDS
/ CHAPTER XV. LAEGAIRE IN THE HAPPY PLAIN / BOOK FIVE: THE FATE OF THE CHILDREN
OF LIR; lines 5034-5139'
start: '5034'
end: '5139'
translation: Gods and Fighting Men
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: '"I would not give for all your whole kingdom one night of the nights of
the Sidhe."'
summary: 'Laegaire rejects an earthly kingdom and returns to the Sidhe. The narrative
then begins the fate of the Children of Lir: Bodb Dearg is chosen king over the
Tuatha de Danaan, Lir refuses submission, but Bodb avoids violence. After Lir
is widowed, Bodb offers one of his foster daughters in marriage to restore friendship.
Lir marries Aobh, who bears four children and dies. Lir then marries Aoife, who
at first shows affection for the children but becomes jealous, feigns illness,
and takes the children away in a chariot despite Fionnuala’s foreboding dream
of treachery.'
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Laegaire says each of his fifty men has a wife, names his own wife as the
Tear of the Sun, says he has a blue sword, and values one night of the Sidhe above
the other kingdom.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Laegaire turns back to the kingdom and is made king there with Fiachna, son
of Betach, and Fiachna’s daughter.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: After the battle of Tailltin, the Tuatha de Danaan choose Bodb Dearg as king,
and Lir leaves the gathering displeased because he believes he has a right to
the kingship.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Some of the Tuatha de Danaan propose following Lir, burning his house, and
attacking him with spear and sword, but Bodb Dearg refuses that course.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Lir’s wife dies after a sickness of three nights, and Lir is heavily grieved.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Bodb Dearg offers Lir friendship and one of three foster daughters, Aobh,
Aoife, and Ailbhe, if Lir joins with him and acknowledges his lordship.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Lir travels with fifty chariots to Bodb’s dwelling-place at Loch Dearg and
is welcomed there.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Lir chooses Aobh because she is the eldest of the three sisters, marries her,
and later brings her to his own house.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: Aobh bears Fionnuala and Aodh, then later bears Fiachra and Conn, and dies
at their birth.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Aoife marries Lir, initially shows honour and affection for Aobh’s children,
but later becomes jealous and hateful toward them.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: obs:11
text: The four children are loved by Bodb Dearg, the Men of Dea, and their father
Lir, and they sleep in beds in Lir’s sight.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: obs:12
text: Aoife feigns a long sickness, prepares a chariot, and takes the four children
toward Bodb Dearg’s house; Fionnuala fears treachery because of Aoife’s manner
and a dream.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Laegaire
description: A man who returns to the Sidhe kingdom, says he has a wife called the
Tear of the Sun and a blue sword, and is made king there.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Tear of the Sun
description: Laegaire’s wife in the Sidhe realm.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Fiachna, son of Betach
description: A figure with whom Laegaire is made king in the Sidhe kingdom.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Fiachna’s daughter
description: A daughter of Fiachna named as being with Laegaire and Fiachna when
Laegaire is made king.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Lir
description: A Tuatha de Danaan figure who contests Bodb Dearg’s kingship, is widowed,
marries Aobh and then Aoife, and is father of four children.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Bodb Dearg
description: The chosen king of the Tuatha de Danaan, son of the Dagda, foster-father
of Aobh, Aoife, and Ailbhe, and mediator of marriage alliances with Lir.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Tuatha de Danaan / Men of Dea
description: The divine group that chooses Bodb Dearg as king, considers action
against Lir, and later delights in Lir’s four children.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:8
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Lir’s first unnamed wife
description: Lir’s wife who dies after a sickness of three nights.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Aobh
description: Eldest daughter of Oilell of Aran among Bodb’s foster daughters; she
marries Lir, bears four children, and dies at the birth of the second pair.
role_refs:
- role:9
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Aoife
description: A sister of Aobh and foster daughter of Bodb; she marries Lir after
Aobh’s death, first loves the children, then becomes jealous and treacherous toward
them.
role_refs:
- role:9
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Ailbhe
description: One of the three daughters of Oilell of Aran and one of Bodb Dearg’s
foster daughters offered as a possible bride for Lir.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Oilell of Aran
description: Father of Aobh, Aoife, and Ailbhe.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Bodb Dearg’s wife, queen of the Tuatha de Danaan
description: The foster-mother of Aobh, Aoife, and Ailbhe, seated with them when
Lir chooses a bride.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:14
name_or_label: Fionnuala
description: Daughter of Lir and Aobh; one of the four beloved children, and the
child who foresees or suspects Aoife’s treachery.
role_refs:
- role:14
- role:15
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: fig:15
name_or_label: Aodh
description: Son of Lir and Aobh, born with Fionnuala and counted among the four
beloved children.
role_refs:
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: fig:16
name_or_label: Fiachra
description: Son of Lir and Aobh, born with Conn and counted among the four beloved
children.
role_refs:
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: fig:17
name_or_label: Conn
description: Son of Lir and Aobh, born with Fiachra and counted among the four beloved
children.
role_refs:
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
roles:
- id: role:1
label: Sidhe royal figure
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
basis: Laegaire is made king in the Sidhe kingdom along with Fiachna and Fiachna’s
daughter.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: Otherworld wife
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Laegaire names the Tear of the Sun as his wife.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: Disappointed claimant to kingship
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Lir leaves the election gathering because Bodb, not he, is made king.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: Elected king and restrainer of violence
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Bodb is chosen king and refuses the proposal to burn Lir’s house and attack
him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: Foster-father and marriage-alliance maker
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Bodb offers one of his foster daughters to Lir and later offers Aoife to
preserve friendship.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: Widower and devoted father
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Lir grieves after his wives’ deaths and is deeply attached to his four children.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: role:7
label: Divine community and council
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The Tuatha de Danaan choose Bodb as king and debate action toward Lir; the
Men of Dea later attend feasts and delight in the children.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:8
- id: role:8
label: Deceased first wife
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Lir’s unnamed wife dies after three nights of sickness.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:9
label: Foster daughters and eligible brides
assigned_to:
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
basis: Aobh, Aoife, and Ailbhe are named as Bodb’s foster daughters and possible
wives for Lir.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: role:10
label: Mother who dies at childbirth
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Aobh bears four children and dies at the birth of Fiachra and Conn.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:11
label: Jealous stepmother and plotter
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Aoife’s jealousy turns to hatred, she feigns sickness, and she takes the
children away despite Fionnuala’s fear of treachery.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:12
label: Father of the three sisters
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: Aobh, Aoife, and Ailbhe are identified as daughters of Oilell of Aran.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:13
label: Queen foster-mother
assigned_to:
- fig:13
basis: Bodb’s wife, queen of the Tuatha de Danaan, is described as foster-mother
of the three sisters.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:14
label: Beloved sibling child
assigned_to:
- fig:14
- fig:15
- fig:16
- fig:17
basis: The four children of Lir and Aobh are loved and admired by all who see them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:15
label: Forewarned child
assigned_to:
- fig:14
basis: Fionnuala fears Aoife’s intention and has seen treachery in a dream.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Blue sword
literal_form: A blue sword held by Laegaire.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: Nights of the Sidhe
literal_form: One night in the Sidhe valued above an earthly kingdom.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: Fifty chariots
literal_form: Fifty chariots with which Lir travels from Sidhe Fionnachaidh to Bodb’s
dwelling-place.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: Three foster sisters on one seat
literal_form: Aobh, Aoife, and Ailbhe sitting on one seat with their foster-mother.
associated_figures:
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:13
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:5
label: Four children
literal_form: The sibling group Fionnuala, Aodh, Fiachra, and Conn.
associated_figures:
- fig:14
- fig:15
- fig:16
- fig:17
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: sym:6
label: Beds in the father’s sight
literal_form: The children’s beds placed in sight of Lir.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:14
- fig:15
- fig:16
- fig:17
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:7
label: Fire of jealousy
literal_form: The image of a fire of jealousy kindled in Aoife.
associated_figures:
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:8
label: Chariot of removal
literal_form: The chariot Aoife has yoked when she takes the four children toward
Bodb Dearg’s house.
associated_figures:
- fig:10
- fig:14
- fig:15
- fig:16
- fig:17
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Laegaire returns to the Sidhe
summary: Laegaire praises his Sidhe wife, blue sword, and nights in the Sidhe, turns
away from the other kingdom, and is made king in the Sidhe realm.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Bodb chosen and Lir refuses
summary: The Tuatha de Danaan choose Bodb Dearg as king after Tailltin; Lir leaves
in anger, and Bodb refuses the proposal to attack him.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Bodb offers alliance after Lir’s bereavement
summary: After Lir’s wife dies, Bodb proposes friendship and a foster daughter as
wife if Lir acknowledges his lordship.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Lir chooses Aobh
summary: Lir arrives with fifty chariots, receives hospitality, sees the three foster
sisters with their foster-mother, and chooses the eldest, Aobh, as wife.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:13
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Births and death of Aobh
summary: Aobh bears Fionnuala and Aodh, later bears Fiachra and Conn, and dies at
the second birth, leaving Lir in grief.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:9
- fig:14
- fig:15
- fig:16
- fig:17
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:6
label: Aoife’s marriage and the children’s beloved status
summary: Bodb offers Aoife to preserve friendship with Lir; Aoife marries Lir, and
the four children are cherished by their household, Bodb, and the Men of Dea.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:10
- fig:14
- fig:15
- fig:16
- fig:17
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:7
label: Aoife’s jealousy and ominous journey
summary: Aoife becomes jealous, feigns sickness, has a chariot prepared, and takes
the four children toward Bodb; Fionnuala suspects a deadly plan and remembers
a dream of treachery.
figure_refs:
- fig:10
- fig:14
- fig:15
- fig:16
- fig:17
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Otherworld preference and permanent return
taxonomy_refs:
- afterlife_journey_map
- return
basis: Laegaire rejects the value of the earthly kingdom, praises the nights of
the Sidhe, returns to the Sidhe kingdom, and does not come out again.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: medium
cautions: This passage preserves only the closing lines of the Laegaire episode;
the larger journey context is outside the supplied extract.
- id: motif:2
label: Contested divine kingship
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
basis: Bodb is chosen king by the Tuatha de Danaan while Lir believes he has the
right to rule and refuses immediate submission.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: The passage reports the conflict but does not give a formal inauguration
rite.
- id: motif:3
label: Marriage alliance after political rupture
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_marriage
- sacred_exchange
basis: Bodb offers Lir one of his foster daughters as wife in connection with Lir
joining him and acknowledging his lordship; later he offers Aoife to keep friendship
unbroken.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The passage frames the marriages politically and socially; any ritual-sacral
interpretation requires review.
- id: motif:4
label: Paired births and sibling group
taxonomy_refs:
- sibling_pair
- sacred_twins
basis: Aobh first gives birth to Fionnuala and Aodh, and later to two sons, Fiachra
and Conn, creating a four-child sibling group.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The text describes paired births but does not explicitly use the word
twins or assign sacred status to the pairs.
- id: motif:5
label: Devoted divine parent and beloved children
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_parent_child
basis: Lir’s grief is tempered by his attachment to the four children, he keeps
them sleeping in his sight, and he lies among them each morning.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents affectionate kinship within the Tuatha de Danaan;
broader theological meaning is not stated.
- id: motif:6
label: Jealous stepmother endangers children
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Aoife, the second wife, becomes jealous of her sister’s children, feigns
sickness, and takes them away while Fionnuala fears a plan for their death or
destruction.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: The actual harm to the children occurs after the end of the supplied passage.
- id: motif:7
label: Dream warning of treachery
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Fionnuala has seen in a dream that treachery is in Aoife’s mind and therefore
does not want to go with her.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage reports the dream-warning but not its source or ritual interpretation.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 5034-5040
quote_or_summary: Laegaire says each of fifty men has a wife, names his own wife
as the Tear of the Sun, says he has a blue sword, values one night of the Sidhe
above the other kingdom, returns there, and is made king with Fiachna and Fiachna’s
daughter.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 5041-5055
quote_or_summary: After Tailltin, Bodb Dearg is chosen king of the Tuatha de Danaan;
Lir leaves in anger, others propose burning his house and attacking him, and Bodb
refuses.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 5056-5070
quote_or_summary: Lir’s wife dies after three nights of sickness; Bodb says he can
help Lir and names Aobh, Aoife, and Ailbhe, three foster daughters of Oilell of
Aran.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 5071-5080
quote_or_summary: Bodb sends messengers offering a foster-child in marriage if Lir
acknowledges his lordship; Lir accepts the offer and travels with fifty chariots
to Loch Dearg.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 5081-5091
quote_or_summary: The three daughters of Oilell sit with Bodb’s wife, their foster-mother;
Bodb offers Lir his choice, and Lir chooses and marries Aobh because she is eldest.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 5092-5101
quote_or_summary: Aobh bears Fionnuala and Aodh, then Fiachra and Conn, and dies
at the birth of the second pair; Lir is nearly overcome with grief except for
his love of the children.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 5102-5112
quote_or_summary: Bodb’s household keens Aobh; Bodb offers her sister Aoife to maintain
friendship with Lir; Lir marries Aoife, who shows honour and affection to the
children.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 5113-5124
quote_or_summary: Bodb often visits or hosts the children; the Men of Dea delight
in them at the Feast of Age; the children sleep in beds in Lir’s sight, and he
lies among them every morning.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 5125-5139
quote_or_summary: A fire of jealousy is kindled in Aoife; she feigns sickness for
nearly a year, then takes the four children in a chariot toward Bodb’s house,
while Fionnuala fears treachery and remembers a dream of it.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: The main narrative elements are explicit in the supplied passage. Motif mapping
is cautious where taxonomy labels such as sacred twins or wisdom are broader than
the wording of the passage. No comparison claims were made because the passage
itself does not compare traditions or motif families beyond the extracted candidate
motifs.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
Used only the supplied passage and metadata. Line locators for evidence are approximate subranges within the provided stable range.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg__l5034-l5139
passage_sha256=f08a4f05ef6e3aa7492965639cab986700f565897d6b24a44d3f04287e8b62cb