batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l5362-l5475
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l5362-l5475
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 5362-5475'
start: '5362'
end: '5475'
translation: Gods and Fighting Men
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: A storm scatters the swan-children of Lir on Sruth na Maoile. Fionnuala
laments her missing brothers, then shelters them as they return. The siblings
endure repeated cold, snow, salt water, wounds, and magical bonds that keep them
from leaving the sea. Later they meet Sidhe riders, including two sons of Bodb
Dearg, who have been searching for them and bring news of their kin.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: At midnight a wind, waves, lightning, and a rough storm scatter the children
of Lir over the sea.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Fionnuala is left alone on Sruth na Maoile and laments the absence of her
brothers.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Conn, Fiachra, and Aodh return separately after the storm; Conn and Fiachra
are described as wet and worn, while Aodh returns with dry head and beautiful
feathers.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Fionnuala shelters the brothers under her breast feathers and wings.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: The children endure cold, misery, frost, snow, wind, and winter hardship on
the Maoil and Carraig na Ron.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Their feet, wings, and feathers freeze to the rock, and they leave skin, feathers,
and wing-tips behind when they struggle free.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Fionnuala says they cannot bear salt water on their sores but are bound not
to leave it.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: The passage identifies the group as one daughter and three sons, sent out
like swans upon the sea by a stepmother's enchantments.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: After healing and regrowing feathers and wings, the swans go daily to the
shore of Ireland or Alban but must return to Sruth na Maoile each night.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: At the mouth of the Banna they see beautiful riders on pure white horses travelling
from the south-west.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: The riders include Aodh Aithfhiosach and Fergus Fithchiollach, sons of Bodb
Dearg, with a third part of the Riders of the Sidhe; they have been looking for
the swans.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: The riders report that Lir, Bodb Dearg, and their people are together at Sidhe
Fionnachaidh, happy except for lacking the children and knowledge of what happened
to them.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Fionnuala
description: Daughter among the children of Lir; she laments, speaks for the siblings,
and shelters her brothers under her feathers and wings.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Aodh
description: One of Fionnuala's brothers; returns after the storm with dry head
and beautiful feathers and is placed under the feathers of Fionnuala's breast.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Fiachra
description: One of Fionnuala's brothers; returns wet, perished, worn out, and unable
to speak clearly from cold and hardship.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Conn
description: One of Fionnuala's brothers; returns wet through with head hanging
and is sheltered under Fionnuala's left wing.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Children of Lir
description: Collective group of one daughter and three sons, under enchantment
as swans on the sea.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Aodh Aithfhiosach
description: Son of Bodb Dearg, described as quick-witted; one of the chief men
among the riders who find the swans.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Fergus Fithchiollach
description: Son of Bodb Dearg, associated with chess; one of the chief men among
the riders who find the swans.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Riders of the Sidhe
description: A troop of beautiful riders on pure white horses, including a third
part of the Riders of the Sidhe, who had been searching for the swans.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Lir
description: Father of the children, mentioned as being at Sidhe Fionnachaidh and
lacking knowledge of what happened to them.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Bodb Dearg
description: Father of Aodh Aithfhiosach and Fergus Fithchiollach; mentioned among
the kin whose welfare the children ask about.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Stepmother
description: Unnamed stepmother said by Fionnuala to have played enchantments on
the children and sent them out like swans upon the sea.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
roles:
- id: role:1
label: enchanted swan-child
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
basis: The passage presents the children as one daughter and three sons sent like
swans upon the sea by enchantments.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:2
label: protective sister and speaker
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Fionnuala laments, addresses the brothers, and shelters them under her feathers
and wings.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: role:3
label: sufferer in sea-bound exile
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
basis: The children suffer cold, wounds, salt water, and magical bonds that prevent
them from leaving the sea.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: role:4
label: Sidhe searcher
assigned_to:
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
basis: The riders, including the sons of Bodb Dearg, had been looking for the swans
for a long time.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:5
label: news-bearer
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The riders answer the children's questions about the Men of Dea, Lir, Bodb
Dearg, and their people.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:6
label: absent kin
assigned_to:
- fig:9
- fig:10
basis: Lir and Bodb Dearg are reported to be well at Sidhe Fionnachaidh but without
the children and without knowledge of what happened to them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:7
label: enchanting stepmother
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: Fionnuala says the stepmother played enchantments on the children and sent
them out like swans upon the sea.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: sea and salt water
literal_form: Sruth na Maoile, the tides, and salt water around the swan-children
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: sym:2
label: swan form
literal_form: Children sent out like swans upon the sea, with wings and feathers
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: sym:3
label: rock refuge and suffering place
literal_form: Rock of the Seals and Carraig na Ron, where the children rest and
freeze to the rock
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: wings and feathers as shelter
literal_form: Fionnuala's breast feathers and wings covering the brothers
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: white horses of the Sidhe riders
literal_form: Well-trained pure white horses under the riders
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:6
label: magical bonds
literal_form: Bonds that prevent the swan-children from leaving the salt water
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Storm scattering on Sruth na Maoile
summary: A midnight storm scatters the children of Lir across the sea, leaving Fionnuala
alone and lamenting the loss of her brothers.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Reunion and sheltering on the Rock of the Seals
summary: Conn, Fiachra, and Aodh return one by one; Fionnuala welcomes them and
shelters them under her feathers and wings.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Freezing to Carraig na Ron
summary: During severe winter cold, the children freeze to the rock and tear skin,
feathers, and wing-tips away as they escape.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Salt-water constraint and healing
summary: Fionnuala says the salt water threatens their sores but bonds prevent them
from leaving it; later their feathers, wings, and sores heal, though they must
return nightly to Sruth na Maoile.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:5
label: Meeting the Sidhe riders at the Banna
summary: The swans meet a troop of Sidhe riders on white horses, including two sons
of Bodb Dearg, who have been searching for them and bring news of Lir, Bodb Dearg,
and the Men of Dea.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: children transformed into swans by enchantment
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
basis: The passage states that the stepmother's enchantments sent one daughter and
three sons out like swans upon the sea, and the children are described with feathers
and wings.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage excerpt refers to the enchantment retrospectively rather than
narrating the original transformation event.
- id: motif:2
label: enchanted siblings in sea-bound exile
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The children of Lir remain together as one daughter and three sons, endure
hardship on the sea, and are under bonds that keep them from leaving the salt
water.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: No exact supplied taxonomy family fits a four-sibling exile pattern; therefore
no taxonomy reference is assigned.
- id: motif:3
label: protective sibling shelters endangered kin
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Fionnuala places Aodh, Fiachra, and Conn beneath her breast feathers and
wings after their return from the storm.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: This is a passage-level action motif rather than a supplied taxonomy family.
- id: motif:4
label: supernatural kin search for lost transformed children
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The sons of Bodb Dearg and Riders of the Sidhe had been searching for the
swans and exchange news with them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage supports the search and recognition, but not the full larger
search narrative outside this excerpt.
- id: motif:5
label: forced departure from home into hardship
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: The children are absent from Lir's house, their kin do not know what happened
to them, and Fionnuala contrasts their sea hardships with the household at Sidhe
Fionnachaidh.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The original departure is not narrated in this excerpt, only recalled
and reported.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 5362-5371
quote_or_summary: At midnight wind, waves, lightning, and a storm scatter the children
of Lir across the great sea; Fionnuala is left alone on Sruth na Maoile and notices
her brothers are missing.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:2
type: quote
locator: lines 5372-5389
quote_or_summary: 'Fionnuala laments: "The three I loved... that slept under the
shelter of my feathers" and says she will not see them until the dead return to
the living.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt from supplied passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 5390-5407
quote_or_summary: Conn, Fiachra, and Aodh return after the storm; Fionnuala welcomes
them and places Aodh under her breast feathers, Fiachra under her right wing,
and Conn under her left wing.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 5408-5421
quote_or_summary: The children endure cold, snow, wind, and winter hardship; on
Carraig na Ron their feet, wings, and feathers freeze to the rock, and they leave
skin, feathers, and wing-tips behind when freeing themselves.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:5
type: quote
locator: lines 5422-5440
quote_or_summary: Fionnuala says the stepmother was bad to them, "playing enchantments
on us, sending us out like swans upon the sea," and identifies the group as "One
daughter and three sons."
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt from supplied passage.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 5422-5446
quote_or_summary: Fionnuala says salt water in their sores may kill them, but they
are under bonds not to leave it; later their feathers, wings, and sores heal,
and they travel to Ireland or Alban by day but return nightly to Sruth na Maoile.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 5447-5465
quote_or_summary: At the mouth of the Banna, the swans see beautiful riders on pure
white horses; the chief men include Aodh Aithfhiosach and Fergus Fithchiollach,
sons of Bodb Dearg, with a third part of the Riders of the Sidhe, who had long
been searching for the swans.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 5466-5475
quote_or_summary: The children ask for news of the Men of Dea, Lir, Bodb Dearg,
and their people; the riders say they are well at Sidhe Fionnachaidh, happy except
for being without the children and without knowledge of what happened to them.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: The passage clearly supports extraction of figures, scenes, and transformation/exile
motifs. Taxonomy mapping is limited because several observed motifs are passage-specific
and do not exactly match the supplied motif-family list. No comparison claims
were added because the passage itself does not make a comparative claim.
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 text and metadata. The locator label includes several chapter headings, but the supplied passage content belongs to the Children of Lir section.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg__l5362-l5475
passage_sha256=6e471af96c49fe459174a5b54178068074bd17cc68b678f79100ec45e66eb82c