Clíodhna, renowned as the legendary Queen of the Banshees, embodies the essence of the female spirits from the Tuatha Dé Danannan. She is particularly tied to the southern regions of Ireland, especially Cork.
Celebrated for her divine attributes of love and elegance, she is often depicted with three enchanting birds, whose melodious tunes are said to heal any ailment. Those fortunate enough to hear their songs would fall into a tranquil slumber, only to awaken free of sickness.
Clíodhna’s beauty was unmatched, possibly making her the most exquisite woman across the lands.
However, not all tales surrounding her are gentle. It is said that she enticingly drew sailors to their doom by the shore, showing little regard for the lives of humans.
Yet, it was a mortal man, Ciabhán, the one Clíodhna loved, who ultimately led to her demise. Departing from the Otherworld, known as ‘Tir Tairngire,’ she chose to sacrifice her celestial glory for love, dwelling among mortals.
One fateful day, while Ciabhán ventured out to hunt, Clíodhna lingered at the coastline and was tragically swept away by a wave conjured by Manannán MacLir, the sea god. Since that moment, the tide in Glandore, Cork, has borne the name ‘Tonn Chlíodhna,’ translating to ‘Clíodhna’s Wave,’ particularly prominent when a powerful wave crashes against the shore.
Legend has persisted that every ninth wave in a series is the mightiest and is referred to as ‘Clíodhna’s wave.’
Clíodhna commanded great reverence among many ancient Gaelic clans. The ‘Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland’ mark Donal III O’Donovan, an ancestor of the O’Donovan lineage, as the ‘Dragon of Clíodhna,’ illustrating his notable status:
“Domhnall’s son, dragon of Cliodhna, the guardian of the ancestral name,
He will yield his authority to none – he has accepted the law of his dynasty.”
(O’Donovan, Four Masters, vol. V, p. 1548)
Additionally, she is linked to the McCarthy clan of Desmond, who embraced Clíodhna as their protectorate spirit. Notably, a member of the O’Leary family was named Conor Clíodhna, demonstrating her widespread veneration among these historical southern families.
Perhaps one of the most legendary anecdotes involving Clíodhna pertains to the famed Blarney Stone.
While constructing his castle in Cork, Cormac McCarthy found himself embroiled in legal troubles and sought Clíodhna’s aid. In a dream, she guided him to kiss the first stone he encountered upon waking, promising that his issues would be alleviated.
Obeying her dream, McCarthy kissed the stone and later discovered that his argument in court was met with such profound eloquence that he easily triumphed in his case. To pay homage to Clíodhna, he had the stone he kissed incorporated into a wall, which today attracts countless visitors eager to kiss it.
The Blarney legend gained further traction when Queen Elizabeth I realized she could not persuade Cormac McCarthy to yield his castle. Frustrated with his skillful rhetoric and delaying tactics, she famously remarked on his words being ‘Blarney,’ indicating that what he spoke was insincere.
Thus, Clíodhna’s legacy endures throughout Ireland. Her palace, located near Mallow in Cork, still bears the name ‘Carrig-Cleena,’ which means ‘Cliodhna’s rock.’
With every resounding crash of a wave along the shoreline, the memory of Clíodhna reverberates through Irish history, echoing from a mythical past that though concluded, remains forever etched in remembrance.
