Aoife's Spell

Bodhbh Dhearg took pity on Lir once again, and offered him Aedb's sister, Aoife, in marriage. At first, Aoife enjoyed the company of Lir and the children very much and the family began to recover their spirits.

However, as the children grew older, they became famous for their beauty and were beloved by all the Tuatha Dé Danann. Lir's devotion to his children also awoke a resentment in Aoife. She was torn apart by jealousy of the children and guilt about her sister's death.

An evil touched her heart and turned Aoife against the children. She hatched a plan to get rid of them, so that she could have Lir all to herself. She concocted a terrible spell that would remove the children of Lir from her life forever.

A morning came when Lir was out hunting. Aoife took the chance to take the children out in her chariot. She told them they were going to visit their grandfather, Bodhbh Dearg.

Lough Derravaragh

Lough Derravaragh at sunset.

Image courtesy of Sean Magee

Lough Derravaragh
Image courtesy of Sean Magee

Lough Derravaragh

Lough Derravaragh at sunset.

Image courtesy of Sean Magee

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The previous night, Fionnuala had seen in a dream that Aoife was planning something evil. She was very worried about going but she had no choice in the matter. Stopping at Lough Derravaragh, Aoife led the children to the water to bathe.

As soon as they were out in the lake swimming, she unleashed a wand and struck them with a magic spell, saying: 'Out with you, children of the king, your luck is taken away from you forever; it is sorrowful the story will be to your friends. It is with flocks of birds your cries will be heard for ever!'

And with that, they changed immediately into four beautiful swans. But even as swans, the children could still sing better than any human. They called out in harmony: 'Oh, what have you done to us, witch? It is a bad deed! When will we be free?'

Aoife replied: 'I have put a spell on you. Now everything you have will be mine. You will be swans for nine hundred years. Three hundred here will be spent at this lake, a further three hundred on the Sea of Moyle and three hundred more on the Bay of Erris!'