Bard: The Odyssey Of the Irish
Encyclopedia
Bard: The Odyssey of the Irish is a 1984 historical fantasy novel by Morgan Llywelyn
. It depicts a hypothetical migration of Galicians to Ireland
, led by Amergin
the bard and the Sons of the Mil. It is loosely based on the Early Irish Lebor Gabála Érenn
or The Book of Invasions found in several medieval manuscripts.
In the 4th century BC
a group of Celts living in the north-west of Iberia
, the Galicians, are waning in prosperity. A group of Phoenicia
n traders unexpectedly arrives, and gives hope to the tribe.
The story follows Amergin, druid
and chief bard
of the Galicians, and his brothers; Éremón, Colptha, Éber Finn, Donn, and Ír - all sons of Milesios. After years of declining prosperity, the Gaelicians hope that the Phoenician traders, led by Age-Nor, will help bring them back. Unfortunately, neither side has anything of much worth to trade.
At a reception in the Heroes' Hall, Age-Nor is attacked by Ír, while Milesios is asleep and unaware. Amergin uses his bardic talent to entrance Ír, thus saving Age-Nor.
Later in the novel, Age-Nor rewards Amergin, despite the bard's vehement protests, by giving him a servant, a shipwright named Sakkar, and regaling him with a tale of a fabled land to the north, Ierne
. After a series of mishaps and bad decisions, it is eventually decided that a group of the Gaelicians, led by the Sons of the Mil, will settle this land.
The tribe builds a series of ships with the help of Sakkar, and set sail.
When they arrive on Ierne, they are confronted by the mysterious Tuatha Dé Danann
, People of the Goddess Danu
. After a battle, the Dananns vanish with no trace, leaving Ierne for the Milesians.
Morgan Llywelyn
Morgan Llywelyn is an American-born Irish author best known for her historical fantasy, historical fiction, and historical non-fiction...
. It depicts a hypothetical migration of Galicians to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, led by Amergin
Amergin
Amergin, also spelled Amorgen, Amairgin, Aimhirghin, Amorghain, is the name of two poets from Irish mythology:*Amergin Glúingel, poet and druid of the Mythological Cycle*Amergin mac Eccit, poet and hero of the Ulster Cycle...
the bard and the Sons of the Mil. It is loosely based on the Early Irish Lebor Gabála Érenn
Lebor Gabála Érenn
Lebor Gabála Érenn is the Middle Irish title of a loose collection of poems and prose narratives recounting the mythical origins and history of the Irish from the creation of the world down to the Middle Ages...
or The Book of Invasions found in several medieval manuscripts.
Plot summary
Official tagline: "The sweeping historical tale of the coming of the Irish to Ireland, and of the men and women who made the Emerald Isle their own."In the 4th century BC
4th century BC
The 4th century BC started the first day of 400 BC and ended the last day of 301 BC. It is considered part of the Classical era, epoch, or historical period.-Overview:This century marked the height of Classical Greek civilization in all of its aspects...
a group of Celts living in the north-west of Iberia
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
, the Galicians, are waning in prosperity. A group of Phoenicia
Phoenicia
Phoenicia , was an ancient civilization in Canaan which covered most of the western, coastal part of the Fertile Crescent. Several major Phoenician cities were built on the coastline of the Mediterranean. It was an enterprising maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean from 1550...
n traders unexpectedly arrives, and gives hope to the tribe.
The story follows Amergin, druid
Druid
A druid was a member of the priestly class in Britain, Ireland, and Gaul, and possibly other parts of Celtic western Europe, during the Iron Age....
and chief bard
Bard
In medieval Gaelic and British culture a bard was a professional poet, employed by a patron, such as a monarch or nobleman, to commemorate the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities.Originally a specific class of poet, contrasting with another class known as fili in Ireland...
of the Galicians, and his brothers; Éremón, Colptha, Éber Finn, Donn, and Ír - all sons of Milesios. After years of declining prosperity, the Gaelicians hope that the Phoenician traders, led by Age-Nor, will help bring them back. Unfortunately, neither side has anything of much worth to trade.
At a reception in the Heroes' Hall, Age-Nor is attacked by Ír, while Milesios is asleep and unaware. Amergin uses his bardic talent to entrance Ír, thus saving Age-Nor.
Later in the novel, Age-Nor rewards Amergin, despite the bard's vehement protests, by giving him a servant, a shipwright named Sakkar, and regaling him with a tale of a fabled land to the north, Ierne
Ierne
Ierne may refer to:* Ériu, a goddess of Ireland* Ireland...
. After a series of mishaps and bad decisions, it is eventually decided that a group of the Gaelicians, led by the Sons of the Mil, will settle this land.
The tribe builds a series of ships with the help of Sakkar, and set sail.
When they arrive on Ierne, they are confronted by the mysterious Tuatha Dé Danann
Tuatha Dé Danann
The Tuatha Dé Danann are a race of people in Irish mythology. In the invasions tradition which begins with the Lebor Gabála Érenn, they are the fifth group to settle Ireland, conquering the island from the Fir Bolg....
, People of the Goddess Danu
Danu
The name Danu can mean:* A water goddess in Indo-European religion* An ancient Scythian word meaning "river". The commonly proposed etymology of the names of the Danube River, Dnieper River, Dniester River, Donets River and Don River...
. After a battle, the Dananns vanish with no trace, leaving Ierne for the Milesians.