# Manannán mac Lir — Irish Fairy Tales character guide

> Manannán mac Lir in Irish Fairy Tales by James Stephens.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Manannán, Lir

**First appearance:** 0080-mongan-s-frenzy

## Snapshot

The sea god who walks into mortal trouble as a courteous stranger, offering rescue at a price and testing kings with bargains only the brave can afford.

## Who they are

Manannán moves between the Many-Coloured Land and the mortal world, appearing unannounced where kings are cornered and heroes are desperate. He is generous and dangerous at once: when Fiachna is besieged by venomous sheep, Manannán offers deliverance in exchange for the rights of his crown and household for a single day, and the king must weigh his people against his sovereignty. His bargains and his monstrous little dog set the moral machinery of the tales turning, asking what a ruler will surrender to save what he rules.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/i)

Mentioned as the god of the sea and ruler of the sphere where Gadiar, one of his sons, lives.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/viii)

Implied as ruler of the Brugh of Angus mac an Og; Becuma is not admitted there.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/vii)

Appears as a stranger, offers to save Fiachna using his venomous dog, then departs to claim his one-day rights in Ireland.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/viii)

Mongan's real father, who takes him to the Land of Promise to be reared.

### [Mongan Avenges His Father](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/ix)

Appears disguised as a black-faced cleric to urge Mongan to avenge his father.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters/manannan_mac_lir
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters