1 Gray, E., Cath Muige Tuired, Dublin, 1982. Cf. Mac Cana, P., Celtic Mythology, London, 1970, 59-60; Ó hÓgáin, D., Myth, Legend and Romance, London, 1990, 43-5, 272-3
2 Ó hÓgáin, op. cit., 44
3 For extensive references to An Glas Ghoibhneann in 19th and 20th century printed sources see S. Ó Duilearga, Leabhair Sháin Í Chonaill, Baile Átha Cliath, 1948 (reprint 1977, 429 (No. 61)); English translation: Máire MacNeill, Seán Ó Conaill's Book, Dublin 1981, 392.
4 Ó Cuív, B., Cath Muighe Tuireadh, Dublin, 1945. Cf. Ó hÓgáin, op. cit., 276.
5 Thomson, D., The People of the Sea, London, 1965, 194-7 (and subsequent reprints).
6 Cf. MacNeill, M., The Festival of Lughnasa, Dublin 1982, 7-8 (first published 1962); Ó hÓgáin, op. cit., 276. I am indebted to Dr Patricia Lysaght for this overview of the literary tradition.
7 de Vries, J., ‘Celtic and Germanic Religion’, The Saga Book of the Viking Society for Northern Research, 16, 1965, 119.
8 Turville-Petre, E. O. G., Myth and Religion of the North, London, 1964.
9 Davidson, H. R. Ellis, Gods and Myths of Northern Europe, Penguin, 1964, 181.
10 Hávamál st.138-41, my translation. ‘Soul-stirrer’ (Óðrerir) is, according to Snorra Edda, one of the vats which contains the mead of inspiration, see also below. It has been suggested that in Hávamál, the name ‘Soul-stirrer’ applies to the contents rather than to the vat. Snorri Sturluson, A. Faulkes (transl.) Edda, Everyman’s Library, Dent 1987, 241. The account of Óðinn hanged on Yggdrasil is paralleled by accounts of his sacrifices; see especially the death of King Víkar, Gautreks saga, ch. 7, transl. by H. Pálsson and P. Edwards as ‘King Gautrek’ in Seven Viking Romances, Penguin, Harmondsworth, 1985.
11 Ross, A., Pagan Celtic Britain, Routledge and Kegan Paul 1967, 60.
12 The Elder Edda, Grímnismál st.10, 32. For Óðinn’s eagle form see Snorra Edda and below.
13 When Óðinn is on Yggdrasil he meets ‘the famous son of Bölthorr, Bestla’s father.’ We know that this makes him Óðinn’s maternal uncle, but it is uncertain who exactly ‘the famous son of Bölthorr’ is. Since however there is only one giant known to us who could be Bölthorr’s son, it seems possible that this is ‘the famous son.’ Bergelmir is the only frost-giant to survive the flood on the death of Ymir, a fact which could itself account for his fame. Lugh too of course survives drowning, and in Patrick Sean Cregan's version, his nine hundred brothers become seals. Blodeuedd’s women are also drowned. Perhaps the ‘man on the strand’ who is constantly employed building a fence to keep out the sea is a dim echo of this flood theme.
14 In Hávamál, Baugi does not appear, and Óðinn drills the hole himself.