Manannán mac Lir
Manannán mac Lir
Manannán mac Lir is the Irish god of the sea—and boy does he love his job. This guy spends all the time he can out on the ocean. Manny's got magic, too, because he's the lord of the Otherworld and welcomes visitors into his mystical realm. You can find him riding out over the waves on his chariot or sailing on his magical boat. Who wouldn't want to chill with the sea god in the Islands of the Blessed of the Otherworld?
Basic Information
| Name | Manannán mac Lir |
| Nickname | Mac, Manny, Manawydan ap Llyr (in Welsh) |
| Sex | Male |
| Current city | I'm the king of the Otherworld. My main palace is so exotic that it's got a few different names—Mag Mell (the Plain of Honey) or Emain Ablach (the Plain of Apples) are the most common. |
Work & Education
| Occupation | God of the sea, guardian of the Tuatha de Danaan's magic tools, lord of the Otherworld; owner of magic pigs |
| Education | I learned all I know from my dad, Lir, who was also a sea god. |
Beliefs
| Political views | I support the Tuatha de Danaan—the ancient gods of the land—as rulers of Ireland. |
Family & Friends (& Enemies)
| Parents | My dad is Lir, another god of the sea. I never knew my mom—she might've been a mermaid. |
| Siblings | None |
| Children | My most famous daughter, Niamh of the Golden Hair, was the most beautiful girl of her time. I've also got three other daughters—Aoife, Cliodna, and Aine—and two sons, Ilbreac and Mongan. |
| Friends | The hero Lugh Lamhfada, whom I raised; the Tuatha de Danaan |
| Enemies | Cuchulainn (after he hooked up with my wife Fand) |
Relationships
| Relationship status | Married to Fand |
| Interested in | The ladies |
Favorites
| Quotations | "The Otherworld does not supply the meaning of life. Rather, the Otherworld describes being alive. Life, in all its glory—warts and all, so to speak." – Stephen R. Lawhead, The Paradise War "The Irish seem to have more fire about them than the Scots." – Sean Connery "The sea does not like to be restrained." – Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief "I remember one time that I was filming a scene in which my character rides through Troy on a chariot. I just looked around at this incredible set thinking, 'This is the life.'" – Orlando Bloom |
| Books | Electra by Sophocles (My daughters had better not turn on me like Electra did on Agamemnon.) The Pigman by Paul Zindel (People can call me "the Pigman" because of my magical swine.) The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway (This was written about me and my love for the ocean.) The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (My wife didn't jump back between times—but she did jump from me to Cuchulainn.) The Lightning Thief by Percy Jackson (I should have sent my kids to their camp.) Othello by William Shakespeare The Red Pony by John Steinbeck Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (Murder! Intrigue!) A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin (I love this kind of magic.) The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle |
| Music | Born This Way by Lady Gaga My Country 'Tis of Thee (I'm gonna adapt this for the Isle of Man.) What's Going On by Marvin Gaye Can I Kick It? by A Tribe Called Quest Swing Low Sweet Chariot (I love riding around in my chariot.) If I Were a Boy by Beyonce (Shapeshifters like me know how to make Beyonce's wishes come true.) Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis Presley (This was how I felt when Fand left me for Cuchulainn.) |
| Movies | Cast Away (I've seen far too many Irish sailors thrown out like this to the sea. I've even rescued some.) 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Shapeshifter (This movie wasn't the best in quality, but I understand the dilemmas of shapeshifting.) Ella Enchanted Into the West (Who wouldn't love a story about Irish kids and their horse?) Deep Rising (Out at sea, some bad stuff can happen.) Poseidon Magical Sword (I can relate to this story—who doesn't have a magical blade?) |
| TV Shows | Otherworld Charmed (Not all magic is like this!) My Little Pony 'n Friends (Magic horses get me every time.) The Black Donnellys (I love stories about big Irish families, like my own.) |
Activities & Interests
| Likes | Sleight of hand tricks Aquariums Apples (that's why the Otherworld is sometimes called the "Plain of Apples") My magic pigs Synchronized swimming competitions |
| Activities | Deep sea fishing Riding the waves (they're my horses) Hanging ten Dragging humans into the Otherworld Sharpening my sword |
| Interests | Oceanography Study of magic Maritime archaeology Islandology (yes, that's a thing) Hydrology |
| Groups | I Love the Sea <3 Isle of Man Niall Horan is Sexy and Irish Shape Shifters |