Lir, a powerful king of the Tuatha Dé Danann, had four children: Fionnuala, Aodh, Fiachra, and Conn. After Lir’s wife died, he remarried Aoife, a jealous and cruel woman. Out of envy, Aoife cursed Lir’s children, transforming them into swans for 900 years. The children, despite their transformation, retained their human minds and beautiful voices. They spent their time divided across three locations: Lake Derravaragh, the Sea of Moyle, and the Isle of Glora.
The video below contains a full telling of The Fate of the Children of Lir taken from ‘Myths and Legends Around the World – Collection 14’.
The Statue at the Garden of Remembrance
The Garden of Remembrance in Dublin, Ireland, is a memorial dedicated to all those who gave their lives in the cause of Irish freedom. In the center of the garden is a large sculpture designed by Oisín Kelly.
The sculpture, completed in 1971, is named “The Children of Lir,” symbolizing the rebirth and resurrection of the Irish nation. It depicts the four children in their swan form, and it’s a nod to the ancient Irish myth. The pool around the statue signifies their time on the water during their 900-year ordeal.
This statue in the Garden of Remembrance represents not just a piece of Irish mythology, but also the resilient spirit of the Irish people and their continuous struggle for independence.
