Airmid

by Dawn O'Laoghaire

In the Irish Book of Invasions, Airmid appears as a goddess of healing, particularly of herbal healing. She is the daughter and sister of Dian Cecht and Miach, two gods of healing and like Dian Cécht, her skills reflect a combination of practical knowledge and magic. She plays a central role in the story of how Nuadu's arm was restored and is also strongly associated with healing wells.

Nuadu, king of the Tuatha Dé Danann, lost his arm at the First Battle of Magh Tuiredh and had to relinquish the kingship because he was no longer physically perfect. Dian Cécht made a silver arm to replace the one that Nuadu has lost. His arm replaced, Nuadu became king again.[1] Not content with the silver arm, Dian Cécht's son Miach set about creating a flesh and blood arm for Nuadu. When Miach succeeded in providing a real arm for Nuadu, Dian Cécht became angry and struck his son three blows on the head with a sword. He then struck him a fourth blow which damaged his brain and killed him.[2] Three hundred and sixty five herbs grew from the grave of Miach, each one a cure for any illiness of the three hundred and sixty-five nerves of the human body.[4] The herbs were gathered by Airmid, [3] Miach's sister, who sorted them into groups by healing property and laid them out on her cloak. Dian Cécht shook the cloak, however, and the secrets of the herbs was lost forever. [5]

Airmid, her father and her brothers are said to stand guard over the Well of Healing. Besides Airmid and Miach, Dian Cécht has three other sons, Cian, Cehthé and Cu. Cian married Ethniu, daughter of Balor the Fomor, and gives birth to Lugh.[6] Thus, Airmid is Lugh's aunt and Dian Cécht is Lugh's grandfather. With the aid of two of his sons and Airmid, Dian Cécht created the Well of Healing, his second great act after the second battle of Magh Tuiredh, when the Tuatha Dé Danannan defeated the Fomorians. Dian Cécht, Airmid and two of her brothers sang incantations over a well. When the injured Tuatha Dé Danannan were immersed in the well they were healed.[7] Although the Book of Invasions associates Airmid with a specific mythological well (which seems to be a counterpoint to the Well of Knowledge guarded by Mannannan mac Lir), numerous sacred wells exist throughout the landscape of Ireland. The sacred nature of the Well of Healing, the Well of Knowledge and more mundane wells may reflect a perception that wells were liminal mechanisms, whereby humans could draw a valuable resource (water) from an underground world. Wells also were perceived to have linked the upper and lower worlds, thus permitting humans to communicate with the underworld.[8] Thus Airmid's and Dian Cécht's act in constructing the Well of Healing created a magickal means by which the Tuatha Dé Danannan could draw on the forces of the underworld and be healed.

Sources:

1. Green Miranda J., Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend. IBSN 0-500-27975-6. London:Thames and Hudson, 1992. p. 89.

2. OhOgain Dáithí, Myth, Legend and Romance: an Encyclopedia of Irish Folk Tradition. IBSN 01322759594. New York: Prentice Hall Press, 1991. p. 156

3. Or ‘Airmeith' see OgOgáin, p. 156.

4. Ellis, Peter Berresford, An Encyclopedia of Irish Mythology. IBSN 0874365538. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio, 1987. p. 161.

5. Squire, Charles, Celtic Myths and Legends. Gramercy Books, New York, 1994. p. 82. IBSN 0-517-10157-2. Originally published as Celtic Myth, Poetry and Romance. London: The Gresham Publishing Company, 191?.

6. Squire, Charles, Celtic Myth, Poetry and Romance. London: The Gresham Publishing Company, 191?. p. 62.

7. Green, supra, p. 80.

8. Green supra, p. 224

Contributed by: Dawn O'Laoghaire

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