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LÀR NATHAIR, lar, the centre, the ground, the earth, the
Earth-Father. A cairn also known as the Nether Largie, at
the north edge of the Great Moss in Argyllshire, Scotland.
The location of several cairns, the South Cairn being the
largest in Britain. This structure is 134 feet in diameter. It
contains a chamber 19 feet long, roofed over with great
stone slabs and reached by a tunnel at one side. The floor is
clean gravel. This chamber and two smaller cists were
discovered by local people who carried away stones to build
walls. This structure is dated at 3000-2000 B.C. and once
contained burial items and burnt corpses. Not far from here
is Templewood cromleag, dating from the Bronze Age, 1600
B.C. This circle of standing stones has a central monolith
ringed by eight standing-stones. Many of the stones are
marked with concentric circles, known as “cup-and-ring “
marks, whose utility and meaning are not exactly known.
LATHA RUADH, the Red Day, the third day of the eight days
of Beltane (May 3); the eve being termed Reed or Red E’en.
Known as the Avoiding Day in the highlands of Scotland, an
unlucky time for starting a journey or beginning an
enterprise. It is probable that the name, and connotations,
originally had to do with the selection of a Beltane karl. In
Christian times it was renamed Rood Day or Reed Day, or
even Roodmas, supposedly after the finding of a “rod” from
the true cross by the Empress Helena, the mother of King
Constantine. After the reformation any correspondence
between the Roodmas and Beltane was expunged.
LIR. The ocean god. See Ler and Manann mac Ler.
LUCHD, people, OIr. lucht, Cy. llwyth, a tribe, the Eng. folk,
Germ. volk, possibly based on the name of the god Lugh, see
next. This is the use preferrerd to fir, when the company
consists of both men and women.
LUDAG, the little finger, hinge, joint, Ir. lughadog, OIr. luta,
the root lud, from the god Lugh. AS. lytel, Eng. little, Eng.
loss. All resembling the Gaelic. ludan or ludnan, a hinge and
ludair, a slovenly person, lugh, a joint and lugha, less. Note
also lugach, a person with bowed legs, a deformed
individual and luigean, a pliant or weak-willed person.
LUGAID MAC CU ROI. the son of the Munster king who fought
against Art who was killed by Cuchullain, Before he was
dispatched he fatally wounded Cuchullian’s chariot-driver
Laeg.
LUS AN CRAIS RIUT, "the hunger herb." "the piercing pain, the
sharp pain as they term it in Ireland." Lus from lùb, to bend,
able to be bent, Enng. loop and ME. loupe, a noose. English is
regarded as the borrower. OIr. luib, an herb-garden, ON. lyf,
herb, Germ. lubja-leiser, herb-craft or witchcraft, “herb-
lore,” OHGerm. luppi, poison, AS. lyb, same meaning. A
condition thought produced by the “Old Grey Spectre"(see
luch), a spirit of the mountains, one who does not like
trespassers on his bailiwick. "I never go to the hills without
eating plenty before going, and I carry a bit in my bag to
cope with the hunger herb. Many a strong man has been
seized by the hunger herb, but the Old Grey Spectre (see
Dudair), that is another question." (The Hebridean
Connection, p. 432). This phenomena may correspond with
that of the “hungry grass.”