Name Mor Muman | ||
Mor Muman (meaning Mor of Munster), also written Mor Mumhan or Mor Mumain, (said to have died 630s) is stated to have been a daughter of Aed Bennan, sometime King of Munster, but may in fact represent a euhemerised sovereignty goddess, particularly associated with the Eoganachta.
Traditions
The Irish language tale Mor Muman 7 Aided Cuanach meic Ailchine (Mor Muman and the death of Cuanu mac Ailchine) is contained in the Book of Leinster. It is suggested that it dates from the 10th century or earlier. According to this story, Mor was placed under an enchantment and lost her senses. She wandered Ireland for two years before she came to Cashel and the court of King Fingen mac Aedo Duib. Fingen eventually slept with her, and her memory returned. In the morning, Fingen gave her the Queen's robe and brooch, and put aside his current Queen, daughter of the king of the Deisi, and put Mor in her place as she was of better blood. The Metrical Dindshenchas say of Fingen and Mor:
Best of the women of Inis Fail
is Mor daughter of Aed Bennan.
Better is Fingen than any hero
that drives about Femen.
When Fingen died, the story says, Mor Muman married Cathal mac Finguine. Unfortunately, the collector of this tale mistook this Cathal for his grandfather, Cathal mac Aedo.
Mor's sister, Ruithchern, is also thought to represent the sovereignty goddess. She was the protagonist of the lost story Aithed Ruithcherne la Cuanu mac Cailchin (The killing of Ruithchern by Cuanu mac Ailchine).
As a divinity, Mor Muman is supposed to be identical with Mugain, and to include features of Medb and the Morrigan. She is sometimes referred to simply as Mumain, making her association with the land of Munster (Irish, Mumu) explicit.
The death of Mor Muman ingen Aedo Bennain is recorded by the Annals of Ulster under the year 632 and by the Annals of Tigernach for 633.