The Enbarr or Aonbharr of Manannán is a horse in the Irish Mythological Cycle which could traverse both land and sea, swifter than wind-speed. The horse was the property of the sea-god Manannan mac Lir, but provided to Lugh Lamh-fada to use at his disposal. In the story Oidheadh Chloinne Tuireann, Lugh refused to lend it to the sons of Tuireann, but was forced to lend the self-navigating boat Sguaba Tuinne instead.
Forms
Enbarr ; Aenbharr or Aonbharr . In one retelling the horse is also called Enbarr of the Flowing Mane.
Etymology
The meaning of this name has variously defined. It is glossed as "Froth" in the medieval Cormac's glossary. The modern Irish form Aonbharr is glossed as "One Mane" by O'Curry, "the one or unrivalled mane" by O'Curry and O'Duffy, and "unique supremacy" by James Mackillop's dictionary. Welsh scholar John Rhys thought the name meant "she had a bird's head", and evidently considered it a mare.
In the romance Oidheadh Chlainne Tuireann, the Tuatha Dé Danann oppressed by tribute enforced by the Formorians gather an assembly on a hill, and Lugh arrives among an army of the "Fairy Cavalcade from the Land of Promise". Aobharr of Manannán was the horse Lugh was riding. The horse was quicker than the "naked cold wind of spring", and could travel over land or sea with equal ease. It also had the property that whoever was mounted on its back could not be killed. And Lugh was dressed in various armor from the sea-god adding to his invulnerability. Note that P. W. Joyce's retelling the fairy cavalcade appeared as "warriors, all mounted on white steeds", which suggests as embellishment that Lugh's horse was white also. Lugh refused to loan the horse to the sons of Tuireann, claiming that would be the loan of a loan, but in making this refusal, was later trapped into lending the self-navigating currach called the "Besom of the Sea", also called Sguaba Tuinne or Wave-sweeper.
Pop Culture
Enbarr appears in the 2013video game, Final Fantasy XIV. Enbarr can be obtained through the extreme level on The Whorleater, as a random drop.
