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InIrish mythology,Fódla orFótla (modern spelling:Fódhla, Fodhla orFóla), daughter ofDelbáeth andErnmas of theTuatha Dé Danann, was one of the tutelarygoddesses ofIreland. Her husband wasMac Cecht.
With her sisters,Banba andÉriu, she was part of an important triumvirate of goddesses. When theMilesians arrived fromSpain, each of the three sisters asked thebardAmergin that her name be given to the country. Ériu (Éire, and in the dative 'Éirinn', giving English 'Erin') seems to have won the argument, but the poets hold that all three were granted their wish, and thus 'Fódhla' is sometimes used as a literary name for Ireland, as is 'Banba'. This is similar in some ways to the use of the poetic name 'Albion' forGreat Britain.
In theTochomlad mac Miledh a hEspain i nErind, Fótla is described as the wife ofMac Cecht, reigning as Queen ofIreland in any year in whichMac Cecht ruled as king.[1] The text goes on to relate that as the Milesians were journeying through Ireland, Fótla met them ‘with her swiftfairy hosts around her’ on Naini Mountain, also called the mountain of Ebliu. A footnote identifies the Naini Mountain of Ebliu as theSlieve Felim Mountains inCounty Limerick.
According toSeathrún Céitinn she worshipped theMórrígan, who is also named as a daughter of Ernmas.
InDe Situ Albanie (a late document), thePictish Chronicle, and theDuan Albanach,Fotla (modernAtholl,Ath-Fotla) was the name of one of the firstPictish kingdoms.[2]
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