Manannan Mac y Leirr, the Son of the Sea, was the first Ruler of
Mann. He was a great Wizard, and he was so powerful that afterwards
he was looked on as a god. He had a great stone fort on Peel Island,
and he could make one man, standing on its battlements, seem to be
a hundred. When he saw his enemies' ships sailing, he would cover
the island round with a silver mist so that it could not be seen;
and if, in spite of the mist, his enemies came near, he would throw
chips into the water and change them into ships. He was out walking
one day on Barrule, when he saw the warships of the Northmen were
in the bay of Peel. And with that he made himself into the shape of
three legs and rolled like a wheel down from the mountain top as
fast as the wind. It was about low tide in the harbour, and there
ran a stream of sparkling water out to sea. Now the banks of the
stream were marshy, and by the river-side grew a quantity of sedge
with broad, green leaves. So Manannan made little boats of the sedge,
a good number of them, and sailed his boats in the stream. And when
the little fleet floated out of the harbour, he caused them to look
like great ships of war, well manned with fighting men. Then terror
seized on the Northmen when they saw the Manx fleet, and they cut
their cables, hoisted sails, and cleared away as fast as they could,
and Manannan and his island were left in peace. Thus did he keep Mann,
and not with his sword, or his bow and arrows.
In his fort he had a great banqueting-hall, where handsome boys
made sweet music, and others played games and did great feats of
strength. He had a horse called Enbarr of the Flowing Mane, who could
travel like the wind over sea as well as land, swift hounds that could
catch any wild beast, and a sword called The Answerer, whose wound
was always fatal, besides his Magic Branch and his wonderful boat,
Wave Sweeper.
He governed Mann well for long, long years. Manx people had the best
of good treatment from him, and all the rent he wanted was that each
one was to bring a bundle of green rushes to him on the Mountain of
South Barrule on Midsummer Eve. The island was a happy place, full
of sunshine and all pleasant things, and no person there was old or
tired or sad.
Manx men have never forgotten Manannan, and this thousand years our
fishermen have prayed to him the following prayer, as they have put
out to sea. Even up to the days of our fathers it has been used:
Manannan Beg Mac y Leirr--
Little Manannan Son of the Sea,
Who blessed our island,
Bless us and our boat, going out well.
Coming in better, with living and dead in our boat.