M is for Manannan Mac y Leirr

Manannan Beg was son of Leirr,He was the first the e’er had Mann;But as it seemeth unto me,He himself was but a heathen.‘Twas not with his sword he kept her,Nor with his arrows, nor his bow;Bur when he would see ships sailing,He hid her right round with a fog.He’d set a man upon a brow,You’d think there were a hundred there;And this did wild Manannan guardThat island with all its booty.The rent each paid out of the landWas a bundle of green rushes;And that was on them for a taxThroughout the county each John’s Eve.Some went up with the rushes toThe great mountain up at Barrule;Other would leave the grass below,With Manannan above Keamool.In this way, then, they lived, I thinkMyself their tribute very small,Without care or anxiety,Or labour to cause weariness.~~Old Manx Ballad

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This post inspired by - M

N is for Names