Leaking Udders and the Milky Way

The Origins of the Glas Gaibhneach

The Glas Gaibhneach is said to be a magical cow with a stunning greyish hue. This enchanting creature was believed to be capable of producing an endless supply of milk, providing abundance and nourishment to its owner. However, the cow's true value lay not only in her extraordinary capacity for milk production but also in the taste and quality of the milk, which was said to be unparalleled.

The cow was initially owned by a chieftain named Cian, who was married to the beautiful and powerful sorceress, she also happens to be a daughter of the evil-eyed king of the Fomorians called Balor. The cow's magical properties were coveted by many, leading to numerous attempts to steal it from Cian. One day, Balor, discovered the cow's existence and decided to acquire it for himself.

To prevent the Glas Gaibhneach from falling into the wrong hands, Cian sought the help of a renowned hero named Biróg. Biróg was a skilled sorceress herself and devised a cunning plan to protect the cow.

Biróg's Cunning Plan

Together, Cian and Biróg hatched a scheme to outwit Balor and protect the Glas Gaibhneach. Knowing that Balor's strength lay in his evil eye, they decided to target his weakness. Biróg cast a powerful enchantment that would blind Balor temporarily when he attempted to steal the cow. In the meantime, Cian and Biróg moved the Glas Gaibhnenn to a secret location.

Undeterred by the enchantment, Balor embarked on his quest to obtain the Glas Gaibhneach. As predicted, the evil Balor was temporarily blinded when he attempted to steal the cow, allowing Cian and Biróg to confront him. A fierce battle ensued, with both sides displaying their prowess in combat and sorcery.

As the battle raged on, Balor's vision began to return, and his evil eye regained its destructive power. But just as it seemed that Balor would emerge victorious, Cian struck a decisive blow, defeating the evil king and securing the safety of the Glas Gaibhnenn. As for Cian's wife, we have no idea what she thinks of all this battling of her father and his eventual demise.

The O'Donovan Connection

Here, the magical cow feasts on the verdant grass, replenishing her energy and ensuring an abundant supply of the finest milk. As night falls, the Glas Gaibhnenn begins her trek back north across the night sky towards Caisleán Uí Dhonnabháin (Castledonovan) and on up to just beneath Mullach Méise. There she will be milked at dawn.

Her udders, heavy with the rich, creamy milk, can barely contain the copious supply. As she travels, droplets of milk spill from her udders, creating a stunning trail across the sky. This celestial phenomenon, visible on clear nights, is what we now know in English as the Milky Way.  The connection between the Glas Gaibhneach and the Milky Way is a testament to the enduring power of Irish folklore and its ability to intertwine the natural and the supernatural.

Versions of the Story

As well as being known by variations of her name, there are many other versions of this famous story. A version collected on Beara, Co. Cork has her as the origin of three famous landmarks An Geadach, An Laoidh agus an Tarbh, probably better know as The Cow, The Calf and The Bull rocks nowadays.

A wonderful version of the story from Beara The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0274, Page 184 & P185 Image and data © National Folklore Collection, UCD

During my research of this tale, a reoccurring theme from all parts of Ireland is that of greed and a jealous neighbour. This neighbour normally has a wager with the owner that if they can find a vessel that the Glas Geabhneach can't fill, they can take the cow for themselves. The owner, fully confident the cows endless supply of milk agrees to the wager. The jealous neighbour then returns with a sieve and starts to milk the Glas Gaibhneach. In most versions, this kills the cow or she flees never to be seen again.



The Glas Geabhneach and a few other magical cows also show up in some of our lore about An Gorta Mór (the Irish potato famine). In these versions she uses her supply of milk to save the people of a locality and then mysteriously disappears once the famine finishes.

Conclusion

The enchanting tale of the Glas Gaibhneach captures the essence of Irish folklore, where magic and the natural world intertwine to create captivating stories. As a symbol of abundance, nourishment, and cultural heritage, the Glas Gaibhneach reminds us of the importance of preserving our traditions and the unique qualities that make our history so fascinating.



In a modern context, the story serves as a timely reminder of our responsibility to protect and cherish our environment and not to overexploit the resources it provides. As we continue to explore and celebrate our rich folklore, the legend of the Glas Gaibhneach will undoubtedly remain a cherished part of Ireland's and West Cork's cultural tapestry.