Nuala is the wife of Finnbheara, king of the Irish fairies,,,
She is thought the most beautiful of all women, with golden hair sweeping to the ground, and is the mother of seventeen sons.
Sometimes she is thought to have a separate residence of her own of Cnoc Sídh Úna [Knocksheogowna]...
It is said Nuala can transform herself in to any shape that she wants, but the one most pleasing to her is that of a young calf (or perhaps lamb).
Some people say Knocksheogowna means 'the mountain of the fairy-calf' others dispute this and say it means 'Úna's Mountain'.
Nuala is known to have a fondness for all animals particularly young ones.
Note:
It could be possible that Nuala is a diminutive form of Finnguala (modern spellings: Fionnghuala or Fionnuala; literally fionn-ghuala meaning "fair-shoulder"); the daughter of Lir of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
In the legend of the Children of Lir, she was changed into a swan and cursed by her stepmother, Aoife, to wander the lakes and rivers of Ireland, with her brothers Fiachra, Conn and Aodh, for 900 years until saved by the marriage of Lairgren, son of Colman, son of Cobthach, and Deoch, daughter of Finghin, which union broke the curse.
At any rate, Nuala is a somewhat elusive figure, but nevertheless her sidhe dwelling was a very important place in former times, and she is still remembered by local people...
Reources:
See Tuatha Dé Danann:
Bonus:
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