Capall bán - white horse

A4 print based on a horse from a walk up the mountains my boys saw a "hornless unicorn", ie a white horse. They started asking questions if it really was a unicorn and how unicorns are magic. This led to me telling the story of Niamh's white horse in "Tír na nÓg" who travels interdimensionally to whisk Oisín, who was one of the last Fianna, to the Land of Youth.*

Many say the mare was a gift to her by her father Manannan (God of the Sea). Enbarr could run across sea and land without touching water or ground. She could not be killed by man or god. It is believed that JRR Tolkein based the horse named Shadowfax in the Lord of the Rings books on Enbarr.

Apparently everywhere except America & Africa the Horse was an ancient symbol of victory in war & power. It is also a symbol of spiritual victory. Many horse images can be found near and in graves as a symbol of travelling to the afterlife.

Other words for Capall are**;

clibistín (shaggy horse)

Falaire (an ambling horse)

Gearrán (a gelding or pack horse)

*@firesidebard https://open.spotify.com/episode/2vRn6jH58bpgEpETdSs4jo?si=px_gPdD-S1OtM4M76Dl-vg

** @manchánmagan has many more in his book tree dogs and Banshee fingers