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Eochaid

Mythology
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Eochaid is a common name for several kings and warriors in Irish mythology, often linked to sovereignty and fate.

Detailed Definition
Figures named Eochaid appear in various cycles, each embodying leadership and transformation. In poetry, Eochaid serves as a symbol of royal power, change, and the cyclical nature of history. His name evokes the grandeur and complexity of ancient rule.
Example
Example in poetry:
Eochaid appears as a name borne by multiple High Kings and legendary rulers in Irish poetry; Poets invoke Eochaid Airem, whose wife Étaín was stolen by a fairy king, for tales of loss and recovery; Eochaid Ollathair, another name for the Dagda, connects mortal kingship to divine power; The recurring name allows poets to explore archetypal kingship across different generations; In historical poetry, various Eochaidhs represent the continuity of Irish royal tradition; The multiplicity of figures named Eochaid provides poets with layers of meaning around sovereignty and rule
Additional Notes
Eochaid appears in many forms: Eochaid Garb (“rough”), Eochaid Feidlech (Deirdre’s father), and Eochaid Airem (who marries Étaín); often linked to kingship, horses, and sovereignty tests; his name (“horseman”) ties him to equine symbolism of power and mobility; poets can use Eochaid to examine rulership, transformation (e.g., Étaín’s reincarnation), or the burden of law; his recurring presence shows how names cycle through myth to accumulate thematic resonance—ideal for studying narrative repetition and variation in oral tradition.
Also Known As
Eochu Eochaidh Eachaidh Echaid
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