ORIGIN: Celtic [Irish]
TYPE: Irish God
INFORMATION: The Tuatha de Danann, the early celtic divinities of Ireland, had a dwarf poet by this name who figures in the story of Ruad a maiden goddess after whom the famous waterfall of Assaroe may have been named. It was in Abcan's boat, with its bronze hull and tin sail that Ruad traveled to this world from the otherworld. But she did not live long in Ireland, for she died at the waterfall, lured by the singing of mermaids from Abcan's boat into the swirling waters. In another text, Abcan was captured by the great hero of Ulster, Cuchulainn, but freed himself by playing lullabies so irresistable that the warrior fell sound asleep. The figure of Abcan has much in common with and may be related to, the dwarf musician Fer I.