Seonaidh

"Shoney" redirects here. For the restaurant chain, see Shoney's.

For the Scottish Gaelic given name, see Seonaidh (given name).

The Seonaidh (anglicised Shony or Shoney) was a Celtic water spirit in Lewis, according to Martin Martin.

Dwelly defines seonadh (without the "i", a related form in Scottish Gaelic) as "1. augury, sorcery. 2. Druidism" and quotes Martin further.

Martin says that the inhabitants of Lewis used to propitiate Seonaidh by a cup of ale in the following manner. They came to the church of St. Mulway (Mael rubha),^[1] each man carrying his own provisions. Every family gave a pock (bag) of malt, and the whole was brewed into ale. One of their number was chosen to wade into the sea up to his waist, carrying in his hand the cup full of ale. When he reached a proper depth, he stood and cried aloud:

Seonaidh, I give thee this cup of ale, hoping that thou wilt be so good as to send us plenty of seaware [seaweed used as a fertilizer] for enriching our ground during the coming year.

He then threw the ale into the sea, in a ceremony performed at night. On his coming to land, they all repaired to church, where there was a candle burning on the altar. There they stood still for a time, when, on a given signal, the candle was put out, and straight-away, they adjourned to the fields where the night was spent mirthfully over the ale. Next morning, they returned to their respective homes, in the belief that they had ensured a plentiful crop for the next season.

It seems likely that Seonaidh was originally some kind of god, whose worship had been lightly christianised by the addition of various church features. However, it is also possible that "Seonaidh", the Scottish Gaelic form of the English Johnny, may also be a reference to one of the Saints John.

References

This article incorporates text from "Dwelly's [Scottish] Gaelic Dictionary" (1911). seonadh

↑ This probably refers to Teampull Mholuaidh. See also Mysterious Britain

Celtic mythology series

Creatures in Scottish mythology and folklore

Beasts	Beithir Gigelorum Loch Ness Monster Stoor worm Wulver

Birds	Boobrie

Fairies/spirits	Aos Sí Bean nighe Blue men of the Minch Bodach Brownie Caoineag Cat sìth Changeling Cù Sìth Dunnie Each-uisge Ghillie Dhu Glaistig Kelpie Nuckelavee Sea Mither Selkie Seonaidh Shellycoat Tangie Trow Water bull Wirry-cow

Fish	Ceasg

Gnomes	Peck

Goblins	Bauchan

Others	Assipattle and the Stoor Worm

Fairies

Related articles	Changeling Classifications of fairies Fairy fort Fairy-locks Fairy path Fairy riding Fairy ring Fairy tale Hungry grass Jinn

Royalty in folklore	Áine Alberich Arawn Beira Bodb Derg Brigid Clíodhna The Dagda Donn Fairy Queen Finvarra Freyr & Yngvi Freyja Gwyn ap Nudd Gwythyr ap Greidawl Gyre-Carling/Nicnevin Manannán mac Lir Queen of Elphame

Royalty in literature	Belphoebe Caelia Elegast Erlking Gloriana Lurline Mab Oberon/Auberon Titania

Fairylands in folklore	Alfheim/Elphame Annwn Arcadia (utopia) Avalon & Afallach & Emain Ablach Brú na Bóinne Cnoc Meadha Cnoc na Teamhrach Fortunate Isles Hy Brasil Inis Vitrin Mag Mell Niðavellir Otherworld Rathcroghan Seelie Court Svartálfar and Svartálfaheimr Tír na nÓg Unseelie Court

Fairies in culture	The Blue Fairy Cottingley Fairies Faerieworlds Faery Wicca Fairy painting The Faerie Queene The Fairly OddParents Tinker Bell

Fairies in folklore

Northern European folklore	Alp Luachra Anjana Aos Sidhe Arkan Sonney Asrai Banshee Barghest Bean nighe Billy Blind Biróg Bluecap Bodach Boggart Bogle Brag Brownie Bucca Buggane Bugul Noz Caoineag Cat Sìth Cù Sìth Ceffyl Dŵr Clurichaun Coblynau Cyhyraeth Drow Duende Duergar Dullahan Each uisge Elf Enchanted Moura Fear dearg Fear gorta Fenodyree Finfolk Fuath Gancanagh Ghillie Dhu Glaistig Glashtyn Gnome Goblin Green Man Gremlin Grindylow Gwyllion Gwyn ap Nudd Habetrot Haltija Hedley Kow Heinzelmännchen Hob Hobgoblin Hödekin Huldra Iannic-ann-ôd Imp Jack-o'-lantern Jack o' the bowl Jenny Greenteeth Joan the Wad Joint-eater Kabouter Kelpie Killmoulis Klabautermann Knocker Knucker Kobold Korrigan Leanan sídhe Leprechaun Lorelei Lubber fiend Mare Melusine Mermaid Merrow Mooinjer veggey Morgen Nain Rouge Näkki Nicnevin Nix Ogre Peg Powler Pixie Púca/Pwca Puck Radande Redcap Selkie Seonaidh Shellycoat Sluagh Spriggan Sprite/Water sprite Sylph Tomte Tooth fairy Troll Tuatha Dé Danann Tylwyth Teg Undine Water Horse Wight Will-o'-the-wisp Wirry-cow Yan-gant-y-tan Xana

Fairy-like beings in folklore

African folklore	Abatwa Asanbosam Aziza Bultungin Jengu Kishi Mami Wata Obayifo Rompo Tikoloshe Yumboes

Australasian folklore	Bunyip Manaia Muldjewangk Patupaiarehe Taniwha Tipua Wondjina Yara-ma-yha-who Yowie

American folklore	Alux Curupira Encantado Ishigaq Jogah Menehune Nawao Nimerigar Pukwudgie Saci Squonk

Asian folklore	Apsara Diwata Kappa Kijimuna Kitsune Kodama Koro-pok-guru Mogwai Orang Bunian Puteri Peri Bake-danuki Tengu Tennin Yaksha Yakshini Yōkai Yōsei

Greek folklore	Dryad Hamadryad Kallikantzaros Lampad Maenad Naiad Nereid Nymph Oceanid Pan Potamides Satyr Silenus

Romanic folklore	Căpcăun Faun Iele Lares Penates Sânziană Spiriduş Squasc Vâlvă Vântoase Zână Zmeu

Slavic folklore	Bagiennik & Bannik Berehynia Domovoi Karzełek Kikimora Likho Polevik Psotnik Rusalka Vila Vodyanoy

Celtic folklore	Tuatha de Danaan

See also: Portal Category List of beings referred to as fairies

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Seonaidh

References

See also