I scéal béaloidis caomhnaithe ag John O'Donovan in 1835, insítear conas a chuir Balar Eithne faoi ghlas sa Túr Mór ar Oileán Thoraí, as radharc gach fear, ag iarraidh tairngreacht draoi a chosc, go mbásfash a gharmhac é. Ach tháinig fear darbh ainm Mac Cinnfhaelaidh, ag lorg díoltas toisc gur ghoid Balar a bhó draíochta, isteach sa túr le cabhair ón leannán sídheBiróg, agus luigh sé léi. Rugadh trírín d'Eithne, ach bhailigh Balar i mbraillín iad agus sheol sé amach le giolla iad chun iad a bhá i bpoll súraic. Bádh beirt dóibh, ach thit ceann amháin trí thimpiste sa chuan, agus tharrtháil Biróg é. Thóg sí an leanbh ar ais chuig a athair, a thug dá dheartháir, Goibhne an gabha, in altramas. Mharaigh an buachaill Balar agus é fásta.[2]
Inisítear sa bhanseanchas gurbh é Feada a fíorainm: "Ba é Feada fíorainm Eithne uasal, bean chéile Chiain theann láidir, máthair sárfhir Lú neartmhar, iníon Bhalair bailcbhéimneach[5] mhic Dod mhic Net móréachtach, fear níos mó ná Hector soineanta."[6]
De réir nósanna áirithe, is iníon Delbáeth í, máthair Daghdha agus Oghma, agus bean chéile Nuada Airgeadlámh. I leagan ar leith de bhreith Aonghasa, is bean chéile Elcmar í, a mheall An Daghdha í, agus sa mhéid sin b'fhéidir gurb ionadaí Boann í.[7]
Téacsanna eile
I bhformhór na dtéacsanna, is bean í Eithne, ach tá roinnt ann ina bhfuil fear i gceist. Sa tseantéacs Baile in Scáil (Buile an Scáil), deirtear gur mac "Eithleann mac Tigernmas" é Lugh, nó mac "Eithneann mac Smretha mac Tigernmas". Shamhlaigh James Bonwick[8] Tigernmas (an rí a chuir tús le adhradh Chroim Chruaigh) le Balar. Mhol Stewart Macalister gur leagan bunúsach de Ethlenn ab ea Cethlenn, toisc gur samhlaíodh Lugh go minic mar Lug Mac Ethlenn.[9]
I shall leave these virtues for the story of Eithne from the fair Maigue.Success in children, success in foster-sister or brother,to those it may find sleeping with fair women.
If you tell of the fosterage
before going in a ship or vessel,
you will come safe and prosperouswithout danger from waves and billows.
If you tell of the fosterage(before going to a) judgment or a hunting,your case will be (propserous),all will be submissive before you.
To tell the story of Eithnewhen bringing home a stately wife,good the step you have decided on,it will be a success of spouse and children.
Tell the story of noble Ethnebefore going into a new banqueting house,(you will be) without bitter fight or folly,without the drawing of valiant, pointed weapons.
Tell to a king of many followersthe story of Ethne to a musical instrument,he gets no cause to repent it,provided he listen without conversation.
If you tell this story to the captives of Ireland,it will be the same as if were openedtheir locks and their bonds.[10]
Sanasaíocht
Is sampla maith é Ethniu den deacracht taighde a dhéanamh ar mhiotaseolaíocht na nGael. Is iad Ethliu nó Ethniu na leaganacha is duine dá hainm, fréamh den ainm Nua-Ghaeilge Eithne. Tharla go leor leaganacha ámh de bharr athruithe teangan agus easpa litriú caighdeánaithe. Tháinig mearbhall ar leith sa cheist de bharr aineolais teanga. In ionad an ainmneach, tógadh go minic foirm an tuisil ghinidigh, mar shampla Ethnenn/Eithneann) nó Ethlenn/Eithleann.
Leaganacha atá san áireamh: Ethnea, Eithliu, Ethlend, Ethnen, Ethlenn, Ethnenn, Ethne, Aithne, Eithnenn, Eithlenn, Eithna, Ethni, Edlend, Edlenn.
