Children of Lir

The Children of Lir is one of Ireland’s most famous legends. A bittersweet Celtic story of loss and enduring love, the symbolism of the beautiful story is known to many around the world.

Irish Legend

The story goes that King Lir, an ancient ruler of Ireland had four children, a girl and three boys.

After the death of their beloved mother, King Lir was remarried to Aoife. In a fit of murderous jealousy Aoife cast a spell on the children, changing them into four swans. The children were doomed to spend nine hundred years split between three lakes around Ireland. On hearing of this evil deed, Aoife’s father changed her into an air demon for eternity. But the damage was already done.

The children still had their voices and when King Lir passed the lake near his castle he was amazed to hear four swans singing sweetly to him. The children told the King what happened and Lir came to live by the lake to be with them.

The King grew old and died, and after spending nine hundred years on stormy lakes, the spell on the children was finally broken. They changed back into their human form
and were baptized before joining their beloved parents in Heaven.

Modern Beauty

With such a haunting and beautiful story attached to this design, it is not at all surprising that people around the globe cherish Children of Lir pieces.

Even former Irish President, Mary McAleese proudly sported a Children of Lir brooch at many state functions.

With jewelry capturing the elegant form of the four swans in silver or gold, our Children of Lir designs are stunning pieces that can be passed down generations.