Irish Mythology Dog Names

Gelert is a mythical dog from Wales that found his way into Celtic, Irish, and Welsh mythology. Gelert has enjoyed a fair amount of popularity due to his status as a dog whose loyalty to his master was so fierce that it could only be described as transcendental. It isn't entirely clear what dog breed Gelert actually was; as with many of these tales, a vast majority of the finer details surrounding the legend have been muddled over time. Some sources suggest that Gelert was a member of a now extinct breed of Celtic Hounds known as Nahali Terriers. Other sources have even suggested that Gelert was more wolf than dog or that the mythical hound was an full on wolf altogether. But no matter his pedigree, Gelert became a legend due to what was inside of him - and we're not talking about his genes. 

The story goes that many years ago the Prince of Gwynedd, Llywelyn the Great, was preparing to go hunting with a pack of his favorite hunting dogs. Chief among them was Gelert, his favorite hunting hound and steadfast friend. After Llywelyn had finished taking care of all of his preparations, he summoned his pack of hunting dogs with a horn whose tune could be heard both far and wide. Not long after Llywelyn had issued his call did all of his hunting dogs come running to greet their master; all of them, except for Gelert. Puzzled by Gelert's uncharacteristic tardiness, Prince Llywelyn went out in search of his prized hunting hound. After scouring every nook and cranny of his estate, Llywelyn finally came across Gelert. The Great Prince called out to Gelert and, after recognizing his master's call, the hunting hound gleefully trotted over to his master. Llywelyn was happy to finally be reunited with his hound, until he noticed a thick ring of blood around Gelert's mouth. 

At this moment, Llywelyn had also noticed that Gelert was walking away from the room where the Great Prince usually kept his infantile son. In a panic, Llywelyn surged into his son's room, only to find the child's crib flipped upside down and pools of blood decorating the floor near the crib. Prince Llywelyn flew into a fit of rage, immediately drew his sword, and plunged it into Gelert's heart. The Great Prince then began to sob incessantly until his cries were met with another's - a small babe whose cries emanated from the child's room. Llywelyn went back into his son's room and checked underneath his son's upturned crib. Not only did the Great Prince find his son unharmed but, to his amazement, he also found the corpse of a wolf who'd tried to eat his son.

After seeing all of this, Prince Llywelyn was finally able to connect the dots; Gelert hadn't harmed his son in the slightest, he had protected him from a hungry wolf. Dismayed that he killed his most loyal and faithful hound, Prince Llywelyn erected a memorial for Gelert in the village of Beddgelert; a memorial that is said to still remain to this day.