Gender Masculine Usage Irish, Irish Mythology, Old Irish [1] Pronounced Pron. /ˈciənˠ/(Irish) Meaning & History Means "ancient, enduring" in Irish. In Irish mythology this was the name of the father of Lugh Lámfada. It was also borne by the mythical ancestor of the Ciannachta and by a son-in-law of Brian Boru.