Irish Mythology : Celtic Mythology

By C.Ward

Long, long ago, beyond the misty space
Of twice a thousand years,
In Erin old there dwelt a mighty race,
Taller than Roman spears.

Background to Celtic Mythology

In the twilight years before the dawn of written history our Celtic ancestors immortalised their heroes in a series of epic tales which passed from generation to generation through the mouth of the local “seanchaí” or story-teller. These tales became part of a living folklore that has survived to this day. Over the centuries these tales grew with the telling, to the point where they became mythological rather than historical. This does not mean that these stories are mere fiction but it does mean that we must be sensible and take them with ‘a large grain of salt’.

The fact that hundreds of place-names throughout Ireland derive their meaning from references to particular incidents in these stories is proof enough that the outline at least of these epic events really did take place. Let us read and enjoy them therefore in that context bearing in mind that the literary style adopted contains a good deal of repetition as one would expect from stories that emanated from an oral tradition. The peculiar turn of phrase and the rich cadence of language reflect the fact that these stories were originally told and later written down in Gaelic rather than in English.

Stories from Celtic Mythology

The Coming of the Tuatha de Danaan to Ireland

The Tuatha de Danaan came to Ireland in a cloud of mist, at the dawn of history, bringing their magic with them. They landed on May Day in the county of Sligo and Nuada was their King. The Firbolg were in Ireland before them and had their headquarters at Tara in the County Meath. They were called Firbolg or Men of the Bag because they carried earth in leather bags to make the many ring forts that are scattered throughout Ireland today. Messengers came to Eochaidh, King of the Firbolg, to warn him that a new people had landed on Irish soil. King Eochaidh took counsel with his advisors and it was decided to send their best champion, Sreng, to see the strangers and to speak to them. And so Sreng took his strong red-brown shield, his two thick-handled spears and his heavy sword and set out from Tara to go to the strangers where they had settled at Magh Rein.

The Tuatha de Danaan saw him coming and they sent out their champion, Bres, to meet him. Bres took with him his shield, his sword and his two spears. The two heroes eyed one another up and down and marvelled at each other’s weapons. Sreng marvelled at the thin, sharp, hard-pointed spears of the Tuatha de Danaan and Bres marvelled at the strong, thick-handled, heavy spears of the Firbolg. They agreed to exchange weapons that they might learn the more about each other. And now Bres gave a message to the Firbolg: that of they would give up one half of Ireland, his people would be content to take it in peace but if they would not give up the half there would be a battle. And the two heroes agreed that whatever happened they themselves would be friends.

Sreng went back to Tara with the message and showed them the spears. His advice to the King was to share the country and not go into battle with a people that had weapons so much better than their own. But Eochaidh and his chief men consulted together and they said in the end: “We will not give up the half of the country to these strangers; for if we do, they will soon take the whole”.

As for the Tuatha de Danaan: when Bres went back to them and showed them the heavy weapons and told them of he strong, fierce warrior he had met, they thought it likely that there would be a battle. They retreated further west in Connacht and made walls and ditches on the plain of Magh Mia, with the great mountain Belgate to their rear, while they awaited an attack from the Fir Bolg.

It was a midsummer day that the battle began. It lasted for four days and there were great feats done on each side and a great many champions came to their death. But for those that were alive at evening, the physicians on each side used to make a bath with every sort of healing plant or herb in it so that they would be strong and sound for the next day’s fight. And it came to pass that on the fourth day the Tuatha de Danaan got the upper hand and the Firbolg were driven back, and their King was slain. Nuada of the de Danaan now offered peace and the choice of any one of the five provinces of Ireland. Sreng said that they would take Connacht and he and his people lived there and their children after them. As for the Tuatha de Danaan they took possession of Tara and estab and he and his people lived there and their children after them. As for the Tuatha de Danaan they took possession of Tara and established themselves as High Kings of Ireland.

The Reign of Bres

It is true that the Tuatha de Danaan won the day but their King Nuada lost an arm in combat to Sreng, champion of the Firbolg. It was a law with the de Danaan that no man that was not perfect in body could be their King, and so Nuada was put out of the Kingship and Bres was chosen as their new King. But his reign brought no great prosperity to his people for the Fomorians, a fierce race of pirates whose dwelling place was westwards across the sea, began levying tribute on the people of Ireland and Bres made no stand against them. Instead he levied his own tax on every household in the land, such that his own people, the Tuatha de Danaan, began to grumble against him, and wonder how they might find another to replace him.

As for Nuada, after his arm was struck off he was sick for a time but Diancecht, the healer, made an arm of silver for him, with movement in every finger and he fixed the arm to Nuada and he became known as Nuada of the Silver Hand. But Miach, son of Diancecht, was an even better healer than his father. He took Nuada’s own arm that had been struck off and joint to joint, sinew to sinew he sewed it on again so that after three days Nuada was whole again.

And when the people saw that Nuada was whole again they gathered together at Tara, where Bres was, and bade him give up the Kingship for he had it long enough. So he had to give it up, though he was not very willing, and Nuada became King once more. Bres searched his mind to know how he could be avenged on those that had put him out of the Kingship and he went to his mother Eri and bade her tell him who his father was and what his race was. She told him that his father was Elathan, one of the Kings of the Fomorians; that he had come to her one time over a level sea in a great vessel that seemed to be of silver; that he himself had the appearance of a young man with yellow hair, his clothes decked with gold and five rings of gold around his neck. She had refused the love of all the young men of her own people, had given him her love and cried when he had left her.

Before he left he had given her a ring from his own hand and had bade her give it only to the man whose finger it would fit. Eri brought out the ring and put it on the finger of Bres and it fitted him well. She and Bres and some of their followers then set out of the land of the Fomorians. At long last they came to that faraway land. Elathan the local King saw the ring on Bres’s hand and asked him the whole story and said that Bres was his own son. Elathan then asked Bres what it was that drove him out of his own country and his own kingship. Bres answered truthfully: “Nothing drove me out but my own injustice and my own hardness; I took away their treasurers from the people and their jewels and their food itself. And there were never taxes put on them before I was their King. And still I am come to look for fighting men that I may take Ireland by force”. Elathan listened and then bade him go to the chief King of the Fomorians, Balar of the Evil Eye.

The Coming of Lugh of the Long Hand

One day as Nuada was holding a feast at Tara a young man presented himself before the King. He said his name was Lugh, son of Cian of the Tuatha de Danaan and of Ethlinn, daughter of Balor of the Evil Eye, King of the Fomorians. He proved himself to be a master of all arts and trades so that Nuada was glad to welcome him to Tara. They tested him on the chess-board and every game that was played, Lugh won it. There was a great flag-stone at Tara and Ogma took at and hurled it as far as the eye could see, but Lugh took hold of it with one hand and hurled it back to where it first lay. He played the harp for them so that he had them laughing first and then crying and at the end he put them all asleep with a lullaboy. And when Nuada saw all the marvels that Lugh could do he began to think that by his help the country might get free of the heavy taxes levied on it by the Fomorians.

The Story of Lugh

In the days when Balor of the Evil Eye was King of the Fomorians one of his druids foretold that it was by the hand of his own grandson that he would meet his death. Now Balor had at that time but one child, a daughter whose name was Ethlinn and she was fair to look upon. Now when he heard what the druid had foretold he shut her up in a tower on the Island of Glass where he lived. And he put twelve women with her to take charge of her and to guard her. He ordered them never to let her see a man or hear the name of a man. And so Ethlinn was brought up in the tower and she grew tall and beautiful. There was no fear on Balor and he carried on with war and robbery, seizing every ship that passed by the Island of Glass and sometimes going over to Ireland to do destruction there.

At that time Cian son of Cainte of the Tuatha de Danaan lived with his two brothers. Cian had a most marvellous cow, the Glass Gaibhnenn, and her milk never failed. Now Balor had set his mind for a long time on having the Glass Gaibhenn for himself and at last he managed to steal her from Cian. Cian went to the druid and the druid told him that so long as Balor lived the cow would never be brought back, for no one could go within reach of his Evil Eye which had the power of death in it.

And so Cian went to a woman-druid, Birog of the Mountain and sought her help. She dressed him in a woman’s clothes and brought him in a mist across the sea to where Ethlinn was in the tower. Then Birog by her enchantments put the twelve women into a deep sleep and she bade Cian go and speak to Ethlinn. And when Ethlinn saw Cian she said that was the face she had seen in her dreams and she gave him her love. When her time came she gave birth to a son. And when Balor heard this he ordered the child to be thrown into the sea but Birog of the Mountain brought the child away in a mist and gave him to his father Cian. Cian gave him to be fostered by Taillte, daughter of the King of the Great Plain. It was thus that Lugh was born and reared, and the sons of Mananna were his foster brothers.

One day shortly after Lugh of the Long Hand had come to Tara, King Nuada and all his assembled men saw coming towards them nine times nine of the messengers of the Fomorians. They were coming to exact rent and taxes from the men of Ireland. They came up to where the King was and the King with all the Tuatha de Danaan stood up before them. But Lugh of the Long Hand said “Why do you stand up before that surly, slovenly troop?” Thereupon he drew his sword, the answerer, and a battle-rage took hold of him, and he never stopped till he had killed eight nines of the Fomorians and he let the last nine go under the protection of Nuada that they might bring the story back to their own people. And when the Fomorians heard the story they asked in awe who this young man might be “I know who he is” said Ceithlenn, wife of Balor, “he is the son of your daughter and mine. Remember how it was foretold that from the time he would come into Ireland we would never have power there again for ever”.

The Fomorians then held counsel how they might avenge the death of their tax collectors. And it was at that exact time that Bres and his father Elathan arrived seeking help to attack Ireland. They promised him seven battalions of the Fomorians if he would bring back the head of Lugh to them. And so Bres set out to attack Ireland.

The Sons of Tuireann

There was enmity and rivalry for a long time between the three sons of Cainte and the three sons of Tuireann although they were all members of the same de Danann. Cian, father of Lugh, was the chief son of Cainte while Brian was the chief son of Tuireann. One day it happened that Cian was out searching the Plains of Muirthemne, looking for the Riders of the Sidhe that they might come to Lugh’s assistance against the attack of the Fomorians. In the distance he saw the three sons of Tuireann and he thought it wise to seek cover. There was a great herd of pigs close to him so he struck himself with his druid’s rod and changed himself into the shape of a pig and began rooting in the ground like the other pigs. But Brian, son of Tuireann saw what happened and struck his two brothers with his own druid’s rod and he changed them into two thin fast hounds and they began to yelp sharply on the track of the enchanted pig. It was not long before the enchanted pig broke away from the herd and made for the woods. But Brian cast his spear and it went through its body. The pig cried out “I am Cian, son of Cainte, give me your protection now” Brian answered: “If the life came back to you seven times I would take it from you every time.” “If that is so” said Cian, “at least give me one request: let me go back into my own shape again”. “We will do that” said Brian “for it is easier for me to kill a man than a pig”. So Cian took his own shape again and asked for mercy but the old enemity welled up in the sons of Tuireann and they refused him mercy. Instead they took up stones and stoned him to death. Before he died Cian said: “There never was and never will be any person killed for whose sake a heavier fine will be paid than for myself. For my son, Lugh of the Long Hand will avenge me”. Six times the sons of Tuireann buried his body deep in the earth that it would not be found and six times the earth cast it up again but on the seventh time the earth kept it. The sons of Tuireann now went on their way to join Lugh in the battle against the Fomorians.

The two sides met at Magh Mór an Aonaigh, The Great Plain of the Fair and the air was filled with their battle lust. Bres, son of Elathan was there with seven battalions of the Fomorians. At Lugh’s side were the Riders of the Sidhe, and Bodb Dearg, son of the Dagda, with twenty nine hundred men. Towards the close of day Lugh saw the battle pen where Bres was and he made a fierce attack on it so that Bres was forced to cry out: “Give me my life this time and I will bring the whole race of the Fomorians to fight it out with you in a great battle and I bind myself to that with my honour” and so Lugh gave him his life and both sides prepared for the great battle that would decide the fate of Ireland.

After the battle Lugh sought out his kinsmen to enquire where his father might be and none could tell face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">After the battle Lugh sought out his kinsmen to enquire where his father might be and none could tell him. So he traced his way back to where his father had set out for the Plain of Muirthemne in search of the Riders of the Sidhe. And they came at last to the place where Cian had struck himself with his druids rod, and the earth spoke to Lugh and said: “It is in great danger your father was here when he saw the sons of Tuireann and it is into the shape of a pig he had to go, but it is in his own shape they killed him”. They found the place where Cian was buried and they raised the body that they might see what manner of death was given to him. “It was the death of an enemy the sons of Tuireann gave my dear father” said Lugh and he swore by the gods he worshipped that he would make them pay a heavy price for their treachery.

Lugh now returned to Tara where the sons of Tuireann had gathered with the rest of the de Danaan. He asked for the chain of silence and he shook it so that all the assembly listened to his words. And he asked them all what vengence they would exact from the man that would kill their father. And they all agreed that no penalty would be too great to place on the man that would kill their father. And the sons of Tuireann agreed with the rest. Lugh now said that the three men who killed his own father were present among the assembly and they themselves knew who they were. The sons of Tuireann denied it was they who had done the deed but gave their solemn pledge before the King that they would pay whatever fine or penalty Lugh would place on them, for the sake of peace. The fine is this said Lugh: “Three apples, the skin of a pig, a spear, two horses and a chariot, seven pigs, a dog’s whelp, a cooking-spit, and three shouts on a hill”. The sons of Tuireann thought that the fine was a very light fine until Lugh explained further:

The three apples were the three apples from the garden in the East of the World. They could cure all sickness and would never lessen no matter how much they were eaten. The pig-skin belonged to the King of Greece and it healed all wounds and could turn water into wine. The spear was the deadly spear belonging to the King of Persia, whose tip was kept steeped in a vessel of water for fear it would burn down whatever place it was stored in. The two horses and chariot were the wonderful horses of Dobar, King of Siogair. And they could travel over sea or land and there were no horses faster or no chariot better than them. The seven pigs were the pigs of Easal, King of the Golden Pillars and though they were killed every night they would be found alive the next day and anyone who ate of them would suffer no disease or sickness. The dog’s whelp was Fail-Inis the whelp of the King of the Cold Country and all the wild beasts of the world fall down at the sight of her. The cooking-spit was one of the spits of the women of Inis Cennfhinne, the Island of the Fairhaired Women. The three shouts on a hill could only be given on the Hill of Miochaoin in the North of Lochlann and Miochaoin and his sons were under oath to allow no shouts from that hill on a pain of death.

When the sons of Tuireann heard this silence and darkness descended on them. They went to their father Tuireann and he told them to ask Lugh for the loan of Manannan’s wonderful horse, Aonbharr. And if Lugh would not give it to ask for the loan of Manannan’s curragh, The Sweeper of the Waves for Lugh was under bonds not to refuse a second request. Sure enough Lugh refused the first request for he was in no mind to help those who had killed his father, but he was forced to give into their second request, which was for Manannan’s curragh, The Sweeper of the Waves.

The sons of Tuireann set out to where the curragh was at Brugh na Boinne and their sister Ethne with them. “O my dear brothers” she said, “it was a bad thing you did, to kill the father of Lugh of the Long Hand, the way you did, and whatever harm may come to you from it, it is but just. But my grief is, and there is nothing more sorrowful than this, to see you driven out form your own country.” “Do not grieve, Ethne” they said “for we are in good heart. We would sooner be killed a hundred times over than to meet with the death of cowards”. Then the three pushed out their curragh from the beautiful shores of their native land and set sail for the Garden in the East of the World.

The magic curragh of Manannan never stopped till it brought them to the East of the World. The three brothers debated how best they might snatch the apples from the Garden since it was well guarded with the King’s champions. At last Brian said that they would go into the shape of swift hawks and each one of them would snatch an apple in his claws. So he struck his two brothers and himself with his druid’s rod and they changed into beautiful hawks. They flew around the Garden and the watchers took notice of them and shouted at them and threw showers of spears and darts at them, but the hawks kept out of their reach until all the weapons were cast and then they swept down bravely on the apples and brought them away with them in their claws without so much as a wound. Now the King had three crafty daughters and they changed themselves into three ospreys and they followed the hawks to the sea and sent flashes of lighting before them and after them. But Brian took out his druid’s rod and changed himself and his brothers into three white swans and they landed on the sea and made their way safely to Manannan’s magic curragh.

Next they set out for Greece to bring away the skin of the pig with or without the consent of the King. They debated what appearance they would put on and Brian said that they should put on the appearance of poets from Ireland and that way they would be welcome into the court of the King. It was just as Brian said: they were brought before the King and sumptuous food and fine wine was laid before them. After eating and drinking the King asked the poets from Ireland for a poem to honour the occasion. Brian stood up and said a poem which pleased the King. In return the King offered the brothers three times the full of the pig’s skin of gold as a reward for the poem. Brian asked to see the gold being measured into the pig’s skin. No sooner was it brought out than he snatched the pig’s skin with his left hand and drew his sword with his right hand. A fierce battle took place with the sons of Tuireann killing all before them till at last the King of Greece himself fell to Brian’s hand for the sons of Tuireann were champions of the Tuatha de Danaan.

The three brothers rested for a while after that and then they said they would set sail for Persia in search of the fiery spear. This time again they took on the appearance of poets from Ireland since poets are always welcomed into the court of the King. Just as before sumptuous food and fine wines were laid before them and then the King asked for a poem. Brian made up a fine poem and asked for the fiery spear as a reward. The King refused so Brian threw one of the magic apples at his forehead so that his brains were put out the back of his head. The three brothers then made an attack on all those around them killing all before them. They found the place where the deadly spear was with its head in a cauldron of water and took it with them.
Next they set sail for the Island of Siogair where the two wonderful horses and chariot were. This time they decided to tale on the appearance of paid soldiers from Ireland and seek service with the King of Siogoir.

The King put them to the test and found them to be worthy champions and a fine bodyguard for himself. For six weeks they listened to all the whispers and watched closely for a sign of the two wonderful horses and chariot but at the end of that time they were no further on than the first day they arrived. Then Brian said: “Let us take our arms and gather our things together, let us go then to the King and tell him that we will leave his paid service unless he trusts us enough to show us his wonderful horses”. The King was reluctant to see them go for he had never seen such champions and such skilled fightingmen in all his life. He commanded that the two wonderful horses be brought out and yoked to the chariot. And they were as fast as the cold spring wind and the sea was the same as land to them. Brian watched closely and when the horses had done a full circle and had drawn near again he leaped forward. He took hold of the chariot and dashed the charioteer against the nearest rock. He then cast the fiery spear at the King so that it pierced his heart. Then he and his brothers scattered the people before them and took away the two wonderful horses and the chariot.

They now set sail for the high country where Easal was King of the Golden Pillars, so that they might bring back the seven pigs. But the people of that country were watching their harbours for fear of the sons of Tuireann, for their story had been told in every place, how they had been sent out of Ireland and how they were bringing back with them all the gifted treasurers of the world, and how all who opposed them fell by their hand. And so Easal came to the edge of the harbour to meet them. He asked them why they had come to his country and what they were hoping to bring away with them. Brian told him the whole story of the heavy fine that Lugh of the Long Hand had put on them and how they were looking for the seven pigs. He also told him how every King who had opposed them had fallen by their hand. The King took counsel with his wise men and decided that it would be better to hand over the seven pigs without a fight. Easal brought them to his own house that night and served them with food and drink. Brian made a poem for the King, praising him for his wisdom and Easal was well pleased to hand over the seven pigs.

When Easal learned that they were now setting sail for the King of Toruaidh he asked leave to go with them for his daughter was married to the King. Easal tried hard to persuade the King to hand over his prized whelp without a fight but it was to no avail. A fierce battle took place and Brian got separated from his brothers. Just then he saw the enclosed pen where the King of Toruaidh was directing the battle. The two brave champions began a fierce combat and they did not spare each other until at last Brian overcame the King. He bound him and brought him to where Easal was “There is your son-in-law” he said “and I would think it easier to kill him three times then to bring him to you once like this”. And so the whelp was given to the sons of Tuireann and peace was made between them.

To be continued

The Tain in Celtic Mythology

The Tain in Celtic Mythology