Hello, my name is Oisín Ó Dubhshláine and welcome to the fifth episode of our series on the invasions of Ireland. Last week, I told you the story of the coming of the Fir Bolg. Today, we’ll continue on from that story. This is the story of the Coming of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
The place where we last left, the Fir Bolg had spent thirty seven years without conflict. But this all changed on the first day of Summer.
When the Nemedians were exiled from Ireland, ten of them went north. They settled in four cities. These were Dún Fáil in Failias; Dún Gor in Goirias; Dún na Mara in Murias; and Dún Fionn in Finias. Here, they learned knowledge, prophecy, and magic. After around two hundred years, they decided to realise their destiny by returning to Inis Fáil (the land of destiny). This was another name for Ireland.
Four druids sent them to Ireland with four treasures.
Mórfeasa hid the knowledge of the world in the carvings on the Lia Fáil, the stone of destiny. This was a magical rock that roared when the true high king of Ireland touched it.
Esras gave them the Spear of Victory. It’s said that the person who wields this weapon cannot fail in battle.
Uiscias gave the Coire Ansic to the Dagda. It’s said that no one could walk away from the cauldron unsatisfied. It ended the thirst or hunger of anyone who was nourished by it.
And lastly, Seimhias gave the Sword of Light to the leader of this group. Nuada the son of Éachtaigh was his name. It’s said that the Sword of Light could not be sheathed until it had tasted blood.
The Dagda collected the cavalry. It took him a year and a day to collect three hundred ships together but finally, this group was ready to go. It’s said that Danu was the mother of these gods and Béothach was their father. This is the reason for their new name. The Tuatha Dé Danann. The People of the Goddess Dana.
This tribe travelled for three years and three nights until they reached Ireland. They landed in Corca Bealgatan in Connaught on the First Day of May, also known as Bealtaine, or the First of Summer. They came on ships of silver in dark clouds. When they landed on dry land, they burned their ships. Now, they would not be tempted to return north. They walked and finally, they settled on the Red Mountain of Bréifne.
By this time, the Fir Bolg saw that a new tribe had come to Ireland. The King of the Fir Bolg, Eochaidh son of Earc, sent people to spy on the Tuatha Dé Danann. When the spies returned to Tara, they told stories of the beauty of this new group and their talent in art and magic. The Fir Bolg grew worried.
“What will we do?” one said.
“We should meet with them,” another said.
“Sure, but who?” a third said.
Everyone turned to Sreang son of Sengann and Eochaidh Mac Earc spoke.
“We will send Sreang Mac Sengann. He is the fiercest warrior we have. As well as this, it’s said that this tribe is very beautiful and so we will send our most beautiful.”
Sreang agreed with this and went to meet with Tuatha Dé Danann. He met with one of their druids. Cairbre was his name. The both of them were surprised to hear that the other spoke Irish.
“I like your spears. I would not like to go up against them,” Sreang said.
“I’m taken by your form. If everyone of your tribe looks like you, you are surely a formidable tribe,” Cairbre said.
“Who are you?” Sreang asked.
“I am Cairbre, a druid of the Tuatha Dé Danann. We are from the North of the world. And you?”
“I am Sreang Mac Sengann, a champion of the Fir Bolg. What do you want?”
“We wish to settle here on Inis Fáil but will leave you, Fir Bolg with half of the country. We do not wish to clash with you.”
Sreang returned and told Eochaidh Mac Earc as much. The Fir Bolg put it to a vote and decided that they would relinquish nothing to Tuatha Dé Danann. When Tuatha Dé Danann heard this decision, they decided to retreat to Sliabh Bealgatan. But, not all of them retreated.
The Mórrígna left Tuatha Dé Danann to retreat. These three magical sisters when to the town of the Fir Bolg in Tara. Badhb, Macha, and the Mórríghan cast a magical shower over the city, creating a magical fog around it. As well as this, they rained blood and fire upon them as the Fir Bolg tried to prepare for war against Tuatha Dé Danann. The Mórrígna continued this for three days and three nights. On the third day, a druid of the Fir Bolg, Ceseard, emerged from his tent and sang seven magical words. Finally, the Mórrígna retreated with their tribe.
The Fir Bolg left immediately and did not stop until they reached Lough Oribsean. Tuatha Dé Danann saw them catching up with them.
“There are eleven battalions of them,” the Dagda said.
“And us?”
“Seven,” the Dagda answered.
“We must meet with them. Send the Aos Dána.”
The Aos Dána, the people of Arts, went. Four druids. Cairbre, Aodh, Aodán, and Dualchas, the daughter of Dianchéacht. They failed in their offer. This story was relayed to Tuatha Dé Danann. Nuada Mac Éachtaigh and the Dagda looked at their options when the Badhb screeched. They understood that there were no options left but to fight.
On the day of the battle, Eochaidh Mac Earc rose and went to a spring to wash himself. As he was on his own, he was surprised by three Tuatha Dé Danann.
“Rise,” they ordered. “We would not kill a man on his knees.”
At this time, the Fir Bolg came to their king’s aid. These three failed to kill the King of the Fir Bolg and they retreated, taking plants and herbs with them as they ran.
On the side of Tuatha Dé Danann, Nuada Mac Éachtaigh stood with the Dagda, Oghma the Champion, Dianchéacht and Dualchas. The Aos Dána stood beside them. Beside them again stood the Gods of Craft: Gobhann the Smith, Luchta the Carpenter, and Creidne the Craftsman. Behind them stood Turenn with his three sons, Uar, Uachar, and Iucharba. Beside them again, stoof Ordán and his three sons: Beadhg, Tadhg, and Rinde. On the other side stood the Mórrigna with Bé Chuille. Finally, Cáinte Mór with his three sons: Cú, Cian, and Ceithear stood in front of their seven battalions.
On the other side of the battlefield, Eochaidh Mac Earc, the King of the Fir Bolg stood. Beside him stood, Callarn and Tallarn, Sreang Mac Senann and Ollghán, Riarach and Rúrach, and Mearán and Mullán. Behind them stood eleven battalions. With a roar to battle, the two sides clashed together.
They fought fiercely for a long time. By the end of the day, there were many cairns made of bones to be seen. As the sun set, Nuada Mac Eachtaigh faced off against the lovely champion, Sreang Mac Sengann. Nuada used the Sword of Light against Sreang’s Spears. Neither one of them managed to land a blow on the other until Sreang made a swipe and Nuada’s arm fell to the ground. Nuada let out a cry and in three leaps, the Dagda stood before him to protect him. Sreang retreated and Tuatha Dé Danann gathered around their King. The moon rose and the two groups separated for the day.
As the fight had continued earlier that day, the Aos Dána had placed magic over the lakes of Ireland. Every time one of the Fir Bolg went to satisfy their thirst the water retreated from them. As such, their thirst grew and grew without relief. Eochaidh Mac Earc himself grew thirsty and he went to Lough Oirbsean, Lough Measc, Lough Carra, even Lough Conn, all to no avail. In the end, he came to the Shannon River. The magic of the Aos Dána was not strong enough to enchant the rivers of Ireland.
He drank here but the three men who had met him this morning followed him here. The three sons of Nemed they were. The four of them fought until they each died. This place is now called Carn Eachach.
The next morning, the Fir Bolg could not find their king, as such, Caesars when to speak to Tuatha Dé Danann. They agreed that only one man from each side would fight this day. When Ceasard left, Tuatha Dé Danann went into conversation.
“I’ll go,” Oghma said.
“Of course you will,” the Dagda agreed.
“I disagree,” Nuada Mac Éachtaigh said.
“You’re half handed, my king,” Dianchéacht said.
“I’m only fighting for half of Ireland,” Nuada said.
With that Nuada Mac Éachtaigh stood on the battlefield against who other than Sreang Mac Sengann, the man who’d made him half-handed in the first place.
“If you have any honour, you’ll tie one arm behind your back,” Nuada said.
“We were evenly matched yesterday when we fought. It is not my fault that you lost your hand.”
“You’re the one who removed it.”
“Even so, you must suffer the consequences, not me.”
With that, the two began to fight once more. Nuada, with the Sword of Light and Sreang with his spears. Every eye around the battlefield stared at them. Nuada lost his footing and fell to the ground. Sreang Mac Sengann looked down at him and with a roar he raised his spear. But instead of planting it in Nuada’s body, he sent it into the ground.
“I yield,” Sreang said.
With that, Ireland was shared by the two tribes. The Fir Bolg settled in Connaught. Tuatha Dé Danann took the other four provinces. The Fir Bolg built forts on islands such as Aran, Acaill, and Inis Bó Finne.
Now, there was peace in the country. But that’s not the end of the story.
One day, a beautiful woman sat on the beach. Her name was Eireach Lí. She saw a man crossing the waves and he came to her. He had a gold ring on each finger. After some conversation, she gave the man companionship and they lay together. It is there that Breas was created. The man went to leave and Eireach Lí began to cry.
“What is the meaning of this?” the man asked.
“I don’t know your name. I don’t know if I’ll see you again.”
“You will, of course. I am the King of the Fomorians, Eolchain Deilbhe. And when our son, Bread Mac Deilbhe grows into a man, you’ll see me again.”
“Prove your promise.”
“Take this ring. Don’t give it to any other man and keep it with you always. When Breas grows up, there will be only one man who it will fit. This is the man you must give it to.”
With that, Eolchain Deilbhe left. Eireach Lí birthed Breas and he grew quickly. In a week, he had aged a fortnight. In a fortnight, he had aged a month. In the blink of an eye, he was sixteen years old. It is then that he went to Tara.
As Breas grew up, there was a problem in Tara. Tuatha Dé Danann had a half-handed king. Dianchéacht wanted to give the king a new hand. Nuada did not have much faith in this. Dianchéacht and his sons, Miach and Oirmiach agreed to put a cat’s eye to the doorman who had only one eye, to encourage the king. This was done but there was a problem. The doorman could not concentrate as he watched during the day. And at night, he saw each and every mouse and bird as he tried to sleep.
Miach went looking for a suitable hand to give the king and he came upon only one. Modhain the Swineherd owned this hand. Again, Nuada refused, much to Modhain’s relief. With no other choice, Nuada asked them to design him a silver arm. Dianchéacht, Miach, and Oirmiach designed this arm and built it with the help of Gobhann. The King was then called Nuada of the Silver Arm or Nuada Airgeadlámh from then on out.
And now, Bread came to Tara. Tuatha Dé Danann weren’t too happy with Nuada and his new hand. They believed it was bad luck. They saw Breas Mac Deilbhe and a lot of them were obsessed with him. Tuatha Dé Danann put it to a vote. The Dagda put an end to this vote.
“Boy, put your hand on the Lia Fáil.2
Breas did as much, but it made no noise for him.
Tuatha Dé Danann sighed.
“Listen, listen to me now,” Nuada said. “I am half-handed. We’ll give this young boy leadership for a year.”
Tuatha Dé Danann agreed and Breas became the second High King of Ireland from Tuatha Dé Danann. Unfortunately, Tuatha Dé Danann were wrong to elect Breas as a leader. But that’s another sagae entirely.
To make a short story of it, Breas taxed everything in Ireland and created a union with the Fomorioans. When Nuada got his real hand back, thanks to Miach, Tuatha Dé Danann exiled Breas from Ireland. Breas went to get help from Balor of the Evil Eye then. Lugh of the Long Hand was born and he killed Balor in the Second Battle of Maigh Tuireadh. There was peace in Ireland, for the most part after that. Nuada was killed in the Second Battle of Maigh Tuireadh and as such, Lugh became High King of Ireland as well as the Dagda. The grandsons of the Dagda killed Lugh after he murdered their father. After this, these three shared the High Kingship of Ireland. Mac Coill, Mac Cécht, adn Mac Gréine were their names.
It is they who were in charge when the last mythological tribe to come to Ireland arrived. But that’s another story.
This was our story on the Coming of Tuatha Dé Danann. Join us next week, for our next story.
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