Hello. My name is Rachel Nic Aoidh and welcome to the third part of our six part series on Life and Death. This week, we will be looking at the ever mighty Lugh Lamhfhada, and his untimely death.
Lumh Lamhfhada is one of the most prominent Gods in Irish Mythology. As a member of the Tuatha DéDanann, Lugh is known to be a warrior, a craftsman, a king and much more. He is the son of Cian of the Tuatha DéDanann, and Eithlin, the daughter of Balor of the Formorians.
Lugh can be connected to many different people in Irish Mythology. He is the foster son of the sea god, Manannan Mac Lir. As well as this, it is believed that he is the father of Cú Chulainn.
Lugh has had many journeys that we all still talk about today. One of which is one of the first stories we spoke about, the Coming of Lugh. As a young man, Lugh travelled to Tara to join the court of King Nuada of the Tuatha Dé Danann. He was stopped at the door, and asked what skill he possessed for him to come through to Tara. He told the doorkeepers not one skill, but many. He claimed to be a carpenter, a champion, a smith, a sorcerer etc. He was rejected, as the doorkeepers said they had someone for each of those skills. So Lugh said to ask the King if he has anyone who possesses all of the skills, and if they did, then he would leave. Of course, the King did not, and so he let Lugh through. The King was so enamoured with Lugh’s skills, that he let him join his court as the Chief Ollamh of Ireland.
During the Second Battle of Mag Tuireadh, where the Tuatha Dé Danann fought against the Formorians, High King Nuada was killed by Balor of the Evil Eye. Lugh faced off against Balor, who used his poisonous eye that killed all that look into it. However, Lugh hurled a spear right into his eye and out the back of his head, instantly killing his grandfather.
After this, Lugh found Bres, the half-Formorian former King of the Tuatha DéDanann, beaten and terrified. Bres begged for his life, and Lugh agreed to spare him, but in exchange, Bres was obliged to share his secrets of the land, including when to plough, sow and reap. At the end of the war, Lugh stood as the High King of Ireland and ruled for many, many years.
Long after he had reigned over Ireland, Lugh met his end. He discovered that Cermait, son of the Dagda, was having an affair with his wife, Buach. After discovering this affair, Lugh had Cermait killed. Cermait’s three sons, Mac Gréine, MacCecht, and MacCuill swore vengeance upon the King. After capturing Lugh, they drowned him in a lake, therefore giving it the name Loch Lugborta, which means the Lake where Lugh was drowned. Lugh had ruled for 40 years, and this marked the beginning of the end for the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Lugh was a god who was associated with Justice. We see this in his triumph over the Fomorians, as well as how he treated the Sons of Tuireann. He was smart enough to know not to kill the men who killed his father because he would have to pay a blood fine. But, he undoubtedly killed the man who slept with his wife. Perhaps he did so out of passion?
Although he was killed, like many of the Tuatha Dé Danann, Lugh never really died. He retreated to the otherworld. He returned to Ireland in the Ulster Cycle sometime later. It is here that he fathers Cú Chulainn. When Cú Chulainn found himself injured during battles, Lugh invited him back to the Otherworld and stood in his place at the ford while he healed.
No one’s sure what happened to Lugh after the Ulster Cycle, but some believe he is still roaming the Otherworld, watching and waiting to help another hero in their time of need.
This was our story on Lugh Lámhfhada, join us next week for our next story.
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