THE STORY OF LUGHNASSADH
When the Tuatha De Danann (dah’-nawn) first came to Ireland, they demanded battle of kingship of the Fir Bolg, a race of giants. They fought first battle of Mag Tuired, in which a hundred thousand of the Fir Bolg (feer’-bulug) fell. Thereafter the Tuatha took the kingship of Ireland. Tailtiu was the royal Lady of the Fir Bolg and a personification of the land itself. After the defeat of her people, the Tuatha De Dannan, demanded she clear a vast forest for the introduction of agriculture in Ireland, She died of exhaustion in the attempt. When the men of Ireland gathered at her death-bed, she asked them to hold funeral games in her honor. As long as they were held, she prophesied Ireland would not be without song.
In fact, Lughnasadh has an older name, Brón Trogain, which refers to the painful labor of childbirth. For at this time of year, the earth gives birth to her first fruits so that her children might live.
After the defeat of the Fir Bolg, the Tuatha De Danann contested for supremacy in Ireland with Fomorians (fo’-moor). Nuada (Noo-a-ha), King of the De Danann was a mighty warrior, but unfortunately one day in battle, his arm was hacked off at the shoulder. Now the King must be whole and unblemished on all levels, so even though Nuada's arm was replaced with a lifelike one made of silver, he could no longer lead his people. He was no longer whole and unblemished.
King Nuada was replaced by Eochaid (Yo-hi) The Beautiful, son of a De Danann woman named Elotha. She had not told him that his father was a Fomorian chief. Eochaid was crowned King of the De Danann with the proviso that if he did not please the people, he would have to abdicate his throne. Yet, after his coronation, for a King of the De Danann, Eochaid became more and more partial to their enemy, the Fomorians. Eventually, the Tuatha De Danann rebelled against him, and Eochaid had to agree to abdicate, but he asked to remain king for just seven years more. (He wanted to give his newfound friends, the Fomorians, time to build up their forces.)
At that critical point when the Fomorians were finally at the peak of their power, Nuada Silver Arm had a miraculous recovery. A magician named Miach (Mee-ah) came to him and put his old hacked-off arm back on, chanted some powerful healing charms, and in three days it was restored completely. Nuada then recovered his throne as well and Eochaid defected to the Fomorians.
It was just before that mighty confrontation, known as the Second Battle of Moytura, where the Tuatha De Danann met the Fomorians face to face that Tailtui’s stepson Lugh, whose name means "light," first appears. Lugh’s mother was Eithne daughter of Balar, a Fomorian. His step mother was Tailtiu was the royal Lady of the Fir Bolg who died clearing Ireland’s forests. He was raised in the apple isle of Avalon. He showed up at the walls of Tara during the celebration of King Nuada's reinstatement. "Who are you and what is your purpose?" was the challenge from the doorkeeper.
"Tell King Nuada that Lugh Long Arm is here. Take me to the King for I can help him."
"And what skill do you have, for no one enters Tara without qualifications," replied the man at the gate.
"Question me doorkeeper, I am a carpenter."
"We have one already."
"Question me, I am a smith."
"Sorry, we have one of them as well.
"I am a champion warrior."
"We've got our own."
At this point, it appeared that anything that Lugh might offer, the gateman would reject, but Lugh persisted with a list of his qualifications - harpist, poet, sorcerer, one skilled in the strategies and tactics of war, cupbearer, metalworker and physician. In each case, the gateman replied that they already had one.
Finally Lugh said, "Then ask the good King if he has anyone who has all of these skills. If he does, I will not enter Tara."
When King Nuada heard these words, he sent his best chess player to the main gate of Tara to challenge Lugh to a game of chess. Lugh firmly trounced him. At this, Lugh was finally welcomed to Tara. After the death of Nuadu , Lugh took the kingship of Ireland, and went on to lead the warriors as Battle Chief of the Tuatha De Danann to victory over Eochaid and the Fomorians. Balar, his grandfather fell to to a stone from Lugh’s sling.
Lugh decreed that a commemorative feast and funeral games be held each year at the beginning of the harvest season to honor his foster mother, Tailtiu. At this gathering were held games and contests of skill as well as a great feast made up of the first fruits of the summer harvest.
In fact, Lughnasadh has an older name, Brón Trogain, which refers to the painful labor of childbirth. For at this time of year, the earth gives birth to her first fruits so that her children might live.
After the defeat of the Fir Bolg, the Tuatha De Danann contested for supremacy in Ireland with Fomorians (fo’-moor). Nuada (Noo-a-ha), King of the De Danann was a mighty warrior, but unfortunately one day in battle, his arm was hacked off at the shoulder. Now the King must be whole and unblemished on all levels, so even though Nuada's arm was replaced with a lifelike one made of silver, he could no longer lead his people. He was no longer whole and unblemished.
King Nuada was replaced by Eochaid (Yo-hi) The Beautiful, son of a De Danann woman named Elotha. She had not told him that his father was a Fomorian chief. Eochaid was crowned King of the De Danann with the proviso that if he did not please the people, he would have to abdicate his throne. Yet, after his coronation, for a King of the De Danann, Eochaid became more and more partial to their enemy, the Fomorians. Eventually, the Tuatha De Danann rebelled against him, and Eochaid had to agree to abdicate, but he asked to remain king for just seven years more. (He wanted to give his newfound friends, the Fomorians, time to build up their forces.)
At that critical point when the Fomorians were finally at the peak of their power, Nuada Silver Arm had a miraculous recovery. A magician named Miach (Mee-ah) came to him and put his old hacked-off arm back on, chanted some powerful healing charms, and in three days it was restored completely. Nuada then recovered his throne as well and Eochaid defected to the Fomorians.
It was just before that mighty confrontation, known as the Second Battle of Moytura, where the Tuatha De Danann met the Fomorians face to face that Tailtui’s stepson Lugh, whose name means "light," first appears. Lugh’s mother was Eithne daughter of Balar, a Fomorian. His step mother was Tailtiu was the royal Lady of the Fir Bolg who died clearing Ireland’s forests. He was raised in the apple isle of Avalon. He showed up at the walls of Tara during the celebration of King Nuada's reinstatement. "Who are you and what is your purpose?" was the challenge from the doorkeeper.
"Tell King Nuada that Lugh Long Arm is here. Take me to the King for I can help him."
"And what skill do you have, for no one enters Tara without qualifications," replied the man at the gate.
"Question me doorkeeper, I am a carpenter."
"We have one already."
"Question me, I am a smith."
"Sorry, we have one of them as well.
"I am a champion warrior."
"We've got our own."
At this point, it appeared that anything that Lugh might offer, the gateman would reject, but Lugh persisted with a list of his qualifications - harpist, poet, sorcerer, one skilled in the strategies and tactics of war, cupbearer, metalworker and physician. In each case, the gateman replied that they already had one.
Finally Lugh said, "Then ask the good King if he has anyone who has all of these skills. If he does, I will not enter Tara."
When King Nuada heard these words, he sent his best chess player to the main gate of Tara to challenge Lugh to a game of chess. Lugh firmly trounced him. At this, Lugh was finally welcomed to Tara. After the death of Nuadu , Lugh took the kingship of Ireland, and went on to lead the warriors as Battle Chief of the Tuatha De Danann to victory over Eochaid and the Fomorians. Balar, his grandfather fell to to a stone from Lugh’s sling.
Lugh decreed that a commemorative feast and funeral games be held each year at the beginning of the harvest season to honor his foster mother, Tailtiu. At this gathering were held games and contests of skill as well as a great feast made up of the first fruits of the summer harvest.
