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Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel

Though, Conaire Mór's reign was at first, peaceful and prosperity, some people reverted back to the old way. Conaire Mor's foster-brothers were among the culprits. Since they were his childhood companions, the king could not bring himself to punish them with death or imprisonment, when they were caught. Instead, Conaire banished them from Ireland. Some people, particularly the provincial kings became dissatisfied with his judgement. Even the Dananns frowned upon his judgement. Conaire was also burdened with further geis when he became king. He must not allowed to circle clockwise around Tara and anti-clockwise around Bergia. He must avoid hunting monster of Cerna. He must not leave Tara every ninth night. He must avoid sleeping in a house that show firelight after sunset. He must not interfere with a quarrel between his two thralls. He must prevent raid and looting during his reign. He must not follow three Reds to the House of Red. After sunset, he must not allow a man and a woman enter the house he was staying. By failing to prevent violence and looting and his reluctant to punish his foster-brother for their crime, Conaire Mór had broken one of his geis. By infringing one geis, he set off a chain reaction, which would cause the king to break his other geis, which would eventually lead him to his doom. His foster-brothers joined one of the pirates, named Ingcel the One-Eyed. They raided the coastal area of Britain and other islands. After a few years of raiding and looting, Ingcel decided to attack Ireland. On that fateful day, when Ingcel and the foster-brothers landed near Tara, Conaire Mór was lured into breaking each of his geis. The Dananns seemed determined that Conaire Mór would die that night. One by one, Conaire seemed forced to break the geis. After sunset, Conaire and his followers encountered three red riders, who were riding ahead of them, toward a house, that belonged to an innkeeper named Da Derga, which means "Red", in Gaelic. No matter how fast he tried to pace his horses, he remained behind the three red riders. Conaire Mór finally arrived at Da Derga's hostel. The king realised he just about broken all his geis. When a man and an old woman (Morrígan) they wanted to enter the hostel. At first Conaire was determined to not break last of his geis. When Morrígan rebuked him for his lack of hospitality. Conaire was resigned to his fate, and allowed the pair to enter the hostel. Ingcel and his bandits arrived at the hostel, and they were determined to attack the hostel. He went and spied on those inside the hostel. When Ingcel returned, Conaire's foster-brothers realised that their king was there. The story went into great details, with the foster-brother identified each of the champion in Conaire's retinue, including Conall of the Victories, Conchobar's son Cormac, and Mac Cécht (Mac Cecht), the son of Snade Teched. Ingcel ordered his men to attack the hostel. They were repulsed with heavy causalities from Conaire and his followers. Ingcel ordered to burn the hostel to the ground. The warriors inside, put out the fire with all water and wine that can be found in the hostel. After hours of fighting, only less than handful of warriors were left inside the hostel. Conaire Mór, dying with thirst, ordered Mac Cécht to procure him with drink. Mac Cécht was reluctant to leave his king, but managed to break free from Ingcel's bandits. Outside, Mac Cécht went in search for water, but the Dananns hid all the water sources from the hero, with magic. Lakes and rivers seemed to dry up when Mac Cécht appeared. After hours of searching, Mac Cecht managed to fill the cup with water, and began his trek back to the hostel. By the time Mac Cécht returned, the other champions were either dead or had fled. Mac Cécht saw two men severed his king's head. Mac Cécht attacked the two men beheading his enemies with his sword. Taking up Conaire's head, Mac Cécht poured water into mouth. Conaire Mór spoke, praising Mac Cécht for his duties to his king, of fetching water for the king! Courtesy of: http://www.timelessmyths.com/celtic/ulster.html#Cuchulainn Picture Courtesy of : http://www.craytech.com/drew/knotwork/celtic-cross-1a.jpeg Challenge of the Clans   The story began during the reign of the high king (Ard-Rí) of Ireland, named Conn Cétchathach – "Conn of the Hundred Battles". Conn had earned the nickname from the number of battles he had won during his reign. His most powerful enemy was Eógan Mór, the king of Munster, whom Conn defeated twice in battle. Some time during Conn's reign, he established a military order of elite warriors, known as the Fianna Éireann (Fianna of Ireland). The Fianna comprised of mainly two dominant clans – the Baiscne and the Morna. Though there were other clans in the Fianna, only these two clans were powerful enough to gain support of the captaincy of the Fianna. Each clan had a chieftain, but only one of chieftains could be captain of the Fianna. At the time of Conn's reign, Cumhaill, son of Trenmor, was the Fian captain and chieftain of Clan Baiscne. While Goll Mac Morna was chieftain of Clan Morna. One of Conn's advisers was the Danann druid and sorcerer, Tadg, son of Nuada of the Silver Hand. Tadg had a daughter named Muirenn or Muirne of the White Neck. Since Muirenn was frequently at the court of Conn in Tara, Cumhaill and Muirenn fell in love with one another. Tadg did not want her daughter to marry a mortal and insisted that she return to their world (Otherworld). Despite her father's protests, Muirenn married Cumhaill. Different version, say that Cumhaill had abducted Muirenn. Even since that day, Tadg bore a seething hatred for the young Fianna captain. The druid deccided to destroy Cumhaill. Through his machination Tadg caused the king to resent Cumhaill. Together they plotted to remove him as captain, and enlisted Goll to challenge Cumhaill for the leadership of the Fianna. Muirenn was several months pregnant, when Cumhaill heard that Goll Mac Morna challenged him for the captaincy of the Fianna. Cumhaill gathered Clan Baiscne to meet the challenge. Muirenn who was Danann, was uneasy about the crisis, and had foreboding that she will never see her husband again. The two rival clans met at Cnucha (Knock), where a battle took place. Clan Baiscne was the larger and stronger of the two, but Tadg used his magic to confuse and stir fears among the warriors of Clan Baiscne. Cumhaill faced Goll and took out one of his enemy's eyes in the fighting, but Cumhaill was suddenly overcome with fear and weakness from Tadg's sorcery. Lia, lord of Luachar, saved Goll, and killed Cumhaill. The battle turned against Clan Baiscne at Cumhaill's death. Those who remained were killed; few survivors including Cumhaill's brother, Crimmal, escaped from the massacre and fled to the woods. Wounded, Goll was appointed captain of the Fianna, because of his victory over Clan Baiscne. Goll appointed Lia as the Treasurer of the Fianna. Lia took the magic crane bag from Cumhaill's body. The crane bag contained the treasures of Fianna. Goll ordered his warriors to hunt down all the warriors of Clan Baiscne who survived the battle, including their families.   Related Information Sources Fotha Catha Chnucha (The Cause of the Battle of Cnucha) is found in the Book of the Dun Cow. Acallam na Senórach (Colloquy of the Ancients). Related Articles Conn Cétchathach, Tadg, Cumhaill, Muirenn, Goll Mac Morna, Lia, Finn Mac Cumhaill, Eógan Mór.

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THE CONQUEST OF THE SONS OF MIL

After the death of Mil, as we have said, Emer Donn and Eremon, his two sons, took rule and chief government of Spain between themselves.

There was a father's brother of Mil, Ith son of Bregan, with them; he was expert and accomplished in knowledge and in learning. Once when Ith, of a clear winter's evening was on top of Bregan's Tower, contemplating and looking over the four quarters of the world, it seemed to him that he saw a shadow and a likeness of a land and lofty island far away from him Me went back to his brethren, and told them what he had seen; and said that he was mindful and desirous of going to see the land the had appeared to him. Breg son of Bregan said that it was no land he had seen but clouds of heaven, and he was hindering Ith from going on that expedition. Ith did not consent to stay, however.

Then Ith brought his ship on the sea, and came himself with his son Lugaid son of Ith, and others of his people in it. They sailed toward Ireland, and their adventures on sea are not related, save only that they took harbor in Bentracht of Mag Itha. The neighbors went to the shore to interview them, and each of them told news to the other in the Irish language. Ith asked them the name of the land to which he had come, and who was in authority over it. "Inis Elga," they said; "Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht, and Mac Greine are the names of its kings".

It happened in that day that there were many chieftains and nobles o Ireland in Ailech Neid, making peace between Mac Cuill and his brethren; for they said that he had an excess of the goods of Fiachna son of Delbaeth, who had died previously. When Ith heard that, he went with his son and with two-thirds of his people to Ailech. The kings welcomed him when he reached the assembly, and after he was a while among them, they told him the matter about which they were in opposition and contention between them. And he said to them:

"Do just righteousness. It is fitting for you to maintain a good brotherhood. It is right for you to have a good disposition. Good is the land and the patrimony you inhabit; plenteous her harvest, her honey, her fish, her wheat, and her other grain. Moderate her heat and her cold. All that is sufficient for you is in her." Then he took farewell of them and went to his ship.

The nobles plotted to kill him, in jealousy for Ireland, and for the testimony of praise he gave to their island; and they sent a great number to follow him, so that he was wounded to death in Mag Itha, and from him the plain took its name. He reached his ship wounded and bleeding, by the valor and bravery of his people; and he died with them in his ship on the sea.

Then they reached Spain and showed the body of Ith to his brethren, and they were anguished and sorrowful at his dying thus. Then the sons of Mil and the posterity of Gaedel in general thought it was fitting and proper for them to go and avenge their brother on the Tuatha De Danann. They decided on this at last: they collected their warriors and their men of valor from every place where they were, through the lands and the districts, until they were in one place in Brigantia, numerous and fully assembled. Then the sons of Mil, with their brethern and kinsmen, and their people in general, brought their ships on the sea to go to Ireland to avenge their bad welcome on the Tuatha De Dannann. Three score and five ships was the number of the expedition; forty chiefs the number of their leaders, with Donn son of Mil at their head. These are the names of their chiefs.

Emer Donn ,Eremon,Eber Finn, Ir, Amergin,Colptha,Airech Febra, Erannan,

Muimne, Luigne, Laigne, Palap, Er. Orba, Feron, Fergin,

Eber son if Ir, Brega, Cuala, Cooley, Blad, Fuad, Buirthemne, Eblinne, Nar,

Lugaid, Lui, Bile, Buas, Bres, Buaigne, Fulman,mantan,

Caicer, Suirge, En, Un, Etan, Sobairce, Sedga, Goisten.

To commemorate the names of those chiefs and leaders, this was said; Flann Mainistrech composed it:

The chiefs of the voyage over the sea
By which the sons of Mil came,
I have in recollection during my life,
Their names without lie.
Donn Eremon, noble Emer,
Ir, Amergin without [partiality,
Colptha, Airech, Febra the keen,
Erannan, Muimme fine and smooth.
Luigne, Laigne, Palap the lucky,
Er. Orba Feron, Fergin,
Eber son if Ir. Brega, I shall say,
Cuala, Cualgne, Blad rough and strong.
Fuad and Muirthemne with fame,
Eblinne, Nar, Buas with battle,
Bres, Buaigne, and Fulman.
Mantan, Caicer, slender Suirge,
En, Un and rigid Etan,
Sobairce, Sedga of spears,
And Goisten the champion.
The conquered noble Ireland
Against the Tuatha De of great magic,
In vengeance for Ith of the steeds-
Thirty, ten, and one chieftain.

As for the sons of Mil, they sailed in a great expedition on the sea to Ireland, and did not pause in the course until they saw at a distance the island from the sea. And when they saw Ireland, their warriors made a contention of rowing and sailing to their utmost in their eagerness and anxiety to reach it; so thatt Ir son of Mil advanced a wave before every other ship by reason of his strength and valor. So Eber Donn son of Mil, the eldest of them, was jealous and said:

It is no good deed
Ir before Ith to proceed-

That is before Lugai'd son of Ith, for Lugaid had the name Ith. Then the oar that was in the hand of Ir split, so that Ir fell backwards across the thwart and broke his back there He died on the following night, and they preserved his body so long as they were on the sea, and buried it afterwards in Scellic of Irras Desceirt of Corco Dibne. Sorrowful were Eremon, Eber Finn and Amergin at the death of their brother; and they said, as it were out of one mouth, it was right that Eber Donn should not enjoy the land about which he was envious of his brother, that is of Ir.

The sons of Mil advanced to a landing in Inber Stainge. The Tuatha De Danann did not allow them ot come to the land there, for they had not held parley with them. By their druidry they caused it to appear to the sons of Mil that the region was no country or island, territory or land at all, in front of them. They encircled Ireland three times, till at last they took the harbor at Inber Scene; a Thursday as regards the day of the week, on the day before the first of May, the seventeenth day of the moon; the Year of the World 3500.

Then they came at the end of three days thereafter to Sliab Mis. Banba met them in Sliab Mis, with the hosts of druidry and cunning. Amergin asked her name. " Banba," said she, "and it is from my name that Banba is given as a name for this country." And she asked a petition from them, that her name should remain always on the island. That was granted to her.

Then they had converse with Fodla in Eblinne, and the poet Amergin asked her name of her in like manner. "Fodla," said she, "and from me is the land named." And she prayed that her name might remain on it, and it was granted to her as she requested. They held converse with Eriu in Usnech of Mide. She said to them, "Warriors," said she, " welcome to you. It is long since your coming is prophesied. Yours will be the island forever. There is not better island in the world. No race will be more perfect than your race."

"Good is that," said Anergin,

"Not to her do we give thanks for it," said Donn, "but to our gods and to our power."

"It is naught to thee," said Eriu; "thou shat have no gain of this island nor will thy children. A gift to me, O sons of Mil and the children of Bregan, that my name may be upon this island!"

"It will be its chief name for ever," said Amergin, "namely Eriu(Erin)."

The Gadels went to Tara. No Drum Cain was its name at that time among the Tuatha De Danann, Liathdruim was its name among the Fir Bolg. There were there kings before them in Laithdruim;

namely, Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht and Mac Greine. The sons of Mil demanded a battle or kingship or judgment from them.

They adjudged to the sons of Mil that they should have possession of the island to the end of nine days ,to depart, or to submit, or to prepare for battle. "If my advice were carried out," said Donn son of Mil, "it is a battle it would be." The sons of Mil did not grant the respite they sought to the Tuatha De Danann..

"We give," said the kings, "the judgment of your own poets to you, for if they give a false judgment against us they will die on the spot."

"Give the judgment, Amergin; "said Donn.

"Speak it," said Amergin. "Let the land be left to them till we come again to take it by force."

"Whither shall we go?" said Eber Donn.

"Over nine waves," said Amergin; and he said this:

The men you have found are in possession:
Over the nine green-necked waves
Of the sea advance ye:
Unless by your power then be planted,
Quickly let the battle be prepared.
I assign the possession
Of the land ye have found:
If ye love concede this award,
If ye love not concede it not-
It is I that say this to you.

" If it were my counsel that were followed," said Donn son of Mil, "battle it would be." Nevertheless the sons of Mil went by the advice and judgment of Amergin from Liathdruim to Inber Scene, the place where they had left their ships, and passed over nine waves. "Let us trust to the powers," said the druids, " that they may never reach Ireland." Wiuth that the druids cast druidic winds after them, so great was the story; so that the storm took them westward in the ocean until they were weary. "A druid's wind is that," said Donn son of Mil. "It is indeed said Amergin, "unless it be higher than the mast; find out for us if it be so." Erannan the youngest son of Mil went up the mast, and said that it was not over them. With that he fell on the planks of the ship from the mast, so that they shattered his limbs.

"A shame to our men of learning is it," said Donn, "not to suppress the druidic wind."

"No shame it shall be," said Amergin, rising up; and he said:

I invoke the land of Ireland.
Much-coursed be the fertile sea,
Fertile be the fruit-s trewn mountain,
Fruit-strewn be the showery wood,
Showery be the river of water-falls,
Of water-falls be the lake of deep pools,
Deep pooled be the hill-top well,
A well of the tribes be the assembly,
An assembly of the kings be Tara,
Tara be the hill of the tribes,
The tribes of the sons of Mil,
Of mil be the ships the barks,
Let the lofty bark be Ireland,
Lofty Ireland Darkly sung,
An incantation of great cunning;
The great cunning of the wives of Bres,
The wives of Bres of Buaigne;
The great lady Ireland,
Eremon hath conquered her,
Ir, Eber have invoked for her.
I invoke the land of Ireland.

Immediately a tranquil calm came to them on the sea. Said Donn, "I will put under the edge of spears and swords the warriors that are in the land now, only let me land." The wind increased on them thereupon, so that it separated from them the ship in which was Donn; and he was drowned at the Dumacha. Twenty-four warriors of valor, twelve women, and four mercenaries, with their folk are the numnber that were drowned with Donn in that ship. After that Donn was buried in the Dumacha; so that from him "Tech Duin" is called, and there is his own gravemound and the gravemound of everyone who was drowned of the chieftains of his people with him, in that place. Now Dil daughter of Mil, Eremon buried her, " for the love he had for her, so that he said in putting a sod on her, " This is a sod on a "dear one" (dil)"said he. These are the chieftains who were drowned with Donn at that time: Bile son of Brige, Airech Febra, Buss, Bres, and Buagne. Ir was buried in Scellic of Irras, as we have said above, Erannan died in the creek after going to contemplate the wind, and after breaking his bones on the deck. Eight chieftains were their losses among their nobles up to then.

In the night in which the sons of Mil came to Ireland was the burst of Loch Luigdech over the land in West Munster. When Lugaid son of Ith was bathing in the lake and Fial daughter of Mil his wife was bathing in the river that flows out of the lake, Lugaid went to the place where was the woman, he being naked; and when she looked on him thus she died of shame at once, and from her is named the river with its creek. Downcast was Lugaid after the woman's death, so that he said:

Six woman of their nobles were their losses on the sea and land from their setting out from Spain till then. These are their names; Buan wife of Bile; Dil wife of Donn; Scene, he woman-satirist, wife of Amergin White-Knee (she died with them on the sea while they were coming to Ireland; so that Amergin said, "The harbor where we land, the name of Scene will be on it". That was true, for from her is named Inber Scene); Fial wife of Lugaid son of Ith; the wife of Ir and the wife of Muirthemne son of Bregan, were the other two.

When the sons of Mil reached the land in the creek we have mentioned, and when they had buried the troop of their nobles who had died of them, Eremon and Eber Finn divided the fleet with their chieftains and servants in two between them. After that Eremon sailed with thirty ships, keeping Ireland on his left hand, and he landed in Inber Colptha. These are the chieftains that were with him: Eber son if Ir, Amergin the poet, Palap, Muimne,Luigne, laigne, Brega, Muirthemne, Fuad, Cualgne, Colptha, Goisten, Sedga, Suirge, and Sobairce. The three last were champions. These are the slaves that were with Eremon: Aidne, Ai, Asal, Mide, Cuib, Cera, Ser, Slan, Ligen, Dul, Trega, Line.

On putting his right foot on the shore at Inber Colptha, it was then Amergin spoke this rhapsody:

As for Eber Finn son of Mil, he stayed in the south with thirty ships with him, until they came in the hosts of the battles that were fought between them and the Tuatha De Danann. These are the chieftains that were with Eber; Lugaid son of Ith, Er. Orba, Feron, Fegana the four sons of Eber, Cuala, Blad, Ebleo, Nar, En, Un Etan, Caicher, Mantan, Fulman. The six last,-En, Un, etc. Were champions. These are the slaves that were with him; Adar, Aigne, Deist, Deala, Cliu, Morba, Fea, Liffe, Femen, Feara, Meda, and Obla.

When the sons of Mil reached their landing-place they made no delay until they reached Sliab Mis; and the battle of Sliab Mis was fought between them and the Tuatha De Danann, and the victory was with the sons of Mil. Many of the Tuatha De Dannan were killed in that battle. It is there that Fas wife of Un son of Uicce fell, from whom is named Glen Faise. Scota wife of Mil fell in the same valley; from her is named " Scota's Grave", between Sliab Mis and the sea. The sons of Mil went afterwards to Tailltiu, and another battle was fought between them and the Tuatha De Danann there. Vehemently and whole-heatedly was it fought, for they were from morning to evening contending, bonehewing , and mutilating one another; till the three kings and the three queens of Ireland fell there- Mac Cecht by Eremon, Mac Cuill by Eber Finn, Mac Greine by Amergin, Eriu by Suyirge, Banba by Caicer, and Fodla by Etan. Those were the deaths of their chiefs and princes. After that the Tuatha De Danann were routed to the sea and the sons of Mil and their host were a long time following the rout. There fell, however two noble chiefs of the people of the sons of Mil in inflicting the rout, namely, Fuad in Sliab Fuait, and Cualgne in Sliab Cualgne, together with other warriors besides, who fell together on both sides. When the Tuatha De Danann were crushed and expelled in the battles that were fought between them, the sons of Mil took the lordship of Ireland.

After that there arose a contention between the sons of Mil about the kingship, that is between Eremon and Eber, so that Amergin was brought to make peace between them. He said that the inheritance of the eldest, of Donn, should go to the youngest, to Eremon, and his inheritance to Eber after him; Eber did not accept that, but insisted on dividing Ireland. Eremon agreed to do so. Accordingly Ireland was divided in two between them,the northern half to Eremon, from Srub Brain to the Boyne, the southern half to Eber, from the Boyne to Tonn Clidna. There were five chieftains in the division of each of them. With Eremon first, Amergin, Sedga, Goisten, Suirge, and Sobairce. Now in that year these forts were dug by Eremon and his people: Rath Beothaig, above the Nore in Argat Ros; Rath Oinn, in the territory of Cula, by Eremon; the Causeway of Inber Mor, in the territory of Ui Enechglais, by Amergin; the building of Dun Nair, in Sliab Modoirn, by Goisten; the building of Dun Delginnse, in the territory of Cuala, by Sedga; the building of his fort by Sobairce in Morbolg of Dal Riada; the building of Dun Edar by Suirge. These are the forts built by Eber and these the chieftains that were with him: Etan, Un, Mantan, Fulman, and Caicer were his five chieftains. Rath Uaman, in Leinster, was dug by Eber; Rath Arda Suird by Etan son of Uicce; the building of Carrig Blaraige by Mantan; the building of Carrig Fethnaide by Un son of Uicce;the building of Dun Ardinne by Caicer; the building of Rath Riogbard, in Muiresc,by Fulman.

So that for the commemoration of certain of the aforesaid matters this was said:

Of the adventures of the Gaedels from the time when they went from Scythia till they took Ireland and the division of Ireland between them, with their chieftains, the poet Roigne Roscadach son of Ugaine Mor said to Mal son of Ugaine his brother, when Mal questioned him: "Sing thy description in the great knowledge of Ireland, O Roigne," Roigne answered him and said:

After Eremon and Eber had divided the chieftains, they had two distinguished artists who had come into their company from the east, namely, a poet and a harper. Cir son of Cis was the poet, Cennfinn the harper. They cast a lot on them to know which of them should be with each of them; so that, through the decision of the lot, the harper went southward to Eber and thence melody of music and harmony followed in the Southern Half of Ireland. The poet went to Eremon, and knowledge of poetry and song followed him in the North ever after. To commemorate this it was said:

Sadb and the Birth of Oisín

Finn and his companions were hunting in the forest near his dun, when they spotted a beautiful fawn. They chased the fawn with their hounds. Finn had two of the swiftest hounds in all of Ireland, named Bran and Sceolang. These hounds were supposedly his cousins, because they were children of Muirenn's sister Tyren. Finally, Finn's hounds caught up with the fawn. Instead of attacking the fawn, the hounds began to play with her. Having never seen this strange occurrence before, Finn decided that no harm should come to the fawn. The fawn followed Finn back to the dun. Finn woken that night, when the most beautiful woman he had ever seen approached him. The woman introduced herself as Sadb (Saba). Sadb or Blái (Blai) was the daughter of an otherworld king, named Derg Díanscothach of Síd Ochta Cleitigh (some say that her father was Bodb Derg, the son of Dagda). An evil druid known as Fer Doirich (Dark Druid) had transformed Sadb into a fawn, when she would not love the druid. For three years she had lived her life as a fawn, until she came to Finn's dun. It was the Dun of Allen that broke druid's spell on her. Finn promised to protect her, and not long after that the hero and Sadb were married. For months, Finn became less interested in hunting and fighting, spending every day with his beautiful wife. However, when Finn heard news of invaders from the Northmen, the hero knew that it was time to resume his duties as the Fian captain. After seven days, the Northmen were driven out of Ireland. Sadb, who stood on the rampart everyday, waited for her husband's return. Sadb thought she saw her husband. When she came out of dun to greet Finn, Sadb was again transformed into the fawn. The man who stood before her was not Finn, but the Dark Druid, who assumed her husband's shape. Finn was stricken that the evil druid had abducted his wife. Finn organised a search for Sadb, and for seven years, he could not find any sign of her. One day, Finn's faithful hounds discovered a boy. From the boy's story, he was taken care by a hind (Sadb) in the woods, until recently, when the Dark Druid compelled the hind-woman with his magic, to leave the boy behind and followed him. The druid and hind were never seen again. Finn realised that he had found his own son. Finn took the boy home with him and called him Oisín (Oisin), meaning "Little Fawn". Oisín became an exceptional Fian warrior and an even greater bard. In some tales, Oisin's mother was named Blai, the daughter of Derg Díanscothach (Derg of the Quick Speech). http://www.timelessmyths.com/celtic/ossian.html#ClanWar Picture Courtesy of : http://www.flowerstorm.net/disa/Pictures/Crafts/celtic-banner.jpg The Partholonians The Partholonians were said to have landed in Ireland at Beltaine, and they lived in Ireland for three hundred years, battling with the Fomhóire. The whole race of the Partholonians were mysteriously wiped out by a plague, except for Tuan mac Carell who underwent many different incarnations and thus lived to preserve the history of his people. The Nemedians The Nemedians were the next race of people to arrive in Ireland after the Partholonians disappeared, according to the Lebor Gabála, the Book of Invasion. According to legend, 2,000 Nemedians died from plague and the rest were forced to leave after the Fomhóire had inflicted a great defeat on them. The Fomhóire Fomhóire means 'from the sea' and is the name given to the devine powers, or gods of night, death and cold. The Fomhóire were misshapen and were believed to have the heads of goats and bulls. They also were believed to have only one leg and one arm each, and these grew out of the middle of their chests. The Fomhóire were the ancestors of the evil faeries and, according to one gaelic writer, of all misshapen persons. The giants and leprecauns are also said to belong to the Fomhóire. courtesy of: http://www.geocities.com/~huathe/story6.html The Fir Bholg The 'Men of the Bags', also known as the men of the Goddess Domnu. They worhiped the Fomhóire as their gods, and they were defeated by the Tuatha Dé Danann in the first battle of Magh Tuireadh or Moytura. The Tuatha Dé Danann Tuatha Dé Danann means 'the race of the gods of Danu', (Danu was the mother of all the ancient gods of Ireland.) They were the powers of light and life and warmth, and battled with the Fomhóire who were known as the powers of night and death. According to the Lebor Gabála, the book of invasion, the Tuatha Dé Danann came to Ireland in obscure clouds, landing on a mountain in the west. From the same book we learn that these gods were, among other things, capable of causing an eclipse which would last for three days. They came from the northern isles of the world, learning lore, magic craft and wizardry, until they surpassed the even greatest sages in the pagan arts. There were four cities in which the Tuatha Dé Danann studied lore and science and diabolic arts - Falias, Gorias, Murias and Findias. Out of Falias was brought the Stone of Destiny, or Lia Fáil which was in Tara. It used to cry out whenever a 'true' Irish king was crowned at Tara. Out of Gorias was brought Lugh's Spear. Stories say that no battle was ever won against it, or he who wielded it. Out of Findias was brought the Sword of Nuadhu. When it was drawn from its deadly sheath, no foe could escape from its irrisitable power. Out of Murias was brought Dagdha's Cauldron. No company ever went from it unthankful. The Tuatha Dé Danann were finally defeated by the Milesians, the first human ancestors of the Irish people, led by the Sons of Mil. The Lebor Gabála gives no further details of the Tuatha Dé Danann except to say that an agreement was reached, between the Milesians and the Tuatha Dé Danann. The account states that the gaelic people were given the upper realms of the earth in which to dwell, and the Tuatha Dé Danann were banished to the ancient burrows and cairns underground - the Fairy Forts and Hills, otherwise known as Sídhe. Here, they have gradualy dwindled in the imagination of modern celtic peoples, becoming known at last as the faerie folk. The Milesians The Milesians were the mythical ancestors of the Gaels. Their arrival marked the end of the Age of the Gods and the beginning of the Age of Mankind. At the time of the coming of the Milesians, or sons of Mil, there were three kings and three queens who reigned in Ireland. The kings were: MacCuill (son of the hazel), MacCecht (son of the plough) and MacGreine (son of the sun). The three queens were called Banbha, Fodhla and Eriu. The sons of Mil, led by the poet and bard Amergin White Knee, won the favour of the three queens, the triple Goddess of the land. After this the Tuatha Dé Danann retreated to the 'hollow hills', where in folklore they are still said to exist. courtesy of :http://www.geocities.com/~huathe/peoples.html#Partholonians   Picture Courtesy of :http://www.rising7.force9.co.uk/images/celtic%20geese.t.ssc.jpg