The Mythological cycle
The Mythological cycle contains the earliest collection of tales in Irish folklore. Filid handed these legends down from generation to generation over hundreds of years. These Bards or Poets were important people at the time and were closely linked to the Druids.
According to Brehon laws it took a Fili about 12 years to become qualified. At this time in ancient Ireland everything was handed down orally there were no written documents so it was the Bards job to record all events and these were retold often with the Bards own version. A Bard could shame a high ranking person with the telling of a event which had happened earlier or could raise that persons image to great heights such was the power of the Bard, so how accurate these stories are we cannot say.
It is also worth noting that these stories were written down for the first time with the coming of Christianity in Ireland around 500 AD. While the legends and Myths are based on real events, how much truth there is in today’s versions of them can be questioned like the story of Cessair who is believed to have been the first settler in Ireland and a Descendant of Noah. She landed at the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. Only 1 of the 3 ships landed there was 40 women and 3 men on board 1 of the men being Cessair's father Bith who was the son of Noah himself.
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Nemeds
Nemeds fleet of ships sailed from Scythia on the shores of the Black sea, through the Bosporus and up the western coasts of Europe. Not all of Nemeds fleet survived the harsh journey 31 of the 32 ships each holding 30 people perished along the route.
Nemeds ship landed on an Irish coast around the year 2348 b.c as witnessed by Partholans nephew Tuan. Nemed and his wife Macha landed with 7 others and soon set about cultivating the land as Partholan and his people had done before them. They prospered and multiplied in number.
Macha died after 12 years and was buried at “ard macha” the present day Armagh in the northern province of Ulster. Nemed fought 4 battles against the Fomorians but perished on 'Great Island' in Cork Harbour along with 2000 of his followers from a deadly plague. After this the Fomorians imposed many taxes on the Nemedians, which had to be paid at Samhain (A festival held every year on the last day of October).
The Nemedian people grew angry and revolted, A great battle was to ensue around 2122 b.c, it took place on a North-West shore of Donegal close to Tory Island, the stronghold of the fomorians. The shore today is named “The bloody foreland”. it was here that the Fomor army were almost beaten, they retreated to Tory Island, regrouped and fought the final stage of the battle where they overcame the Nemedians and killed all but 30 of them.
The 30 survivors fled the country, some travelled to the northern shores of Scotland and a cheftain gave his name to the island…Britian, He was a grandson of Nemed. Another group sailed to Greece where they became slaves. Almost 200 years passed before their descendants fled Greece and returned to Ireland as “The Fir Bolg”
Partholan
Partholan, his wife Dealgnat, their 3 sons and 1000 followers sailed into donegal bay on the north-west coast of Ireland 278 years after the great flood about 2678 B.C., they are said to have sailed from “The land of the dead” an area around Greece or north Africa and settled at Assaroe near Ballyshannon county Donegal.
After settling the Partholanians surveyed the land, they cleared forests and diverted rivers to add to the 3 lakes already in existence at that time. They later settled at Moynalty in county Meath and it was here they were to suffer a deadly plague which is said to have wiped out 9000 people in 1 week. All but 1 survived, Tuan he was a son of Partholans brother Starn.
Before their deaths the Partholanians had survived for over 300 years and fought various battles with a race of people called “The Fomorians”, a hard race of people living on the island since time began.
After witnessing his fellow people suffer from the deadly plague Tuan roamed the land from empty fortress to mountain cave for over 20 years and was to witness the arrival of the next wave of people…“Nemed and his followers”.
Fir Bolg
The year is 1932 b.c and a new race of people arrive in Ireland they comprise of 3 tribes all decendants of the Nemedians - the Fir Bolg, the Fir Domhnainn and the Gailion.
The Fir Bolg sailed from Greece in Boats made from leather Bags which they used to carry earth in while in slavery there that is how they got their name the Fir Bolg or “Men of the Bag”.
Between the 3 tribes collectively known as the Fir Bolg they cultivated the land as their ancestors did, they are responsible in some ways for creating the 4 provinces of today but they initially created 5, Ulster in the North, Munster in the south, Connacht in the West, Leinster in the East and Midhe a smaller province surrounded by Leinster but was to become the centre of power under the first Fir Bolg King Slainge.
He built the first royal stronghold at `Tara`. A number of Fir Bolgs were to take the throne after Slainge but the most notable was Eochaid. He married a Spanish Princess called Tailtiu,.she had a fort in Meath the earthworks of which can still be seen today. After her death her step son Lugh established an annual fair at the `Hill of Tailtiu`.
The festival was celebrated for 15 days at Lunasadh the last of which was held in 1168 under the last high king Roderick O Connor. Eochaid was to be the last Fir Bolg king, he was to see the invasion of another race of people with magical powers…the Tuatha De Dannan.
Tuatha De Dannan
They sailed into Ireland on the mists of the sea, they came from the north and brought 4 great deadly treasures, the Lia Fail (Stone of destiny) which today stands in the remains of the Forrad on the Hill of Tara they also brought a great flashing Spear, the deadly Sword of Nuada and the mighty couldron of the all powerfull God the Daghda, this couldron could satisfy all who ate from it.
According to the `Annals of the 4 Masters` the people of the Godess Danu, decendants of the Nemedians arrived around 1894 b.c and ruled Ireland for about 197 years until 1690 b.c... Eochaid of the Fir Bolgs had a dream the night before the Tuatha De Dannan came, his advisors told him the dream meant that there was a strong adversary to invade Ireland soon! Eochaid sent his champion Sreng to meet the Tuatha De Dannan, and on seeing Sreng approach Nuada sent his greatest warrior Bres out to meet with Sreng.
They talked and compared weaponry, Bres asked for a message to be sent to Eochaid at Tara that if the Fir Bolg gave up half of the island they would live in peace. They both departed each others company, Sreng returned to Tara and conveyed the massage to Eochaid and his advisors but they were not prepared to give half of the country over to strangers so both tribes prepared for war.
Nuada king of the Tuatha De Dannan and Eochaid Of The Fir Bolg stood opposite Each other on a plain near what is now known as Cong in County Mayo. The battle that was to follow is known as the first battle of Moytura and fighting was fierce with both sides suffering heavy losses.
Nuada while leading his men to victory suffered the loss of one of his arms which under the law forced him to give up his throne. The law stated that `The a king should not have any physical defects of any sort`.
After the death of their king and their loss of the battle the Fir Bolg were allotted the province of Connacht in the West. With Nuada being injured in battle the Tuatha De Dannan choose a new king, Bres son of Elatha,(A Fomorian) turned out to be an oppressive king exacting taxes and tributes from his people. Dian Cecht a great physician and healer made an arm of silver for Nuada. It had movement in every finger and joint which meant Nuada could regain his kingship from Bres who was vexed at this, he consulted in his mother Eri who told Bres he was son of a Fomorian, they then travelled to meet with Balor of the evil eye.
Balor was the king of the Fomorians and he agreed to raise a great army to challenge The Tuatha De Dannan, But Balor was mindfull of an old Prophesy a Druid told him `It was of his own grandson Balor was to be slain` This grandson turned out to be Lugh son of Ethlinn daughter of Balor and Cian son of Dian Cecht the great healer.
Lugh travelled to the Hill of Tara to greet the high king Nuada of the Silver Arm. He was barred at the gates until he stated he was a carpenter, the doorman said they had plenty of skilled carpenters at Tara. Lugh then stated “I am also a Blacksmith”, the doorman still barred his entry stating Tara already had a Blacksmith. ”I am a warrior and a hero” said Lugh..”Tara is well protected with its heroic warriors”. Lugh then replied “I am a scholar, musician and a poet” still he was barred by the doorman. “I am skilled in the arts of magic” said Lugh but the doorman stood firm blocking Lughs entry. Lugh finally asked if Tara had 1 man who was skilled in all those arts.
At last the doorman unbolted the door. Nuada on hearing of Lughs arrival at Tara gave up his throne recognising that with Lughs great skills they would be finally rid of the Fomorians, he now became known as Lugh the Il-danach (Master of all arts) and prepared the Tuatha De Dannan army for the Second battle of Moytura to be fought on a plain in north Connacht near present day Sligo where they overcame the Fomor army killing their ruler Balor.
The bards of the Tuatha De Dannan recited the epic battles and skirmishes for many hundreds of years until the arrival of a tall and handsome race of people from Spain landed in Ireland, the sons of Miled or the Celts they were called…
Celts
Who were the Celts? According to Irish myth and legend they were the sons of Miled who travelled from Spain. They were believed to be a completly human race of people, compared to the peoples before them who would have been of magical races. Through-out the various museums of Europe the Art of the Celts can still be seen.
The story goes that Mileds grandfather Ith from his tall tower saw a land far off in the western horizon and decided he must sail to it. On reaching the island of Ireland, Ith along with ninety of his warriors were greeted by the sons of a De Dannan king Neit who had been slain in the battle against the fomorians. MacCuill, MacCecht and MacGrene were in disagreement with each other when Ith landed. They asked Ith to settle their inheritance after their fathers death. Ith as well as giving his Judgement he tells them of his admiration of Irelands green and fertile land.
The three De Dannans take Iths admiration with suspision, thinking that he had higher plans to take their country Ith was put to death. His body was recovered and brought back to Spain. Mileds sons vowed to take vengance and began preparing for the invasion of the far off island.
On the way to Ireland one of Mileds sons fell from the mast of a ship and was drowned, also Amergins wife Sceine died on the journey and was buried at Inbhear Sceine or Kenmare bay in County Kerry. Amergin the poet son of Miled invokes the land of Erin stating that he is the wind, water, bull, hawk, flower, salmon, lake, and hill.
The Mileaian army travel to Tara after landing where they meet the three kings of the Tuatha De Dannan and demand control of the country. The three kings ask for three days to decide and that the Milesians should retreat to the sea and return not having the advantage of surprise. The Milesians agree and sail nine waves from the shore of Erin.
Out on the ocean the Milesians witnessed a covering of mist approaching. The druids of the Tuatha De Dannan conjured up a mist which prevented the ships from seeing the coastline. The ships wandered around on the seas and lost touch with each other. Amergin called out an incantation to the land which caused the mist to fall which gave the ships a chance to regroup and they sailed into the Boyne estuary on the coast of county Meath and Louth.
They then travelled to Telltown the site of the Hill of Taillte in county Meath where a great battle was to follow. At the battle the three sons of Neith, MacCuill, MacCecht and MacGrene along with their wifes Banba, Fodla, and Eriu and their children were killed. With the Tuatha De Dannan routed the Milesians took control of the Country. Ireland was then divided between two of the sons of Miled, Eireamhon ruling in the North and Eibhear in the South.
The Children of Lir
The Fate of the children of Lir is also known as the second sorrowful tale of storytelling in Irish Mythology and the story starts soon after the battle between the Celts and the Tuatha De Dannan. After losing the battle the Tuatha De disappeared underground, they choose a new king Bodbh Dearg (Bodbh of the red Hair).
Lir was deeply offended by this but to save any later arguments or fighting Bodbh offered his oldest foster daughter Aobh (Eve) in marriage to Lir. Aobh bore Lir two sets of twins during their marriage, the first set was a boy who they named Aodh and a girl they called Fionnghuala (Fionnuala).
The second set of twins two boys were called Fiachra and Conn but while in labour with the two boys Aobh died. Lir was heartbroken this was the second wife he has lost. A number of years after while Lir was at the house of Bodbh he asked for his second foster daughters hand in marriage. Aoife was just as beautiful as her sister Aobh and Lir by now was madly in love with her.
After marrying Lir things were good between Aoife and he step children but she grew jealous of Lirs love for them and she could not bear to think he could love them more than her. Aoifes jealousy soon turned into hatred and she began plotting to somehow get rid of the children.
She took the children one day to see their grandfather Bodbh but on the way they stopped at lough Derravarragh in county Westmeath and it was there that Aoife turned them into Swans.
The children were shocked and Distraught at what had happened and Fionnghuala asked why they had been set upon and how long they would be in the form of Swans? Aoifes reply was that they would be transformed back after a nobleman from the north married a nobleman from the south! When Bodbh learned of his daughters evil doings he turned her into a demon wandering the skies forever.
The four Swans spent 300 years on lough Derravarragh where it is said the People of the Tuatha De Dannan visited them and beautiful music was played for them, they them flew to the Sea of Moyle between Ireland and Scotland where the spent another 300 years in cold and misery.
They endured another 300 years of cold and misery around Erris in county mayo until one day a King of Connacht, Lairgnéan married a woman from Munster, Deoch at last Aoifes evil Spell was broken but the 900 years in exile now took its toll on the children, they were children no more but 3 decrepid old men and a withered old woman. . .