Dagda, High King of the Tuatha de Danann
Tales depict the Dagda as a figure of immense power, armed with a magic club and associated with a cauldron. The club is able to kill nine men with one blow; but with the handle he can return the slain to life. The cauldron is known as the Undry and is bottomless, from which no man leaves unsatisfied. He also possesses Daurdabla, also known as "the Four Angled Music", a richly ornamented magic harp made of oak which, when Dagda plays it,the seasons are put in their correct order; other accounts tell of it being used to command the order of battle. He possesses two pigs, one of which was always growing whilst the other was always roasting, and ever-laden fruit trees.
The Dagda is the High King of the Tuatha de Danann after his predecessor Nuada was injured in battle.
The Dagda is the High King of the Tuatha de Danann after his predecessor Nuada was injured in battle.
Brighid the Tripple Goddess
Brighid ia a woman of poetry, and poets worship her, for her sway is very great and very noble. And she is a woman of healing along with that, and a woman of smith's work, and it was she who first made the whistle for calling one to another through the night. And the one side of her face was ugly, but the other side was very comely. And the meaning of her name was Breo-saighit, a fiery arrow." She is the goddess of all things perceived to be of relatively high dimensions such as high-rising flames, highlands, hill-forts and upland areas; and of activities and states conceived as psychologically lofty and elevated, such as wisdom, excellence, perfection, high intelligence, poetic eloquence, craftsmanship (especially blacksmithing), healing ability, druidic knowledge and skill in warfare.
Brighid created the traditon of keening when her son, Ruadan, fell in battle to the Fomorians,
Brighid created the traditon of keening when her son, Ruadan, fell in battle to the Fomorians,
Nuada of the Silver Hand
Nuada was king of the Tuatha Dé for seven years before they came to Earth. They made contact with the Fir Bolg, the then-inhabitants of the planet, and Nuada sought from them half of the island for the Tuatha, which their king rejected. Both peoples made ready for war, and in an act of chivalry allowed their numbers and arms to be inspected by the opposing side to allow for a truly fair battle. During this first great battle at Mag Tuired, Nuada lost an arm in combat with the Fir Bolg champion Sreng. Nuada's ally, Aengaba of Norway, then fought Sreng, sustaining a mortal wound, while Dagda protected Nuada. Fifty of the Dagda's soldiers carried Nuada from the field. The Tuatha Dé gained the upper hand in the battle, but Sreng later returned to challenge Nuada to single combat. Nuada accepted, on the condition that Sreng fought with one arm tied up. Sreng refused, but by this point the battle was won and the Fir Bolg all but vanquished. The Tuatha Dé then decided to offer Sreng one quarter of Ireland for his people instead of the one half offered before the battle.
Having lost his arm, Nuada was no longer eligible for kingship due to the Tuatha Dé tradition that their king must be physically perfect, and he was replaced as king by Dagda
Having lost his arm, Nuada was no longer eligible for kingship due to the Tuatha Dé tradition that their king must be physically perfect, and he was replaced as king by Dagda
Lugh, Champion of the Tuatha de Danann
As a young man Lugh travels to Earth to join the court of King Dagda of the Tuatha Dé Danann. The doorkeeper will not let him in unless he had a skill with which to serve the king. He offers his services as a wright, a smith, a champion, a swordsman, a harpist, a hero, a poet and historian, a sorcerer, and a craftsman, but each time is rejected as the Tuatha Dé Danann already have someone with that skill. But when Lugh asks if they have anyone with all those skills simultaneously, the doorkeeper has to admit defeat, and Lugh joins the court. He wins a flagstone-throwing contest against Ogma, the champion, and entertains the court with his harp. The Tuatha Dé are at that time oppressed by the Fomorians, and Lugh is amazed how meekly they accept this. Nuada wonders if this young man could lead them to freedom. Lugh is given command over the Tuatha Dé, and he begins making preparations for war.
Lugh leads the Tuatha Dé Danann in the Second Battle of Mag Tuireadh against the Fomorians. Ogma is killed in the battle by Balor. Lugh faces Balor, who opens his terrible, poisonous eye that kills all it looks upon, but Lugh shoots a sling-stone that drives his eye out the back of his head, wreaking havoc on the Fomorian army behind. After the victory Lugh finds Bres, the half-Fomorian former king of the Tuatha Dé, alone and unprotected on the battlefield, and Bres begs for his life. If he is spared, he promises, he will ensure that the cows of Ireland always give milk. The Tuatha Dé refuse the offer. He then promises four harvests a year, but the Tuatha Dé say one harvest a year suits them. Bres did not live out the day.
Lugh leads the Tuatha Dé Danann in the Second Battle of Mag Tuireadh against the Fomorians. Ogma is killed in the battle by Balor. Lugh faces Balor, who opens his terrible, poisonous eye that kills all it looks upon, but Lugh shoots a sling-stone that drives his eye out the back of his head, wreaking havoc on the Fomorian army behind. After the victory Lugh finds Bres, the half-Fomorian former king of the Tuatha Dé, alone and unprotected on the battlefield, and Bres begs for his life. If he is spared, he promises, he will ensure that the cows of Ireland always give milk. The Tuatha Dé refuse the offer. He then promises four harvests a year, but the Tuatha Dé say one harvest a year suits them. Bres did not live out the day.
