My recollection of the far past is dim, so bear with me please as my mind wanders.. I have experienced ages now long past.. these are times long before the birth of men into the world. Do not doubt my telling of these stories, for though I may look but a child to you, I am far elder than any of the ancestors of men who walk the earth these days. This was the time of the gods. In these days, the Tuatha de Danann, or "the clan of the goddess Danu", came upon the land now called Ireland by most. We came from the North, leaving our great cities, Falias, Gorias, Finias, and Murias, settling upon the North West of Connacht on the day of Beltaine. Arriving that day were many of the gods and goddesses, sons and daughters of the great mother.. Nuada, our high king, Manannan, the greatest of druids, Ogma, god of writing, and the Dagda, a great fertility god. Of the goddesses came Badb, Macha, and Morrigan, three dreaded war-goddesses, and Eire, Fodla, and Banba, three powerful nature goddesses, as well as many others. Or king Nuada wished to maintain peace with the clan that proceeded us to our new home, the Firbolgs. The Firbolgs were a civil and pleasant people, but wished to remain undisturbed in their home. We asked to live on half the land of the fair island, but such a request did lead us to war..
A battle fought on terms far more suitable than wars of these eras, the first battle of Magh Tuireadh was delayed until mid-summer, while the armies of both sides compared military technology and prepared full-well for the battle. Although we, the Tuatha, were greatly outnumbered, the battle was agreed to be fought by an equal number of fighting men of each side, each day. On the fourth day of the battle, the king of the Firbolgs, Eochaid, was felled at what is now called Traigh Eothaile. The remaining Firbolgs were offered their choice of the provinces of the island, and they chose Connacht, which their ancestors occupy to this day. After the battle, we claimed the throne of the island, known as Teamhair, or Druim Cain, the beautiful ridge.
Our high king Nuada suffered the loss of his arm during the battle, which forced him to be removed as high-king, as at the time, physical perfection was a requirement of kingship. Chosen as his replacement was a man named Bres, extremely handsome, but not an extremely good king.. in fact, we remember him quite poorly, as you shall hear, if you listen to me further...
From across, or under the Western sea, came a race of giants and people who possessed unsurpassed wickedness to match their ever-present various physical deformities.. the Fomor. They had been content to leave our land to the Firbolgs, but they harbored a great dislike of the Tuatha de Danann caused by jealously. The Fomor put a tribute upon our people, forcing us to pay them a third of our corn, milk, and even our children! Bres, rather than leading us against our foe, placed further tribute upon us, and drew great dislike from the leaders under him.. luckily, the healers Diancecht and Miach, restored Nuada with first an arm of silver, and later his original arm, so that he might reclaim the throne to which we sorely needed him. Bres was displaced, and sore of his loss of the kingship, vowed revenge. His mother revealed to him that he was in truth the son of a Fomor king, Elathan, and Bres soon left Ireland to meet his father. Luckily for us, near the time that we lost this half-tuatha-half-fomor that brought misery to our people, we were to gain another who would bring glory to our people...
Intro page image "Beyond" and corner art © Stephanie Pui-Mun Law
All other page content © Tuatha de Danann, 2003.