A long time ago, from a land far to the east, the travelers came. For seven 
years they sailed across the far ocean searching for a land to call their 
own. They were a small band of fifty women and three men. Their leader was a 
woman named Cæsair, the daughter of a noble man named Bith. They were the 
first invaders to arrive on Eire's misty shores.

The land was young and a vibrant green. It was a good life for these people, 
especially the men. They decided to share the women and the land amongst 
themselves. Each of them, enjoying the abundance of so many of the female 
form in attendance. One of the men, Ladra by name, had been the one to pilot 
the boat to these far shores. It's said he expired from overexertion due to 
his sexual appetites.

Bith and Fintan then split the women among them taking twenty-five each. 
Cæsair, herself, fell completely in love with Fintan. The people flourished 
on the Emerald Isle during these idyllic times.

But, all doesn't remain as one wishes for long. So it was with the people of 
Cæsair. Bith grew old and died leaving the people in mourning. They grieved 
for the patriarch but in the midst of their grief, a great flood inundated 
them. All save one were lost.

It was the man Fintan who survived but was changed. Alone for the next three 
hundred years, he first became a falcon to soar above the land. Fintan 
gained a perspective of Eire never before seen. It was he who kept the 
memory of the history and the names of the places within the land. Over time 
he changed again to an eagle and then to a hawk. In these forms he saw the 
later invasions come to Eire's shore. Eventually, he made his final change 
into a salmon.

He stayed, swimming peacefully in cool waters of the River Boyne. So he 
would've stayed if he'd not eventually been caught. Yet, in his being caught 
and eaten he brought benefit to a new hero of Eire. One whose name was Fionn 
mac Cumhaill. But, that is another story.



For three hundred years Fintan and Eire waited. The land was peaceful and 
quiet but without the sound of laughter. One day, again from across the sea 
to the east, a new invader came. Fintan saw their coming and was glad. For 
it was one of his descendants, Partholán, who had journeyed forth in search 
of a new home.

Partholán hailed from Greece and had fled the land after a grievous crime. 
He'd killed his parents in the hope of gaining a kingship. Alas, his hopes 
and dreams were dashed and he fled Greece, with twenty-four couples bound 
for a distant shore.

What a place he found. Eire was an empty place and Partholán was just the 
man to fill it. When the Partholánians arrived they found just three lakes, 
nine rivers, and one plain. With so much area to work with the Partholánians 
began with a vengeance. They'd brought livestock to the isle and let them 
graze on the fertile plain they'd found. With them came the start of 
civilization and they glad went about building new homes and lives. In 
addition to the one plain they'd found, they added four more. They 
landscaped the island with seven new lakes.

With civilization came something new to Eire, beer. The art of brewing was 
sacred and soon they'd included it in their daily functions. As the people 
grew and thrived, there came the first guesthouse to be used for travelers. 
Laws and crafts became part of every day life. Once again Eire sparkled with 
the sound of laughter but also with the sound of grief.

Partholán's wife, Daelgnaid proved to be unfaithful. No one was even sure 
that the son Partholán called his own, Rury, truly was his. It is said that 
she was seduced by Topa and he at one time he clamed to be Rury's father. 
Her trial was the first on the island but what decision was reached is 
shrouded in the mysteries of time. Of Rury, we do know he didn't live a long 
nor full life. In his grief at his son's loss, Partholán buried Rury in the 
style befitting the son of a chief. The land itself was so moved by the loss 
of this man that from his grave burst forth a lake. To this day it is known 
as Lough Rury in his honor.

The lives of the Partholánians should have been perfect, but it was not. 
>From out of nowhere came a race of monsters. Their coming is not mentioned 
in the Leabhar Gabhála Éireann for although they lived in Eire they never 
became part of it. This group went by the dreaded name, Fomhoiré.

The Fomorians, whose name means sea giants, were said to be half-human 
monsters. Each was supposed to have a single leg with a single eye in the 
center of their foreheads. In their mouths were three rows of razor sharp 
teeth. Although no one knows when they arrived, after Partholán and his 
people had been settled many years, the Fomorians attacked.

For many years battles were fought the length and breadth of the isle with 
neither side the victor. Finally, Partholán was able to contain the 
Fomorians on Tory Island off the coast of Donegal. Eventually the Fomorians 
settled on the Isle of Man where they fumed and plotted.

The battles with the Fomorians exhausted the people of Partholán and it took 
its toll. A mysterious plague came to Eire and visited the people one by one 
until they were no more.

History repeats itself, as we well know, and once again there was one 
survivor. The man's name was Tuan mac Stern. He was a nephew of Partholán 
who lived alone for twenty-three years, scavaging what he could from the 
land, living in the hills. He grew older in this hard life until one day he 
fell asleep and awoke young and renewed. He'd be come a stag. In this form 
he ruled as Righ of all Eire.

After each successive invasion he grew old and fell asleep awakening in 
another form. After the third invasion he was renewed as a boar. After the 
fourth he became an eagle. After the fifth he became a salmon. In this form 
he was caught and eaten by a local queen and was born a male child in the 
house of Carell nine months later. Thus Tuan mac Stern lived life again as 
Tuan mac Carell.

Tuan mac Carell became a seanchas of the people, telling them the tales of 
the invasions and their people. It is because of Tuan and Fintan that the 
tales of Eire survive to this day.


Eire was an empty place when the Nemedians arrived. A people of unknown 
origins, they quickly populated the island thirty years after the death of 
the Partholánians. The leader was a man named Nemhedh, a cousin of Tuan mac 
Stern, he was also the son of Agnoman, son of Pamp, son of Tai, son of Sru, 
son of Esru, son of Brament, son of Aitecht, son of Magog and back through 
many generations. He, and his people, came from Scythia sailing westward. 
They rowed the Caspian Sea eventually reaching the Northern Ocean.

They sailed in thirty-four ships, with thirty people in each ship. Their 
journey was uneventful until they spied a golden tower in the distance. The 
sight of the tower filled the people with greed. They arrived when the sea 
was at an ebb and attempted to reach the tower. Before they could, the sea 
rushed back in, overwhelming their ships. Only those saved by Nemed and his 
children survived. The rest were lost forever. A year and a half later they 
arrived on Eire's green shore.

Nemed wife's name was Macha and he had four chiefs with him. They happened 
to also be his four sons. Their names were Stern, Iarbanel, Fergus Redside, 
and Ainnin. Their wives were named Medh, Machu, Yba, and Cera. Disaster 
struck twelve days after their arrival when Macha died plunging the 
survivors into mourning.

Generally, they were a happy people, content with their lot. Prospering they 
grew from nine to eight thousand and sixty. Four lakes were created, Loch 
Cailin Ui Niallan, Loch Munremur of Slieb Guaire, Lóch Dairbreach, and Loch 
Ainninn in Meath. Nine years later two more lakes were created. Also, two 
royal forts were dug. These were Rath Cinn Eich in Ui Niallan and Rath 
Cimbaith in Seimne. Rath Cinn Eich was dug in one day's time by the sons of 
the Fomorian, Maden Fat-Neck. The names of the sons were Boc, Roboc, Ruibne, 
and Rodan. Nemed kept them in servitude for the duration of the excavation.

In addition to the lakes and streams, twelve plains were created in Eire by 
Nemed. These were; Mag Cer and Mag Eba in Connacht, Mag Tochair in Tir 
Eoghain, Leccmag in Munster, Mag mBernsa in Leinster, Mag Cuile Tolad in 
Connacht, Mag Lugad in Ui Tuirte, Mag Sered in Tethba, Mag Seimni in Dal 
Araide, Mag Luirg in Connacht, Mag Muirthemne in Conaille, and Mag Macha in 
Argialla.

With the return of the Fomorians, life as the Nemedians knew it ended. Three 
times Nemhedh met them in battle and three times the Fomorians were 
defeated. In the battle of Murbolg in Dal Riada, Stern fell at the hands of 
Conann ,son of Faebar. This was at Lethet of Lachtmag in Murbolg. In the 
battle of Ros Fraechain in Connacht, also called the battle of Badgna, two 
Fomorian kings, Gann and Sengann fell. At the battle of Cnamros in Leinster 
Beoan, son of Stern, was killed by the same man, Conann, who felled his 
father. Nemed died soon after these battles on the island of Ard Nemed in Ui 
Liathan in Munster. Instead of dying in battle he was brought down by a 
great plague that took him and three thousand others.

After his death the Fomorians struck. Unable to organize themselves, with 
the loss of their leaders and champions, the Nemedians were quickly 
defeated. They became slaves to Conann and Morc, son of Dele. They were 
forced to acknowledge the fortress of Conann that was at Tor Conainn, also 
called Torinis Cetne. The Fomorians were brutal conquerors. They demanded at 
tribute from the Nemedians due every Samhain and to be delivered at Mag 
Cetne. The Nemedians were required to give up two-thirds of their milk, 
corn, and children.

As would be expected the Nemedians soon rebelled. Three of their chiefs; 
Fergus Redside, Seamon, son of Iarbanel, and Erglan, son of Beoan, gathered 
together a great assembly. This included the chieftains Artur, son of Nemed, 
and Alma One-tooth, son of Nemed. A force of sixty thousand, thirty thousand 
by sea and thirty thousand by land were assembled to fight the Fomorians. 
They landed at the Fomorian stronghold on Tory Island. The Nemedians sent 
Alma One-tooth to ask for a respite from the tax. He was refused. Once again 
he was sent to ask for a respite of one year. Conann allowed them the grace 
period only on the condition that the Nemedians neither separate nor scatter 
until the end of the year. If they did so, the Fomorians would seek them out 
and destroy them.

Alma told his brothers, and those assembled, the good news. The Nemedians 
accepted the terms. They sent messengers to Greece asking for help from the 
king. As it happened the mother of Fergus Redside and Alma One-toothed, 
Relbeo, was daughter to Smol ,who was king of Greece at the time. Upon the 
messengers' arrival, Smol called a council. A host was gathered, including 
Smol and they set sail for Eire. With their arrival, they were welcomed by 
the Nemedians.

With the addition of the Greeks, the Nemedians declared war on the 
Fomorians. Messages were sent declaring war and Conann was outraged. Relbeo 
was sent as a spy. Conann fell so deeply in love his mind became confused. 
The Nemedians then attacked the mighty tower which they quickly breeched. 
Wisely, Conann fled believing he was better off away from the tower.

The Nemedian chief, Fergus Redside, killed the Fomorian chief, Conann giving 
the Nemedians some hope of victory. Two Fomorian chiefs, Gileas son of 
Faebar and Orcifanat gathered their forces together. They met Semeon, son of 
Starn, and Iarbanel in single combat. The Fomorian chiefs lost and were 
beheaded. The Nemedians then returned to the tower, looting it of its 
treasures. They split it equally and the Greeks, very pleased with the 
booty, departed.

Victory, however, was short lived. An invasion fleet consisting of ninety 
ships, full of warriors was spotted. The Fomorian king, Morc, had finally 
arrived. The exhausted children of Nemed went to meet them. So great was the 
hostility of the battle that neither side saw the great wave enter the 
harbor. After its destruction was wrought, only one ship of the Fomorians 
and one group of thirty Nemedian warriors survived.

The three surviving Nemedian chiefs; Beothach, son of Iarbanel, Semeon, son 
of Erglan, and Britain, son of Fergus Redside, divided Eire equally among 
them. Beothach's third reached from Torinis to the Boyne. The third of 
Semeon's stretched from the Boyne to Belach Conglais. Britain's third went 
from Belach Conglais to Torinis Cetne.

Out of fear of the Fomorians they finally separated and scattered. Semeon 
with nine others escaped to Greece in a single boat. Britain fled to the 
area of Mon Conainn in what would later be called Britain. Yet another group 
moved on to the islands of the north.



Those of the Nemedians who made it to Greece met an unexpected welcome and 
were enslaved upon reaching Thrace. While under this yoke their name was 
changed to the Fir Bolg or Bag Men. This name came from the fact that they 
carried the soil from Thrace's valleys to the mountains in bags. Eventually 
the descendants of the Nemedians in Greece gathered their strength and 
escaped from Greece two hundred years after leaving Eire.

.By the time of their escape the Nemedians had split into three tribes. They 
were the Fir Bolg, the Gailióin and the Fir Dhomhnann. The chiefs among them 
were Slainge, Rudraige, Gann, Genann, Sengann, the five sons of Dela son of 
Loch son of Ortecht son of Tribuad son of Oturp son of Goisten son of 
Uirthecht son of Semeon son of Erglan. It was from Galeon that the Gailióin 
took their name. He was gal-fhian or great in valor. So it was from valor 
they took their name. The people of Gann and Sengann took the name Fir Bolg. 
The people of Rudraige and Genann took the name Fir Dhomhnann for the name 
means digging in the dirt and it was applied to them.

These people constructed coracles out of skins, ropes and the bags they 
carried and sailed for their far off home. Somehow, in a way unknown to us, 
they reached their destination in one week's time. The group led by Slainge 
arriving at Inber Slainge on Saturday in the later month which will be known 
as August with a thousand men. Sengann and Gann made their arrival on 
Tuesday at Inber Dubglaise, with two thousand. It is said that on the day 
that will be called Friday, Rudraige and Genann landed in Inber Domnann with 
two thousand. Slainge, was spotted by Tuan mac Stern and joy filled his 
heart with the knowledge that another descendent of long dead Partholán had 
once again found this most beautiful of islands.

With the return of the descendents of the Nemedians, the Fomorians didn't 
stand a chance and were once again driven out. They gathered together at 
Usneach in Meath. The Fir Bolg then divided the land into the five provinces 
of cóigedh. Slainge got the first share that was from Inber Colptha to 
Commair of the Three Waters. Gann was given from Commair to Belach Conglais. 
Segann's portion stretched from Belach Conglais to Limerick, Genann took the 
land from Limerick to Drobais. Rudraige got the last part from Drobais to 
the Boyne. The Gailioin became the Larghin when they took the province of 
Leinster. The Fir Dhomhnann settled in Connacht. The Fir Bolg populated 
Ulster, Muenster and Meath and there they remained.

Later in time, the Fir Dhomhann moved across the Irish Sea. The area they 
inhabited in southwest Britain was named Dumnonia in their honor with their 
descendants becoming the Dumnonii.

The Fir Bolg's hold on the land was strong but it was soon to be tested with 
the coming of the Fifth Invasion to Eire's shore. They were to meet the 
invaders in the battle of Magh Tuiredha where the Fir Bolg leader, Eochaidh 
mac Ercwa was killed. In an ironic twist, the Fir Bolg were forced into 
exile with the Fomorians.


But what of the Nemedians who fled north? What happened to them? They too 
returned to Eire, but as the fifth wave of invasion. During the time this 
group was away they learned something their cousins in Greece hadn't 
learned, the use of magical lore and properties. So it was that the final 
group of Nemedians returned to Eire as the Tuatha Dé Danann.

Iobath, son of Beothach, son of Iarbanel, son of Nemed, led his people 
north. They lived and prospered, gaining in number. It was from the people 
of the islands that they learned druidry and the magical arts. The Tuatha Dé 
Danann were the children of the Goddess Danu. They became so learned as to 
be gods.

The Tuatha Dé Danann were instructed in four principal cities. These were 
Falias, Gorias, Findias, and Murias. In Falias their instructor was 
Morfessa. In Gorias it was Esras. In Findias they learned from Uscias. In 
Murias they were taught by Semias. It was from Falias they obtained the 
Stone of Fál, the Lia Fáil. Upon this stone the Ard Righ of Eire must step. 
When he does a scream issues forth proclaiming him the true king. It is from 
the Lia Fáil that Eire gained the name Inis Fáil or Isle of Destiny.

>From Gorias came the spear of Lugh. Whenever he held it in battle, he never 
lost. From the city of Findias came the great sword wielded by Nuada. It 
never failed to wound when used. From Murias came the caldron of the Daghda. 
It never failed to give food.

So it came that one day the Tuatha Dé Danann, those who'd descended from the 
long ago Nemedians, decided to leave and reclaim all they'd lost in Eire. 
They once again stepped on Eire's distant shore on Beltane. With deep 
memories of the Fomorians, the Tuatha Dé Danann burned their ships so they 
couldn't be used against them. At the same time, by destroying their boats, 
they also insured they themselves, couldn't easily fly Eire. They were 
determined this land would be theirs.

First though, they greeted the embassy from the Fir Bolg as kin. The Tuatha 
Dé Danann also sent an embassy forth. Between them they made formal exchange 
of weapons. However, the ultimate goal of the Tuatha Dé Danann was the 
ultimate rule of Eire. They created a deep darkness to hide them on their 
journey. When they'd reached the stronghold of the Fir Bolg, near the 
mountain of Conmaicne Rein in Connacht, they dispersed the darkness. The 
Tuatha Dé Danann then demanded that Eire be divided peacefully between them.

The Fir Bolg refused and together they met three months later in the battle 
of Magh Tuiredh of Cong in Conmaicne Cuile Tolad of Connacht. At the time of 
the battle, Eochiad, son of Erc, was king of the Fir Bolg. His wife was 
Tailltiu, daughter of Magmor, king of Spain. Nuada, son of Eochaid, son of 
Etarlam, was king of the Tuatha Dé Danann. The Fir Bolgs used the time well, 
copying the beautiful javelins of the Dananns for their own use. The Tuatha 
Dé Dananns used the time as well, to copy the heavy spears of the Fir Bolg. 
On a midsummer's day they fought with neither getting the upper hand. Each 
night the healers would use herbs to restore the wounded to fight the next 
day.

On the fourth day the Dananns began a mighty push. The Fir Bolg king, 
Eochaid, was struck with a great thirst and left the battlefield in search 
of water. The Dananns saw him leave, pursued him to the Strand of Ethaile, 
where he was killed by the three sons of Badrae named Ceasarb, Luam, and 
Luachra. The Danann, Nuada, offered peace to the Fir Bolg which they 
accepted. Unfortunately for Nuada, he lost an arm in the battle. Since, to 
the Tuatha De Danann, a king must be perfect in body, Nuada was forced to 
abdicate to Bres the son of Elatha, the Fomhoiré leader, and a Tuatha Dé 
Danann woman.

Bres was a tyrannical leader and the worse person Nuada could have abdicated 
in favor of. He was married to Brighid, the daughter of the Dagdha, whom he 
made build his rath. He treated the greatest of all the Tuatha Dé Danann as 
slaves to his whim. The prosperity of the land was linked to the king. As 
Bres was barren and desolate within, so became Eire. Finally, they could 
take no more and their Fili Coirbe cursed Bres with a magical satire making 
his face erupt with boils.

With the disfigurement he was forced to abdicate. Bres, in his treachery, 
defected to the Fomorians on Tory Island, carrying with him the magical harp 
of the Daghda. This shattered the truce between the two groups. Bres then 
led them into battle against the Tuatha De Danann after Lugh, who was now 
the Tuatha Dé Danann king, sent the Daghda reclaim the harp and call a 
truce. The Fomorians tried to incapacitate the Dagdha by feeding him an 
enormous meal followed by a rather vigorous bout of lovemaking with a 
Fomorian maiden. The plan backfired as the Dagdha had an insatiable appetite 
and his sexual prowess was most impressive.

During the second battle of Magh Tuiredh within Meath, even the sea god 
Tethra fought, so great a battle was this. Bres was captured and pleaded for 
his life. He was spared by the Dananns to act as an agricultural advisor.

Dian Cécht was the god of healing. He authored the works called "The 
Judgments of Dian Cécht". Contained within are the legal responsibilities of 
anyone who caused injury or illness to another. It was Dian Cécht who 
revived the Tuatha dead during the first battle of Magh Tuiredh.

Credne was the brazier or the god of metal working. He was one of the Tri Dé 
Daná, the triad of the gods of craftsmanship. One of the others was 
Luchtaine who was a carpenter. All the weapons he made were empowered with 
the magic so that none who were wounded by them could recover. The third was 
Goibhniu who was the divine smith and was the leader of the triad. He would 
host a magical feast where all who attended were greatly intoxicated but 
were rendered immortal by the food served.

t was Dian Cécht and Credne who fashioned for Nuada a silver arm with 
vitality through out its length. He was then called Nuada Airgedlámh or 
Nuada of the Silver-Arm. Later, Miach son of Dian Cécht, cut off Nuada's 
silver arm and reattached the arm even better than his father had, sinew to 
sinew, joint to joint. Nuada was thus whole again and able to retake the 
kingship of the Tuatha Dé Danann.

Dian Cécht became jealous of Miach and killed him. Even in death he had 
power and all manner of herbs grew out of his grave. The sister of Miach, 
Airmid of the Growing Green, gathered the herbs to catalogue their use. In 
anger Dian Cécht scattered the herbs fearing his son's influence but Airmid 
gathered them again and used her knowledge to help all who asked her.

Even restored to kingship, Nuada could not stop the power of the Fomorian. 
In desperation he searched for another to lead them. It was then that a 
stranger appeared at the great Rath at Tara. This was a man who'd been 
raised by Manannan mac Lir. He presented himself as Lugh whose name means 
shining one. Manannan had gifted him with an inescapable spear, a great 
sling, a helmet of invisibility, and a wonderful shield. Lugh arrived as a 
carpenter but was told the position was filled. He then presented himself as 
a harpist, fili, historian, warrior, magician, astrologer, steward each time 
being told there was no need for more. For his many abilities he was named 
samildánch, who is a person of great learning or skills. Nuada thought that 
Lugh was unlike any who had come before him. This was the man he'd sought 
and Nuada abdicated in favor of Lugh.

Lugh finally ended the battle by aiming a slingshot into the single eye of 
the giant Balor. It was said Balor of the Evil Eye, which destroyed 
everything it saw, was actually a grandfather of Lugh. All his life Balor 
had feared a druid's prophecy which said he'd be killed by his own grandson. 
To prevent this he had his daughter Eithne locked away on an island. She was 
found by the noble Cian, who impregnated her with triplets. Balor ordered 
the babies drowned but he didn't know one had survived, Lugh. The stone that 
entered Balor's eye exploded through his skull and wrrought havoc throughout 
the whole of the Fomorian army.




The Tuatha Dé Danann were truly blessed by the land of Eire. All that they 
wished for was theirs for the taking. Yet even for the gods black clouds 
sometimes form in the distance.

>From out of the east, a new group decided to make Eire home. They came from 
the land of the Princess Tailltiu. She who was the daughter of Magmore, the 
king of Spain. By marrying Eochaid, son of Erc, she became queen of the Fir 
Bolg. She died and was buried at the clover plains of Tailltiu near the 
gathering place of the Taillte. It was from this very land of Spain that the 
sons of the man Milesius came.

In the land of Spain, after the death of Mil, his son's Eber Donn and Eremon 
ruled. An uncle of Mil, Ith, son of Bregan, had a vision of a fair island to 
the west. He told his family what he'd seen and his great desire to venture 
forth. Many tried to dissuade him but Ith was determined. He took to sea 
along with his son Lugaid.

On the way to Eire, they stopped at the harbor of Bentracht of Mag Itha. The 
people welcomed them and when question by Ith were told the land he sought 
was called Inis Elga. He was also informed that at Aileach Neid there were a 
great many chieftains from Eire. Ith, his son, and two-thirds of those who 
traveled with him went to meet the men of Eire. Now Ith was a wise man and 
when the nobles asked for advice, he told them only what was true and fair. 
This made the nobles jealous of him. After he left Aileach Neid they sent 
their warriors after him. He was badly wounded at Mag Itha and thus gave his 
name to that grassy plain. Bleeding, he made it to his ship, was taken to 
sea and died.

His body was taken home to his family. The Sons of Mil vowed revenge against 
the Dananns. From far and wide they called for their warriors until finally 
they were all gathered together in Brigantia. They sailed for Eire in 
ninety-five ships and forty chieftains including the eight sons of Mil. 
Donn, son of Mil, was their leader. Mil's widow, Scota stayed behind but 
gave her sons her blessings for their adventure.

Here are the names of the chiefs lest they be forgotten: Emer Don, Eremon, 
Eber Finn, Ir, Amergin, Colptha, Airech Febra, Erannan, Muimne, Luigne, 
Palap, Er, Orba, Feron, Fergin, Eber son of Ir, Brega, Cuala, Cooley, Blad, 
Fuad, Muirthemne, Eblinne, Nar, Lugaid, Lui, Bile, Buss, Bres, Buaigne, 
Fulman, Mantan, Caicer, Suirge, En, Un, Etan, Sobairce, Sedga, and Goisten.

On the way Eber Donn, the eldest son, became jealous of the strength and 
valor of Ir, his brother. Somehow, the oar that Ir held split causing him to 
fall backwards breaking his back. To the sorrow of his other brothers, he 
died the next day. They cursed Eber Donn for the envy of his brother.

Arriving at Inber Stainge the Milesians attempted to land. The druids of the 
Danann made it appear that there was nothing in front of them. Confused, the 
Milesian's circled the isle three times until finally the harbor of Inber 
Scene appeared before them. Just like the Tuatha Dé Danann before them, the 
Sons of Mil Éspáine landed on Beltane. They were the first true Gaels in 
Eire. Upon setting his right foot upon the land, thus spoke the fili 
Amergin:

I am a stag; of seven tines,
I am a flood; across a plain,
I am a wind; on a deep lake,
I am a tear; the Sun lets fall,
I am a thorn: beneath the nail,
I am a wonder; among flowers,
I am a druid; who but I
Sets the cool head aflame with smoke?

I am a spear; that roars for blood,
I am a salmon in a pool,
I am a lure; from paradise,
I am a hill; where poets walk,
I am a boar; ruthless and red,
I am a breaker; threatening doom,
I am a tide; that drags to death,
I am an infant; who but I
Peeps from the unhewn dolmen arch?

I am the womb; of every holt,
I am the blaze; on every hill,
I am the queen; of every hive,
I am the shield; for every head,
I am the tomb; of every hope.


They set out for the great Rath at Tara. For centuries Teamair was the most 
sacred place in all Eire. It had been known as Drum Cain to the Dannan, and 
Liathduim to the Fir Bolg. Found in Meath, it was the site of the royal 
court. While on their way to the capital the Milesians encountered three 
goddesses. They found Banbha at Sliab Mis, Fódla at Eblinne, and Eriu at 
Usneach. These three were the wives of the three Tuatha Dé Danann kings. 
Fódla was wife to Mac Cécht, Bandbha to Mac Cuill, and Eriu to Mac Breine. 
Collectively, this triad of goddesses was known as the Spirit or Sovereignty 
of Eire which embodied the very essence of the Land. It was the right of the 
Spirit to confer the status of kingship. This was accomplished by a ritual 
marriage between a beautiful woman and the Ard Righ at the hill of Tara. The 
Feis Temhrach symbolically bound the Ard Righ to the Land and sanctified his 
reign.

The Milesians thought bribery was a good thing and promised each goddess 
that the isle would bear her name forever if she supported their cause. 
Amergin personally wooed Eriu who agreed by saying Eire would always belong 
to the Milesians. Her words, however, came with a warning. Eriu predicted 
that neither the Milesian king Eber Donn, nor his heirs, would enjoy their 
reign long. Now Eber Donn was not the best nor most loved of leaders. When 
Amergin gave thanks to Eriu, Eber Donn declared no thanks were owed to her 
only to their own gods. Eriu's words would prove their worth in the not too 
distant future.

With Eriu's promise, the Sons of Mil confronted the three kings of Eire who 
were the grandsons of the Dagdha. Mac Cécht, Mac Cuill, and Mac Greine had 
been arguing between them concerning the land when the Milesians arrived at 
the mouth of the River Boyne. They disputed the invaders right to rule. 
Turning to Amergin they asked him to judge the dispute, claiming that if he 
judged falsely he would die on the spot. In his capacity as Fili, he ruled 
that the Milesians should put to sea and travel beyond the ninth wave. They 
would then return to Eire and claim it as their own. The Milesians did as 
directed but when they attempted to return, they were met by a great wind 
summoned by the Tuatha Dé Danann. In response, Amergin called upon the 
Spirit of Eire who dissipated the wind thus allowing the Milesians to land. 
Here are the words of Amergin:

I invoke the land of Ireland.
Much-coursed be the fertile sea,
Fertile be the fruit-strewn mountain,
Fruit-strewn be the showery wood,
Showery be the river of water-falls,
Of the water-falls be the lake of deep pools,
Deep-pooled be the hill-top well,
A well of tribes be the assembly,
An assembly of the kings of Tara,
Tara be the hill of the tribes,
The tribes be the sons of Mil,
Of Mil of the ships, the barks,
Let the loft bark be Ireland,
Loft 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,
I invoke the land of Ireland.


The very night the Milesians returned to Eire, Loch Luigdech appeared in 
West Musnster. Lugaid, son of Ith, deicided to bathe in the lake. At the 
same time Fial, daughter of Mil also decided to bathe. Naked, Lugaid 
wandered over to where Fial was and when she looked upon him she died of 
shame. It is from her the river and its associated creek were named. It was 
at this creek that the son's of Mil landed Eber Finn and Eremon then divided 
the fleet among them. With thirty ships, and keeping Eire on the left, they 
landed at Inber Colptha. When Amergin set his right foot on the shore he 
spoke thus:

I am a wind on the sea,
I am a wave of the ocean,
I am the roar of the sea,
I am a powerful ox,
I am a hawk on a cliff,
I am a dewdrop in the sunshine,
I am a boar for valor,
I am a salmon in pools,
I am a lake in a plain,
I am the strength of art,
I am a spear with spoils that wages battle,
I am a man that shapes fire for a head.

Who clears the stone-place of the mountain?
Where the place in which the setting of the sun lies?
Who has sought peace without fear seven time?
Who names the waterfalls?
Who brings his cattle from the house of Tethra?
What person, what god,
Forms weapons in a fort?
In a fort that nourishes satirists,
Chants a petition, divides the Ogam letters,
Separates a fleet, has sung praises?
A wise satirist.

Next he sang:

Fishful sea-
Fertile land-
Burst of fish
Fish under wave-
With courses of birds-
Rough sea-
A white wall-
With hundreds of salmon-
Broad whale-
A port song_
A burst of fish.

Furious, the Milesians met the Tuatha Dé Danann at the Battle of Tailltiu. 
There, Mach Cécht was killed by the chieftain Airen, Mach Cuill by Eber 
Donn, and Mac Greine by Amhairghin (Amergin). Even in defeat the Tuatha Dé 
Danann refused to leave and with the use of magic deprived the Milesians of 
corn and milk. Eventually an agreement was reached between the two parties. 
The Tuatha Dé Danann took the underground places. Their king, the Dagdha, 
built a sidi for each chief and king. It is there that they, the descendants 
of the Nemedians, reside to this very day.

As for the Milesians, not long after their victory, Eber Donn and thirty-six 
others drowned and were buried on the isle of Tech Donn (Teach-Dhoinn). 
There he became a god of the dead where, to this day, he welcomes dead 
warriors to the island. With the death of Eber Donn, both Eber Finn and 
Eremon claimed the right to rule Eire as sole monarch. Amergin declared that 
Eremon should rule first but Eber Fionn refused to accept the fili's ruling. 
As a compromise, the isle was split between them with Eber Finn taking the 
southern half from the Boyne to Tonn Clidna, and Eremon talking the north 
from Srub Brain to the Boyne.

Of course, peace didn't last long. Soon they were at war over the sole rule 
of Eire. Eremon was victorious and became the first of our people to rule. 
As before, he made Tara his capital city. Upon his death the soon to be 
legendary bull feast or Taberfeis was performed. In this ritual, a bull 
would be roasted and a chosen man would eat the flesh and drink the broth 
made from the blood and bones. Once the man fell asleep, a druid would chant 
over him causing the man to see who would be the next Ard Righ.




Author: Niniane OMorain
Date:   04-09-01 17:25

When I started the research on this I thought it would be easy. After all 
these myths have been written down for hundreds of years. I was sure I could 
go to one or two books and find exactly what I wanted. However, that's not 
what happened. All the information was scattered in a myriad of places. Two 
months of digging resulted in the narratives I've posted here. Below is a 
list of the books I used for my research.



Celtic Myth and Legend, An A-Z Guide to People and Places by Mike Dixon 
Kennedy.
Published by Blanford, 1996


Celtic Gods, Celtic Goddesses by R.J. Stewart
Published by Blanford, 1990


Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend by Miranda Green
Published by Thames and Hudson Ltd, 1992


Heroes of the Dawn: Celtic Myth A Time-Life Book written by: Fergus Fleming
Duncan Baird Publishers, 1996


Hero's Song by Edith Pattou
Published by Harcourt Brace Javanovich, 1991


Celtic Myths and Legends by T.W. Rollerston
Published by Dover Publications Inc, 1990
A reissue of a book published in 1911


Celtic Mythology by J. A. McCulloch
Published by Academy Chicago, 1996
Publication of works from 1918


Ancient Irish Tales Edited by Tom Peete Cross and Clark Harris Slover
Published by Henry Holt and Company Inc, 1936