Magical Objects Series - Part Two: Irish Mythology
'Riders of the Sidhe' (1911) - John Duncan (W.Commons)
Same as before, the list will be limited to 10 objects.
Many of the magical objects in Irish mythology, mainly weapons, belonged to gods and heroes, not the common man.
And many of the weapons and heroes were linked to the Tuatha Dé Danann, one of the great ancient tribes of Ireland; their name translates to ‘People of the Goddess Danu’.
It is said they emerged from a great mist and landed at the Connaught coastline, after which they burned their boats, such was their conviction to settle in this new land.
The rulers at the time were the Fir Bolg, and they battled the newcomers but were defeated.
The Tuatha Dé Danann allowed the Fir Bolg to remain in Connaught while they took over the rest of Ireland.
A civilised and cultured people, the Tuatha Dé introduced new skills and traditions to the people of the land, gaining renown as rulers, heroes, healers, and bards.
There were some who believed that the Tuatha Dé were a race of supernatural beings who had come from the Otherworld, that they were ageless and had superhuman strength and speed.
The Tuatha Dé possessed 4 items that were known as the Four Great Treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
The first treasure was the Lia Fáil, the Stone of Destiny.
Lia Fáil, the Stone of Destiny, at the Hill of Tara - August Schwerdfeger (W.Commons)
This treasure was said to emit a loud groan when the rightful High King of Ireland placed his feet on it.
It was also said to have the power to rejuvenate and bestow a long reign on the king.
The stone is located at the Inauguration Mound on the Hill of Tara in County Meath.
Claíomh Solais, the Sword of Light.
Nuada (ireland-information.com)
The sword belonged to Nuada, the original leader of the Tuatha Dé.
When drawn against any opponent, none could escape the sword, which always dealt a mortal blow.
Nuada ceased being leader when he lost his arm in battle for it was a law of the Tuatha Dé that their king had to be perfect in shape.
He was replaced by Breas the Beautiful, son of a Tuatha Dé woman and Fomorian prince.
The Fomorians, a hostile and monstrous supernatural race, were the enemies of the Tuatha Dé.
Breas treated the Tuatha Dé badly and made them pay tributes to the Fomorians.
When he neglected his kingly duties of hospitality, he was ousted and Nuada, whose lost arm had been replaced with a silver arm by the healer, Dian Cécht, was reinstated as king, but the Tuatha Dé’s oppression by the Fomorians continued.
Breas raised an army with the help of Balor, a Fomorian chief, also known as Balor of the Piercing Eye.
Balor was said to be a giant with a large, evil eye that caused destruction when opened.
As the Tuatha Dé prepared for war, Nuada handed leadership of the battle to the youthful and multi-skilled Lugh, destined to be the greatest hero of the Tuatha Dé.
Lugh was the grandson of Balor; his mother was Balor’s daughter and his father, the son of Dian Cécht.
With the gifts given to him by his foster father, the sea-god Manannán mac Lir, Lugh joined Nuada and led the Sidhe, the Faerie host, into battle.
At the second Battle of Mag Tuired, Nuada was killed by Balor who unleashed the horror of his eye at the king.
Balor then turned to Lugh, but before he could fully open his eye, Lugh hurled a sling-stone at it, killing Balor.
The sling-stone, or sling shot ball, that Lugh used was a ‘tathlum’, described as ‘heavy, fiery, firm…’ – ‘On the Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish’ Vol. 2 by Eugene O’Curry (1873)
The defeated Fomorian army were then driven to the sea.
Lugh became the King of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Gáe Assail or ‘Lightning Spear’.
This was the spear of Lugh, which never failed to accurately hit its target, and always returned to the hand of its wielder.
The fourth treasure was the Cauldron of Dagda.
‘The Dagda, Father God of Ireland’ by AnitaBurnevik (DeviantArt)
The Dagda was considered the chief of the Irish ancestral gods.
Highly skilled and very wise, he was the god of life and death, of seasons, agriculture, fertility, and magic.
An endless supply of food issued from the cauldron, and those who ate from it were restored in strength and energy.
Lorg Mór, the Dagda’s magical club.
This club had two abilities – it could kill 9 men with a single blow, but the handle could bring the slain back to life.
Uaithne, the Dagda’s magic harp.
This richly ornamented harp, also known as ‘the Four Angled Music’, was made of oak.
When the Dagda played it, it put the seasons in the correct order.
Some say it was also used to command the order of battle.
Fragarach, the sword of Lugh.
Lugh by Jim Fitzpatrick
The sword originally belonged to Manannán mac Lir who gave the sword to his foster-son, Lugh.
Fragarach could cut through anything, including mail, and any wound it inflicted was a mortal one.
The sword was also known as the ‘Answerer’ because no one could tell a lie or move when it was held against the neck.
The Enbarr or Aonbharr, a horse of the sea-god Manannán mac Lir.
Lugh rides Enbarr to battle - Jim Fitzpatrick
I know a horse isn’t an object, but I can’t not include it.
Another gift from Manannán to Lugh, the horse could gallop over land and sea, was faster than the wind, and whoever rode it could not be killed.
Wavesweeper or ‘Sguaba Tuinne’, Manannán’s currach (coracle).
A currach is a small boat with a wooden frame over which animal skins are stretched.
Yet another gift from Manannán to Lugh, Wavesweeper was self-navigating; it could go anywhere in any direction simply at the captain’s thought.
It could also grow and shrink to accommodate any load.
Gáe Bulg, the spear of Cú Chulainn.
Cuchulain in Battle - JC Leyendecker (W.Commons)
Cú Chulainn was a warrior hero whose father was Lugh.
His birth name was Sétanta, and he gained his other, more well-known name after killing the guard dog of Culann in self-defence.
When he offered to take the dog’s place until a replacement was reared, he became known as the ‘Hound (cú) of Culann’.
He was trained by the warrior queen Scathach who lived in Western Scotland where she trained young warriors.
When she agreed to train him, Scathach told Cú Chulainn she foresaw he would have a glorious career but would die young.
After his training, she secretly gifted him the legendary spear, Gáe Bulg, made of the bone of a sea monster, the only one of its kind.
The spear’s strike was always fatal; on entering the body, it separated into many barbs and was impossible to remove.
The images of Lugh by Jim Fitzpatrick are from my copy of his book, ‘The Silver Arm’; if you like his style, I encourage you to visit his website for more.