LUGH LAMHFHADA
HE WHO BINDS BY OATH OF THE LONG-HAND
By Jim Fitzpatrick
MEMORIA OF LUGH
Son of Cian and Eithne,
Grandson of Balor and Dian Cecht,
Brother of Ethlenn,
Husband of Nas and Buidh,
Husband of Englic and Eachtrach,
Spouse of sovereignty,
Father of Cuchulain and Ibicc,
Father of Ainle and Cnu Deoiril,
Father of Caol Crodha, fierce his awfulness,
Father of tribes and peoples,
Son of the grain,
Son of the dumb champion,
Descendent of the poet,
Born of the three-fold blessing.
He of the long hand,
Master of every craft,
Equally skilled in all arts,
Fierce striker,
Youthful hero,
Hound-son,
Hardness that gives victory,
Master of the red spears,
Binder by oath,
He who calls the Three Realms to witness,
The deliverer,
Sun-hawk of battle,
Dispeller of Darkness,
He who bestows kingship,
Killer of Goll One-eye,
Slayer of the baleful eye,
Destroyer of Breas,
Assassin of Cermait,
Avenger of Cian,
Guarantor of Tailte,
Encloser of Carmun.
Chief Ollamh of Ireland,
Guard of travellers,
Unmatched harper of joy, sorrow and peace,
Inventor of fidchell,
He who makes great play, sport and diversion,
Champion of champions against whom no battle can be sustained,
Better than nine cup-bearers.
Master of enchantments.
A sea-eagle falling upon pray,
Lightning out of a clear sky,
Fire that burns enemies as stubble,
Piercer of seven covers,
Brilliant sun of the west,
Radiance of the setting sun,
He of the mantles,
Master of the hound of three heroes,
Commander of the wave-sweeper,
Rider upon Manannan’s mount,
He who casts the rainbow,
Holder of the five-pointed spear,
Wielder of Am Freagarthach,
Bidder of Areadbhair,
Possessor of the Gai Assail
He who exerts An Cliamh soluis,
Sender and retriever of eo bo haille d’fhiodhbhaibh.
He who brings forth fire from the earth,
Restorer of verdour,
Avenger of the good earth,
Protector of the fields of riches,
He who makes good the battle-loss.
© Robert J. Smith,2022, London
MEMORIA OF LUGH'S WIVES
Bui of the combats,
Daughter of Ruadri, king of Britain,
Sister of Breasal Bo-Dibad,
Sister of Nas,
Wife of Lugh
Noble woman,
She who checks the sun in one spot,
Free of ravage
She who withstands havoc,
Repose from fatigue of fierce deeds,
Woman free of guilt or guile,
Happy satisfaction of gathering.
Protectress of the butter,
Keeper of the cheese-vats,
Hoarder of great wealth,
Bane and benison of the hunter,
Last sheaf of the harvest,
Raider of the Stores,
Pleasant neighbour,
Reaper who cannot be outrun,
Secret of the sowing,
Death that summons hounds,
Swifter than a star in winter.
Nas,
Daughter of Ruadri Ruad, King of Britain,
Sister of Bui,
Wife of Lugh,
Mother of Ibicc of the horses,
The modest one,
Brow and Beauty of the spot,
Gone with the noise of combat,
Unwise the deed she took in hand,
Famous for stern law,
Bright with splendid beauty,
Woman free of guilt and guile.
Englic,
Daughter of Ealcmhair of the Brugh,
Sister of Eachtach,
Wife of Lugh,
Darling of the perfect Aonghas Og,
Besotted of Midhir,
Cause of lamentation,
Provoker of nut-wailing,
She who does not spoil eloquence.
Eachtach
Daughter of Ealcmhair of the Brugh,
Sister of Englic,
Wife of Lugh,
Beloved of the Daghda,
Mother of the swift son.
© Robert J. Smith, 2023, London
TAILTIU - TAILTE
§59. Tailltiu daughter of Mag Mor king of Spain, queen of the Fir Bolg, came after the slaughter was inflicted upon the Fir Bolg in that first battle of Mag Tuired to Coill Cuan: and the wood was cut down by her, so it was a plain under clover-flower before the end of a year. This is that Tailtiu who was wife of Eochu son of Erc king of Ireland till the Tuatha De Danann slew him, ut praediximus: it is he who took her from her father, from Spain; and it is she who slept with Eochu Garb son of Dui Dall of the Tuatha De Danann; and Cian son of Dian Cecht, whose other name was Scal Balb, gave her his son in fosterage, namely Lugh, whose mother was Eithne daughter of Balar. So Tailltiu died in Tailltiu, and her name clave thereto and her grave is from the Seat of Tailltiu north-eastward. Her games were performed every year and her song of lamentation, by Lugh. With gessa and feats of arms were they performed, a fortnight before Lugnasad and a fortnight after: under dicitur Lughnasadh, that is, the celebration (?) or the festival of Lugh.
Unde Oengus post multum tempus dicebat, “the nasad of Lug, or the nasad of Beoan [son] of Mellan.”
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From Lebor Gabala Erenn, trans. McAlister, R.A.S., CELT