Background God

Just FYI Lugh is on the background now. Actually I like this pic better than the old one.

Lugh

Balor

When we left the Tuatha De, they were in a bad state of affairs. But not all was lost, because Lugh, a prophesied hero, had come to save them!

We have to back up a bit first. The Fomorians enslaved the Tuatha De under the control of Balor Evil Eye, a mighty Fomorian warlord. If he looked at someone with his evil eye, they would die. It had been prophesied that he would be killed by his grandson, who would free the Tuatha De. To prevent this, he locked his daughter, Ethlinn, in a tower. However, Cian, son of Dian Cecht, snuck in and the two had children. Balor was enraged and ordered his three grandchildren to be tossed into the sea. Luckily, Manannan mac Lir, a sea god, rescued one child, and gave him to Tailtiu, queen of the Fir Bolg, to raise. This was Lugh.   

Background

Just FYI I'm probably going to change the background each time I mention a major god, so Nuada might not be up there much longer. (I'll probably keep the photo somewhere though.)

Bres

I forgot to mention in the last post that the Fir Bolgs took the province of Connacht after the First Battle of Magh Tuiredh, leaving the Tuatha De the rest of Ireland.

In case you haven't guessed, this is Bres

The Tuatha De were without a leader when Nuada lost his arm. So, they chose Bres, the son of Eriu, goddess of Ireland. Bres, known as Bres the Beautiful, was an imposing and beautiful man, but was a cruel ruler. He forced the champions of the first battle, Dagda and Ogma, to work at manual labors, and performed many other harsh deeds, Finally, Nuada got his new arm, and took back the kingship. Bres went to Eriu and asked who his father was. It turns out he was the son of the Fomorian king, Elatha. He went to his father and asked for an army to get him on the throne. The Fomorians attacked and completely enslaved the Tuatha De.

Nuada

Nuada

The king of the Tuatha De was a mighty god named Nuada. He was the brother of the Dagda, Dian Cecht, Goibhniu, Credne, and Luchta. He wielded a mighty sword called Claiomh Solias, or the Sword of Light, which was one of the Four Treasures of the Tuatha De Danann.
When the Tuatha De landed, they challenged the Fir Bolg to battle. This would become known as the First Battle of Magh Tuiredh. The Tuatha De won because of their superior weapons, but Nuada lost his arm. He was forced to step down as the king of the Tuatha De had to be physically whole. However, the master physician Dian Cecht gave him a silver arm, and Nuada took the throne back. He was later known as Nuada Airgedlámh. Unfortunately, Nuada died in the second battle of Magh Tuiredh.

Book of Invasions, Part 4

Almost there!

The Fir Bolgs didn't have to much to say for themselves. They took over Ireland, but pretty much survived until the Tuatha de Danann showed up.

The Tuatha De were also descendants of the Nemedians. They came from four cities called Findias, Gorias, Murias, and Falias. Each city had its own treasure, which were known as the Four Jewels of the Tuatha De Danann. They had great knowledge and power at their command. These are the true gods of Ireland. More about them will be coming later!

Book of Invasions Part 3

Here we go again. Soon I'll get to the individual gods, but I want to get this stuff out of the way first.

Next came the Nemedians. Here's where it gets good. Nemed and his followers invaded Ireland 30 years after the Partholonians' extinction. Unfortunately, those pesky Fomorians (otherwise callde Fomorii) showed up again. At first, the Nemedians succeeded against the Fomorians, but a plague decimated the population. The Fomorians forced the Nemedians to pay a heavy tribute, basically forcing them into slavery. However, three Nemedian cheiftains rose up against their overlords. They managed to slay a Fomorian king, but ultimately lost. However, thirty Nemedians survived, and fled to other places. One group became the Fir Bolg, and the other became the Tuatha de Danann. These groups would soon return with a vengeance.