𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝔾𝕠𝕕

Then the druids of Ireland were summoned to them, together with their physicians and their charioteers and their smiths and their wealthy landowners and their lawyers. They conversed together secretly. Then he asked the sorcerer, whose name was Mathgen, what power he wielded. He answered that he would shake the mountains of Ireland beneath the Fomoire so that their summits would fall to the ground. And it would seem to them that the twelve chief mountains of the land of Ireland would be fighting on behalf of the Tuatha De Danann. Then he asked the cupbearer what power he wielded. He answered that he would bring the twelve chief lochs of Ireland into the presence of the Fomoire and they would not find water in them, however thirsty they were. But drink will be provided for the men of Ireland even if they remain in battle for seven years. Then Figol mac Mamois, their druid, said, "Three showers of fire will be rained upon the faces of the Fomorian host, and I will take out of them two-thirds of their courage and their skill at arms and their strength, and I will bind their urine in their own bodies and in the bodies of their horses. Every breath that the men of Ireland will exhale will increase their courage and skill at arms and strength. Even if they remain in battle for seven years, they will not be weary at all. The Dagda said, "The power which you boast, I will wield it all myself." "You are the Dagda! (Good God)” said everyone, and "Dagda" stuck to him from that time on.

The Justice of Lugh

In one of the sorrowful tales of Irish mythology, the death of Lugh’s father, Cian, is committed by 3 brothers known as the Sons of Tuirenn. After murdering Cian, the brothers are given a devious eric fine by Lugh. Appearing simple in nature the quest is actually Herculean in magnitude and was devised to send the Sons of Tuirenn to their death. As the tale continues on, the Sons of Tuirenn go through a great adventure gathering relics and fortunes to pay this eric fine. This happens to the dismay of Lugh as the three brothers appear to be capable of finishing this quest they were sent on. It is then stated that the Sons of Tuirenn either forget about the last 2 clauses of their eric fine or that Lugh actually casts a spell on the brothers to make them forget their last 2 clauses. When the brothers return with 2 clauses yet to be fulfilled, they are in ruins as they have just given over their magical ship to Lugh thinking they were done. So for many months the Sons of Tuirenn travel with a mundane rowing boat, seeking a hidden enclave of fierce warrior woman in hopes that they may retrieve their cooking pit. Eventually, the brothers come upon an old man who points them in the right direction and going to this enclave, they retrieve the cooking pit. Their last clause is all that is left now and that is to bellow out three shouts upon a sacred hill, guarded by a fierce warrior and friend of Cian. Here, the brothers do battle with the guardians of this hill and blood pours down from the mountain side as the battle rages on for many nights. Wounded yet victorious the brothers bellow out their weak shouts as they are on the verge of death. Returning to their father the Sons of Tuirenn are in a sorry state. Both the father and the Sons plead with Lugh to give a sacred pigskin which they had retrieved earlier to spare them this death. Lugh rejects their request. “I will not give it. If you offer me the entire world and the wonders it contains, I would not give it. Your death must follow. You killed Cian, and denied him even when he pleaded for his life. You killed him cruelly and nothing less than your own deaths will compensate that deed.” In reading this tale one may forget the terrible crime of the Sons of Tuirenn and may view Lugh as unjustly wrathful in how he deals with the three brothers, even going as far as to thwart their efforts through use of magic. But the Sons of Tuirenn is not a tale of Divine Injustice but rather of Divine Justice. As Cian pleaded for his life the Sons of Tuirenn disregarded this. They proceed to kill him with stones until he is unrecognizable as to not kill him with their own weapons but with weapons of the earth. The earth rejects CIan’s burial multiple times until finally accepting him and roaring a warning to the Sons of Tuirenn that his blood is on their hands no matter how much they schemed to make it appear as though it was not they who murdered Cian. Now, broken and dying, the Sons of Tuirenn know how Cian may have felt as he pleaded with them for his life. As they plead for their life Lugh looks upon them and in a great act of justice succeeds in extracting payment for what they have done. They will perish as Cian has perished. They will pay a fine equal to their crime - Death for Death, and Blood for Blood. This is the justice of Lugh. The tale of the Sons of Tuirenn is one of great morality and warns of what a cruel attitude may bring. One must be just in their acts lest they burden themselves with a price they cannot pay.