1. Druid Legends of Catastrophe
2. Dagda
3. A series of short stories from the heroic period
4. The True Story of St. Patrick
2. Dagda
3. A series of short stories from the heroic period
4. The True Story of St. Patrick
DRUID LEGENDS OF CATASTROPHE
The Druids of ancient times had no illusions about the stability of our planet, or about the other planets in our solar system. They had inherited knowledge of earlier catastrophic happenings, and this led them to believe that the earth would be destroyed by fire and water. But they always preached that the universe and the souls of those living in it are indestructible. In the legendary voyage of Snedgus and McRiagla there is an island with two lakes, one of fire and the other one of water.
In the Mythological cycle we are told that the world will end when the sun and moon will be mixed together. The Sorcerer Mathgen promised to cast the mountains of Ireland on the Fomoire, and that the lakes and islands of Ireland would be hidden from the Fomoire, and that the Druid Figol would cause three showers of fire to fall upon the faces of the enemy and that Dagda, Lug and Ogma spent seven years making weapons and preparing for battle in the heavens.In the Cattle Raid of Cooley the transmitted memories of terrestrial catastrophes were left unmodified by the monk chroniclers, when Sualtaim, who was Cuchulains father, was told about his son fighting against the odds and when he heard the noise of the battle, he called out:"This is from afar. Is it the sky that cracks or the sea that ebbs or the earth that splits or is it the distress of my son against the Foray of Cuailgne".
When he got to his son Cuchulain told him to go to the Ulstermen and tell them to protect their cattle. When Sualtaim reached Emain he told the Ulstermen and their King Conor..."Men are slain, women are carried off, cattle are driven away, O Ulstermen"
King Conor replied "A little too loud is that cry, for the sky is above us, the earth beneath us, and the sea all around us, but unless the sky with its showers of stars fall upon the surface of the earth or unless the ground burst open in an earthquake, or unless the fish abounding blue bordered sea come over the surface of the earth, I shall bring back every cow to its byre and enclosure, every woman to her own abode and dwelling, after victory in battle and combat and conquest"What I always find interesting is the thought that he would retrieve the cattle first, and the women second.
When Queen Meave had got the Brown Bull of Cooley and was on her way home, she sent MacRoth, her chief messenger to check if the Ulstermen were following them over the plains of Meath. When MacRoth returned to Queen Meave he reported the following..."Not long was he there when he heard a noise and a tumult and a clamour. It seemed to him almost as if the sky had fallen onto the surface of the earth, or as if the fish abounding blue bordered sea had swept across the face of the world, or as if the earth had split in an earthquake, or as if the trees of the forest had all fallen into each others forks and bifurcations and branches. However the wild beasts were hunted across the plain in such numbers that the surface of the plain of Meath was not visible beneath them". This occurred over 100 years before the birth of Christ. The story was transmitted orally (like so many others) in the strict Celtic Bardic Tradition before being written down by unknown monks.
Ptolemy's biography of Alexander the Great tells us about a meeting of a Celtic Prince with Alexander on the lower Danube in 335 BC. Alexander was only 21 years of age and was publicly establishing the river as the northern boundary of Greece. Alexander called for the allegiance of all the peoples south of the Danube. We have one story about a Celtic Prince who came to see Alexander. Only two sentences have survived on record. Alexander put the following question -"Tell me O Prince, what is it that you and your people fear most?"The reply holds race memories of cataclysms and shows the courage of the Celtic race. The Celtic Prince replies...."Only that the heavens might fall on our heads".
In the legendary account of the Destruction of Da Dergas Hostel, which is in Glenasmole, we have an account of the death of Conaire King of Ireland, whose rule was good and reign peaceful. He was returning from a visit to Munster where he had settled a quarrel between two foster brothers of his and he stayed over at Da Dergas hostel. This hostel was always open with food and lodging free to those upon the Kings business. Conaire was given a welcome and Da Derga himself prepared the feast. During the feast an earthquake shook the building "So that the weapons fell from their racks" . King Conaire cried out aloud -"I do not know what it is unless it be that the earth has been rent, or that the Leviathan encircling the earth is striking with its tail to overturn the world, or the boat of the sons of Donn Desa that has come to land".
Now the Leviation was a comet, which in ancient times was known as a fiery dragon. Norse legend tells of three comets, a serpent, a wolf, and a dog. In the book of Job this Leviathan is referred to as the apostate dragon. Con Connor reckons to have found the site of Da Dergas Hostel. Using dowsing rods on the potential site, which was narrowed down after much research, we actually came across the crack left by the earthquake all those years ago. It is about six to eight feet wide, travels about north - south for hundreds of steps, and the now grassed over crack is clearly visible as a linear depression. Further south is a well-known standing stone alignment, which we believe to be annotating the earth fracture. The highest point has a bullaun stone, which is a huge boulder lying on its side with a 16 inch wide depression or bowl carved into it. Part of the story of the Destruction of Da Dergas hostel tells us that the hostel was visible from the sea, and this means that the sea was also visible from the Hostel. Standing beside the bullaun stone there is an incredible panoramic view to Tara and Newgrange but also to the sea at Howth. One of the four Royal roads to Tara came from Da Dergas Hostel in Glenasmole, and it seems perfectly appropriate that Tara could be seen from the Hostel. Glenasmole has long been thought of as the Valley of the Thrushes, but a friend Thomas Maher, an Irish scholar, has brought us a proper translation as the 'glen of the burnt out ruins'. From this site you can also see the cairns on Tallaght and Saggart hills. We have gone to this site on a divining day and the dowsing effects over this crack are quite powerful.
Our ancestors respected the external forces and factors that affected their lives. To them the earth did not shake by chance. Their challenge was to discover what caused these dreadful happenings, and to do this they watched the heavens. In the Senchus Mor, we learn that seven divisions of the firmament above the earth were recognized, consisting of the moon, mercury, venus, the sun, mars, jupiter and saturn. About the stars they believed " as a shell is about an egg, the firmament is about the earth. They believed that the twelve constellations represented the year and that the sun runs through one each month. They believed that the earth was enclosed by a solid sky, outside of which was the Gods. The sun, moon, the planets and the stars were associated with these Gods. Celtic belief is that horses draw the chariot of the sun across the sky into the other world, to rest and then return in the morning. Comets were seen as the armies of the Gods. Today's popular hobby of astrology has its origins in this memory, and from this the factual science of astronomy was born. But predictions from observations in the heavens were not confined to just our ancient ancestors....."For behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven....." Malachi,c.iv,v.1."And there appeared another wonder in heaven: and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his head. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth." Book of Revelation, c.xii, 3and 4."..... lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood...and the stars of heaven fell upon the earth ...and ...people hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains... Book of Revelation, c. vi.
Not far south of Glenasmole is the Scalp, a mountain I have yet to climb. The steep west side is covered with thousands of great granite boulders which do not just sit on this mountain but are in fact embedded into it. P.A. O Suiochan in his book 'Ireland, A journey into lost time', sees this as mute but remarkable evidence of a massive cataclysm. Bray head is similar. Now this is the east side of Ireland, and the stones are embedded on the west side of the mountains, only the blue bordered sea could do such an incredible feat.Seven thousand years ago, a warm stable climate predominated and blue skies were the norm in this beautiful land. Professor Murphy of the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies tells us that the seas around the south and west of Ireland were virtually storm-less. We also know that the rise in sea level was completed by about 5,500 years ago. This is also about the time that Newgrange was abandoned. Whatever disaster caused this, we have no Irish records, but we do have the Mayan Prophecies.
The 'Mayan' third age lasted from 7,000 BC to 3100 BC. They left the forest and rebuilt their world. They were farmers and ate tzinlocoacoc that is similar to almond paste as distinct to the wild fruits of the previous age. This was the age of fire. The Mayan Prophecies tells us that the third age ended about 3,100 BC or (5,100 years ago) when excessive UV was hitting the earth, consequently threatening human survival. The survivors of the third age then moved to the high plateau at Teothuacan. The third age ended when an increase in solar radiation led to a loss of fertility in people. The Irish Quartz age (our final passage cairn building age) ended about 5,000 or 5,500 years ago. When we study with this as a filter we can see the various effects of UV in different zones. The Mayan Prophecies by Maurice Cotteral and Adrian Gilbert shows the UV burn zone as 20 degrees north and south of the equator. Ireland is at 50 degrees north of the equator, over thirty degrees above the burn zone. The effect at Ireland's latitude was dense cloud cover, permanent rain, flooding, and deluge. The transpiration cycle, the cycle of rain and rainmaking, tells us of an equal and opposite reaction with the sun on the sea making hot 'steam' and then the cold and heavy clouds falling as rain only to start all over again. When the burn zone was hot, there was very wet conditions elsewhere. This is when Ireland's bogs began to expand and grow at an alarming rate, and at this time the ancient Irish lived and farmed and had their temples on top of mountains. It just got too wet. Permanent rain! Imagine it! When we examine the known dwellings of that time we quickly see that they were laid out compactly but not lived in all day by a family as today.
The people of the Irish Quartz Age were an outdoor race meaning that their huts were for sleeping and their world was nature. This cloud cover would act as a quality UV filter. It would also prevent proper harvests and procreation. The ability to construct so many huge stone temples was and is today dependent on abundance. With permanent rain this abundance began to fail, and solar engineering magic and weather modifying just could not stop the change. The men, women and children of the Irish Quartz Age emigrated. They went to Europe and then to Egypt, and came back to Ireland as the Celtic Civilization. When they returned they never went back to live on top of the mountains, but instead settled on the mountain slopes and the hilltops There was a major volcanic eruption at Thera (Santorini) beside the island of Crete in the Mediterranean sea, which was the capitol of the Minoan Empire. This eruption was a major break in the earths surface, bigger that Krakatoa and St. Helens. The movement of the earth's surface was cataclysmic and it happened over only a few days or weeks. Once it was over, it is believed that it just closed up again. It is conceivable that the force of that eruption could actually punch a hole through our atmosphere, possibly allowing the cosmic cold to enter our atmosphere, or maybe the dust and debris thrown into our upper atmosphere created weather conditions that blocked the suns rays from entering the zone 30 to 50 degrees north of the equator. The Minoan culture had links with Ireland before and after Thera erupted. The bull cult, the art, the dress style, the laws and so on, are all very Irish. It is possible that the Minoans had emigrated from Ireland about 5,500 years ago, bringing with them the wisdom of the ancient Irish stone age. But they came home and this we have on record.
In the Irish book of Invasions there is a poem which has no name, but we have the name of its author, Roigne Rosgadach, son of Ugoine Mor, whose other son Mal, was then the monarch of Ireland. It is an account of the travels of a Celtic tribe or clan named the Gathelians, and it tells of their departure from Scythia to Egypt and from there to Spain and then from Spain to Ireland. The story goes that Mal requested from Roigne detailed information on the origins of the his people and as always this was given in verse.
O worthy son of Ugoine dust know who invaded Eirin
In remarkable journeyings the Gael reached Scythia
Then departed to Shinar from thence to Egypt
In the reign of Pharoe Cincheris who drowned with his hosts
In the waters of the Rea Sea.
Prospering there, Nuil married Scota daughter of the Pharoe
Who bore our great ancestor from whom the Gael are named
Named also Scoti his mothers name.
Later a war was fought between the clans of Nuil and Neonbail
Their Decendants.
Refloir son of Neman was slain by Gollam who fled to Egypt
In the reign of Pharoe Nectenibus decendant of Scota.
They journeyed through Africa.
Of their descent Fenius Farsaid was eminent.
Their descendants reached Spain.
Ilith begat strong children Donn, Aireach, Aimergin,Eber, Ir and Copla, Ereamon and Aranan,Eight Descendants of Gollam begat by noble Milidh
Whose name they took Mir Milidh
Their childrens children from Spain to Erin sailed
And took possession of he land dividing it among twelve chiefs
The truth of this is found in our historical records. This is the story of the coming of the Milesians to Ireland, and it clearly tells us of continual emigration for survival. This 'emigrate to survive plan' was true on the other side of the Atlantic as well, as the Hopi Creation myth tells us -
"Now the people began their migrations. Each group became a clan, some of them followed certain signs, some followed stars. They left their writing on the rocks, and every so often they stopped and built villages. But they never stayed long before moving on once more. Their guides were the sun, the moon, the stars, and their maize. If they reached places where the maize failed to grow, they knew that they had come too far and they turned back"
Our armchair romantic perspective lets us fantasize about the wanderlust of our ancestors, when in fact the reality was failing harvests, failing birth rates, and their inherited memories of natures abundance, i.e. when the Gods smiled upon us. In the last two thousand years we have tried to dominate nature and to the profit of a minority we have succeeded, but there are huge famines happen all the time and the majority of the world seems to be in panic for our future survival. We can blame the marketing overlords who create unreal desires, or the church, which does not cater to our modern spiritual needs, or the corrupt politicians who squander our limited resources, but until we ourselves take full responsibility for our own futures - we will always be in confusion.
Our ancestors took full responsibility for their futures and they physically moved on, today it seems that we must take full responsibility for our future and mentally move on.
Much has been written about Newgrange, mostly highly academic, sometimes completely ridiculous, but it all stems from the fascination that everybody who visits the place automatically gets. The first written records of Newgrange are in the earliest Irish prose stories, the Mythological Cycle. Written in medieval times by the monks, they are in fact much older. They are about the Tuatha De Danann, the earliest known native Irish Gods. They are disguised as a supernatural race of wizards and magicians. They descended from the sky in a metal ship in the northwest and inhabited Ireland long before the Bronze Age. They are "The Lords of Light" that live in the great mound at Newgrange. The ancient name for Newgrange is Bru Na Boinne, and in the translation of this name is the first major clue to the wonders of their magic. Na Boinne means the river Boyne of the White Cow goddess, and Bru means an otherworld palace or festive hall, existing in an eternal timeless realm of the supernatural and not as a place of human habitation. This is the land of the Gods, a place of continual party where no one ever dies. It is written that the Bru had three fruit trees that were always in fruit, and an inexhaustible cauldron from which no company went away unsatisfied. Today we would call this the land of milk and honey. The first to live at this Bru was Elcmar, who was married to Boand, the divinised personification of the river Boyne. Not much is known about Elcmar, but the Boyne has magical and mystical attributes. The source of the Boyne is described as the well of Segais, an Otherworld Well regarded as being the origin of all wisdom and occult knowledge. This well is surrounded by hazel trees whose nuts drop into its water, forming na bolcca immaiss or bubbles of mystic inspiration. Either once a year, or once in every seven years, these pass into the river Boyne. The next occupant of the Bru is Dagda. We know lots about Dagda, the good god. He is the all powerful and omniscient and most prominent of the ancient native Irish gods. Also known as Ruad Ro-fhessa, the Lord of Great Knowledge. He is a sky god, and a god of the sun. Dagda lives in the Bru and has carnal union with Boand by using his mastery over time. Elcmar is sent on an errand for one day, which really becomes a period of nine months.
During this time Oengus is conceived and born. He is called Mac ind Oc, meaning the youthful one by his mother who says: Young is the son who was begotten at the break of day and born betwixt it and evening. Oengus is regarded as a personification of the day, and he is born on the start of the shortest day at Newgrange. Newgrange is also known as Bru Mac ind Oc, or the Bru of Oengus. Now the story of his birth moves on to adulthood when he requests a Bru of his own. Dagda says, " I have none for thee", Oengus replies" Thou let me be granted a day and a night in thine own dwelling ". When Dagda informs him " thou hast consumed thy time", Oengus says, "It is clear that night and day are the whole world, and it is that which has been given to me". From then on it is Oengus who dwells in the mound at the bend in the Boyne. A major poem about the Brú and Oengus by George Russel has Aengus himself talk about the past days of glory at the Brú while also implying its present state as a catastrophe. A Dream of Angus Oge, George Russel 1897
"As he spoke, he paused before a great mound grown over with trees, and around it silver clear in the moonlight were immense stones piled, the remains of an original circle, and there was a dark low narrow entrance leading within- He took Con by the hand and in an instant they were standing in a lofty, cross shaped cave, built roughly of huge stones. "This was my place. In days past many a one plucked here the purple flower of magic and the fruit of the tree of life . . ."And even as he spoke, a light began to glow and to pervade the cave, and to obliterate the stone walls and the antique hieroglyphics engraven thereon, and to melt the earthen floor into itself like a fiery sun suddenly uprisen within the world, and there was everywhere a wandering ecstasy of sound; light and sound were one; light had a voice... " I am Aengus, men call me young. I am the sunlight in the heart, the moonlight in the mind; I am the the light at the end of every dream... I will make you immortal; for my palace opens into the Gardens of the Sun".
In the Fenian cycle, the latest tradition in literature, Oengus reappears when Finn Mc Coole describes the mound as the house of Oengus, which cannot be burned or destroyed as long as Oengus is alive. The famous love story of Diarmaid and Graine also connect to the Bru when Diarmaid is dying, partly because of Finn McCoole, and Finn says, " Let us leave this tulach for fear that Oengus and the Tuatha De Danann may catch us". Finn then brings Diarmaid to Newgrange in order to " put aerial life into him so that he will talk to me every day".
This story has many of the magical components of the Egyptian story of Isis bringing Osiris back to life in the great pyramid. Many other similar links between the Egyptian magical tales and the older Irish magical tales exist which suggests that the magical and astronomical skills of the Egyptians had their origin in Ireland. The very curious tale of the high King, Conn, and the Ri Raith (Royal Fortress) at Tara entitled "The magical stone of Tara" states; -
One evening Conn of the hundred battles repaired at sunrise to the Ri Raith at Tara, accompanied by his three Druids, Mael, Bloc and Bluicne, and his three poets, Ethain, Cord and Cesare; for he was accustomed every day to repair to this place with the same company, for the purpose of watching the stars, that no hostile aerial beings should descend upon Ireland unknown to him. While standing in the usual place one morning, Conn happened to tread on a stone, and immediately the stone shrieked under his feet so as to be heard all over Tara and throughout all East Meath. Conn then asked the Druids why the stone had shrieked, what its name was and what it said. Fifty three days later they answered; - Fal is the name of the stone, and it comes from the Island of Fal.
This is the Lia Fal, the stone of destiny, which was brought to Ireland by the Tuatha De Dannan, and a stone with this name is still within the Royal Fortress at Tara, although it is no longer beside the passage cairn, it is only 400 yards from its original site (there is a story that the real Lia Fail is now in Scone, Scotland but was once under the coronation seat at Westminster). Here we have a King making astronomical observations, and declaring his interest in " hostile aerial beings" at a temple that was at that time thousands of years old. The cairn at Tara is even today brilliantly illuminated at the time of two important Celtic festivals; Samhain in early November and Imbolc in early February.
Today's Irish Druids can have no illusions about the stability of our planet, or about the other planets in our solar system. We have the old Druids knowledge of actual impending catastrophic happenings - that the earth would be destroyed by fire and water. We have modern ecological and environmental awareness of the global weather patterns collapsing. The fire of the internal combustion engine has consumed nearly all the fossil oxygen in our atmosphere. Commercial deforestation has destroyed the air and water cycles in ways that will take many thousands of years to self-repair. These modern looming catastrophes are denied by the governments of the money lenders but even the dogs in the street know its bad and that it's getting worse. But today's Celtic Druids know that the Universe and the souls of those living in it are indestructible - so we live in the here and now - just as our ancestors did.
The Druids of ancient times had no illusions about the stability of our planet, or about the other planets in our solar system. They had inherited knowledge of earlier catastrophic happenings, and this led them to believe that the earth would be destroyed by fire and water. But they always preached that the universe and the souls of those living in it are indestructible. In the legendary voyage of Snedgus and McRiagla there is an island with two lakes, one of fire and the other one of water.
In the Mythological cycle we are told that the world will end when the sun and moon will be mixed together. The Sorcerer Mathgen promised to cast the mountains of Ireland on the Fomoire, and that the lakes and islands of Ireland would be hidden from the Fomoire, and that the Druid Figol would cause three showers of fire to fall upon the faces of the enemy and that Dagda, Lug and Ogma spent seven years making weapons and preparing for battle in the heavens.In the Cattle Raid of Cooley the transmitted memories of terrestrial catastrophes were left unmodified by the monk chroniclers, when Sualtaim, who was Cuchulains father, was told about his son fighting against the odds and when he heard the noise of the battle, he called out:"This is from afar. Is it the sky that cracks or the sea that ebbs or the earth that splits or is it the distress of my son against the Foray of Cuailgne".
When he got to his son Cuchulain told him to go to the Ulstermen and tell them to protect their cattle. When Sualtaim reached Emain he told the Ulstermen and their King Conor..."Men are slain, women are carried off, cattle are driven away, O Ulstermen"
King Conor replied "A little too loud is that cry, for the sky is above us, the earth beneath us, and the sea all around us, but unless the sky with its showers of stars fall upon the surface of the earth or unless the ground burst open in an earthquake, or unless the fish abounding blue bordered sea come over the surface of the earth, I shall bring back every cow to its byre and enclosure, every woman to her own abode and dwelling, after victory in battle and combat and conquest"What I always find interesting is the thought that he would retrieve the cattle first, and the women second.
When Queen Meave had got the Brown Bull of Cooley and was on her way home, she sent MacRoth, her chief messenger to check if the Ulstermen were following them over the plains of Meath. When MacRoth returned to Queen Meave he reported the following..."Not long was he there when he heard a noise and a tumult and a clamour. It seemed to him almost as if the sky had fallen onto the surface of the earth, or as if the fish abounding blue bordered sea had swept across the face of the world, or as if the earth had split in an earthquake, or as if the trees of the forest had all fallen into each others forks and bifurcations and branches. However the wild beasts were hunted across the plain in such numbers that the surface of the plain of Meath was not visible beneath them". This occurred over 100 years before the birth of Christ. The story was transmitted orally (like so many others) in the strict Celtic Bardic Tradition before being written down by unknown monks.
Ptolemy's biography of Alexander the Great tells us about a meeting of a Celtic Prince with Alexander on the lower Danube in 335 BC. Alexander was only 21 years of age and was publicly establishing the river as the northern boundary of Greece. Alexander called for the allegiance of all the peoples south of the Danube. We have one story about a Celtic Prince who came to see Alexander. Only two sentences have survived on record. Alexander put the following question -"Tell me O Prince, what is it that you and your people fear most?"The reply holds race memories of cataclysms and shows the courage of the Celtic race. The Celtic Prince replies...."Only that the heavens might fall on our heads".
In the legendary account of the Destruction of Da Dergas Hostel, which is in Glenasmole, we have an account of the death of Conaire King of Ireland, whose rule was good and reign peaceful. He was returning from a visit to Munster where he had settled a quarrel between two foster brothers of his and he stayed over at Da Dergas hostel. This hostel was always open with food and lodging free to those upon the Kings business. Conaire was given a welcome and Da Derga himself prepared the feast. During the feast an earthquake shook the building "So that the weapons fell from their racks" . King Conaire cried out aloud -"I do not know what it is unless it be that the earth has been rent, or that the Leviathan encircling the earth is striking with its tail to overturn the world, or the boat of the sons of Donn Desa that has come to land".
Now the Leviation was a comet, which in ancient times was known as a fiery dragon. Norse legend tells of three comets, a serpent, a wolf, and a dog. In the book of Job this Leviathan is referred to as the apostate dragon. Con Connor reckons to have found the site of Da Dergas Hostel. Using dowsing rods on the potential site, which was narrowed down after much research, we actually came across the crack left by the earthquake all those years ago. It is about six to eight feet wide, travels about north - south for hundreds of steps, and the now grassed over crack is clearly visible as a linear depression. Further south is a well-known standing stone alignment, which we believe to be annotating the earth fracture. The highest point has a bullaun stone, which is a huge boulder lying on its side with a 16 inch wide depression or bowl carved into it. Part of the story of the Destruction of Da Dergas hostel tells us that the hostel was visible from the sea, and this means that the sea was also visible from the Hostel. Standing beside the bullaun stone there is an incredible panoramic view to Tara and Newgrange but also to the sea at Howth. One of the four Royal roads to Tara came from Da Dergas Hostel in Glenasmole, and it seems perfectly appropriate that Tara could be seen from the Hostel. Glenasmole has long been thought of as the Valley of the Thrushes, but a friend Thomas Maher, an Irish scholar, has brought us a proper translation as the 'glen of the burnt out ruins'. From this site you can also see the cairns on Tallaght and Saggart hills. We have gone to this site on a divining day and the dowsing effects over this crack are quite powerful.
Our ancestors respected the external forces and factors that affected their lives. To them the earth did not shake by chance. Their challenge was to discover what caused these dreadful happenings, and to do this they watched the heavens. In the Senchus Mor, we learn that seven divisions of the firmament above the earth were recognized, consisting of the moon, mercury, venus, the sun, mars, jupiter and saturn. About the stars they believed " as a shell is about an egg, the firmament is about the earth. They believed that the twelve constellations represented the year and that the sun runs through one each month. They believed that the earth was enclosed by a solid sky, outside of which was the Gods. The sun, moon, the planets and the stars were associated with these Gods. Celtic belief is that horses draw the chariot of the sun across the sky into the other world, to rest and then return in the morning. Comets were seen as the armies of the Gods. Today's popular hobby of astrology has its origins in this memory, and from this the factual science of astronomy was born. But predictions from observations in the heavens were not confined to just our ancient ancestors....."For behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven....." Malachi,c.iv,v.1."And there appeared another wonder in heaven: and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his head. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth." Book of Revelation, c.xii, 3and 4."..... lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood...and the stars of heaven fell upon the earth ...and ...people hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains... Book of Revelation, c. vi.
Not far south of Glenasmole is the Scalp, a mountain I have yet to climb. The steep west side is covered with thousands of great granite boulders which do not just sit on this mountain but are in fact embedded into it. P.A. O Suiochan in his book 'Ireland, A journey into lost time', sees this as mute but remarkable evidence of a massive cataclysm. Bray head is similar. Now this is the east side of Ireland, and the stones are embedded on the west side of the mountains, only the blue bordered sea could do such an incredible feat.Seven thousand years ago, a warm stable climate predominated and blue skies were the norm in this beautiful land. Professor Murphy of the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies tells us that the seas around the south and west of Ireland were virtually storm-less. We also know that the rise in sea level was completed by about 5,500 years ago. This is also about the time that Newgrange was abandoned. Whatever disaster caused this, we have no Irish records, but we do have the Mayan Prophecies.
The 'Mayan' third age lasted from 7,000 BC to 3100 BC. They left the forest and rebuilt their world. They were farmers and ate tzinlocoacoc that is similar to almond paste as distinct to the wild fruits of the previous age. This was the age of fire. The Mayan Prophecies tells us that the third age ended about 3,100 BC or (5,100 years ago) when excessive UV was hitting the earth, consequently threatening human survival. The survivors of the third age then moved to the high plateau at Teothuacan. The third age ended when an increase in solar radiation led to a loss of fertility in people. The Irish Quartz age (our final passage cairn building age) ended about 5,000 or 5,500 years ago. When we study with this as a filter we can see the various effects of UV in different zones. The Mayan Prophecies by Maurice Cotteral and Adrian Gilbert shows the UV burn zone as 20 degrees north and south of the equator. Ireland is at 50 degrees north of the equator, over thirty degrees above the burn zone. The effect at Ireland's latitude was dense cloud cover, permanent rain, flooding, and deluge. The transpiration cycle, the cycle of rain and rainmaking, tells us of an equal and opposite reaction with the sun on the sea making hot 'steam' and then the cold and heavy clouds falling as rain only to start all over again. When the burn zone was hot, there was very wet conditions elsewhere. This is when Ireland's bogs began to expand and grow at an alarming rate, and at this time the ancient Irish lived and farmed and had their temples on top of mountains. It just got too wet. Permanent rain! Imagine it! When we examine the known dwellings of that time we quickly see that they were laid out compactly but not lived in all day by a family as today.
The people of the Irish Quartz Age were an outdoor race meaning that their huts were for sleeping and their world was nature. This cloud cover would act as a quality UV filter. It would also prevent proper harvests and procreation. The ability to construct so many huge stone temples was and is today dependent on abundance. With permanent rain this abundance began to fail, and solar engineering magic and weather modifying just could not stop the change. The men, women and children of the Irish Quartz Age emigrated. They went to Europe and then to Egypt, and came back to Ireland as the Celtic Civilization. When they returned they never went back to live on top of the mountains, but instead settled on the mountain slopes and the hilltops There was a major volcanic eruption at Thera (Santorini) beside the island of Crete in the Mediterranean sea, which was the capitol of the Minoan Empire. This eruption was a major break in the earths surface, bigger that Krakatoa and St. Helens. The movement of the earth's surface was cataclysmic and it happened over only a few days or weeks. Once it was over, it is believed that it just closed up again. It is conceivable that the force of that eruption could actually punch a hole through our atmosphere, possibly allowing the cosmic cold to enter our atmosphere, or maybe the dust and debris thrown into our upper atmosphere created weather conditions that blocked the suns rays from entering the zone 30 to 50 degrees north of the equator. The Minoan culture had links with Ireland before and after Thera erupted. The bull cult, the art, the dress style, the laws and so on, are all very Irish. It is possible that the Minoans had emigrated from Ireland about 5,500 years ago, bringing with them the wisdom of the ancient Irish stone age. But they came home and this we have on record.
In the Irish book of Invasions there is a poem which has no name, but we have the name of its author, Roigne Rosgadach, son of Ugoine Mor, whose other son Mal, was then the monarch of Ireland. It is an account of the travels of a Celtic tribe or clan named the Gathelians, and it tells of their departure from Scythia to Egypt and from there to Spain and then from Spain to Ireland. The story goes that Mal requested from Roigne detailed information on the origins of the his people and as always this was given in verse.
O worthy son of Ugoine dust know who invaded Eirin
In remarkable journeyings the Gael reached Scythia
Then departed to Shinar from thence to Egypt
In the reign of Pharoe Cincheris who drowned with his hosts
In the waters of the Rea Sea.
Prospering there, Nuil married Scota daughter of the Pharoe
Who bore our great ancestor from whom the Gael are named
Named also Scoti his mothers name.
Later a war was fought between the clans of Nuil and Neonbail
Their Decendants.
Refloir son of Neman was slain by Gollam who fled to Egypt
In the reign of Pharoe Nectenibus decendant of Scota.
They journeyed through Africa.
Of their descent Fenius Farsaid was eminent.
Their descendants reached Spain.
Ilith begat strong children Donn, Aireach, Aimergin,Eber, Ir and Copla, Ereamon and Aranan,Eight Descendants of Gollam begat by noble Milidh
Whose name they took Mir Milidh
Their childrens children from Spain to Erin sailed
And took possession of he land dividing it among twelve chiefs
The truth of this is found in our historical records. This is the story of the coming of the Milesians to Ireland, and it clearly tells us of continual emigration for survival. This 'emigrate to survive plan' was true on the other side of the Atlantic as well, as the Hopi Creation myth tells us -
"Now the people began their migrations. Each group became a clan, some of them followed certain signs, some followed stars. They left their writing on the rocks, and every so often they stopped and built villages. But they never stayed long before moving on once more. Their guides were the sun, the moon, the stars, and their maize. If they reached places where the maize failed to grow, they knew that they had come too far and they turned back"
Our armchair romantic perspective lets us fantasize about the wanderlust of our ancestors, when in fact the reality was failing harvests, failing birth rates, and their inherited memories of natures abundance, i.e. when the Gods smiled upon us. In the last two thousand years we have tried to dominate nature and to the profit of a minority we have succeeded, but there are huge famines happen all the time and the majority of the world seems to be in panic for our future survival. We can blame the marketing overlords who create unreal desires, or the church, which does not cater to our modern spiritual needs, or the corrupt politicians who squander our limited resources, but until we ourselves take full responsibility for our own futures - we will always be in confusion.
Our ancestors took full responsibility for their futures and they physically moved on, today it seems that we must take full responsibility for our future and mentally move on.
Much has been written about Newgrange, mostly highly academic, sometimes completely ridiculous, but it all stems from the fascination that everybody who visits the place automatically gets. The first written records of Newgrange are in the earliest Irish prose stories, the Mythological Cycle. Written in medieval times by the monks, they are in fact much older. They are about the Tuatha De Danann, the earliest known native Irish Gods. They are disguised as a supernatural race of wizards and magicians. They descended from the sky in a metal ship in the northwest and inhabited Ireland long before the Bronze Age. They are "The Lords of Light" that live in the great mound at Newgrange. The ancient name for Newgrange is Bru Na Boinne, and in the translation of this name is the first major clue to the wonders of their magic. Na Boinne means the river Boyne of the White Cow goddess, and Bru means an otherworld palace or festive hall, existing in an eternal timeless realm of the supernatural and not as a place of human habitation. This is the land of the Gods, a place of continual party where no one ever dies. It is written that the Bru had three fruit trees that were always in fruit, and an inexhaustible cauldron from which no company went away unsatisfied. Today we would call this the land of milk and honey. The first to live at this Bru was Elcmar, who was married to Boand, the divinised personification of the river Boyne. Not much is known about Elcmar, but the Boyne has magical and mystical attributes. The source of the Boyne is described as the well of Segais, an Otherworld Well regarded as being the origin of all wisdom and occult knowledge. This well is surrounded by hazel trees whose nuts drop into its water, forming na bolcca immaiss or bubbles of mystic inspiration. Either once a year, or once in every seven years, these pass into the river Boyne. The next occupant of the Bru is Dagda. We know lots about Dagda, the good god. He is the all powerful and omniscient and most prominent of the ancient native Irish gods. Also known as Ruad Ro-fhessa, the Lord of Great Knowledge. He is a sky god, and a god of the sun. Dagda lives in the Bru and has carnal union with Boand by using his mastery over time. Elcmar is sent on an errand for one day, which really becomes a period of nine months.
During this time Oengus is conceived and born. He is called Mac ind Oc, meaning the youthful one by his mother who says: Young is the son who was begotten at the break of day and born betwixt it and evening. Oengus is regarded as a personification of the day, and he is born on the start of the shortest day at Newgrange. Newgrange is also known as Bru Mac ind Oc, or the Bru of Oengus. Now the story of his birth moves on to adulthood when he requests a Bru of his own. Dagda says, " I have none for thee", Oengus replies" Thou let me be granted a day and a night in thine own dwelling ". When Dagda informs him " thou hast consumed thy time", Oengus says, "It is clear that night and day are the whole world, and it is that which has been given to me". From then on it is Oengus who dwells in the mound at the bend in the Boyne. A major poem about the Brú and Oengus by George Russel has Aengus himself talk about the past days of glory at the Brú while also implying its present state as a catastrophe. A Dream of Angus Oge, George Russel 1897
"As he spoke, he paused before a great mound grown over with trees, and around it silver clear in the moonlight were immense stones piled, the remains of an original circle, and there was a dark low narrow entrance leading within- He took Con by the hand and in an instant they were standing in a lofty, cross shaped cave, built roughly of huge stones. "This was my place. In days past many a one plucked here the purple flower of magic and the fruit of the tree of life . . ."And even as he spoke, a light began to glow and to pervade the cave, and to obliterate the stone walls and the antique hieroglyphics engraven thereon, and to melt the earthen floor into itself like a fiery sun suddenly uprisen within the world, and there was everywhere a wandering ecstasy of sound; light and sound were one; light had a voice... " I am Aengus, men call me young. I am the sunlight in the heart, the moonlight in the mind; I am the the light at the end of every dream... I will make you immortal; for my palace opens into the Gardens of the Sun".
In the Fenian cycle, the latest tradition in literature, Oengus reappears when Finn Mc Coole describes the mound as the house of Oengus, which cannot be burned or destroyed as long as Oengus is alive. The famous love story of Diarmaid and Graine also connect to the Bru when Diarmaid is dying, partly because of Finn McCoole, and Finn says, " Let us leave this tulach for fear that Oengus and the Tuatha De Danann may catch us". Finn then brings Diarmaid to Newgrange in order to " put aerial life into him so that he will talk to me every day".
This story has many of the magical components of the Egyptian story of Isis bringing Osiris back to life in the great pyramid. Many other similar links between the Egyptian magical tales and the older Irish magical tales exist which suggests that the magical and astronomical skills of the Egyptians had their origin in Ireland. The very curious tale of the high King, Conn, and the Ri Raith (Royal Fortress) at Tara entitled "The magical stone of Tara" states; -
One evening Conn of the hundred battles repaired at sunrise to the Ri Raith at Tara, accompanied by his three Druids, Mael, Bloc and Bluicne, and his three poets, Ethain, Cord and Cesare; for he was accustomed every day to repair to this place with the same company, for the purpose of watching the stars, that no hostile aerial beings should descend upon Ireland unknown to him. While standing in the usual place one morning, Conn happened to tread on a stone, and immediately the stone shrieked under his feet so as to be heard all over Tara and throughout all East Meath. Conn then asked the Druids why the stone had shrieked, what its name was and what it said. Fifty three days later they answered; - Fal is the name of the stone, and it comes from the Island of Fal.
This is the Lia Fal, the stone of destiny, which was brought to Ireland by the Tuatha De Dannan, and a stone with this name is still within the Royal Fortress at Tara, although it is no longer beside the passage cairn, it is only 400 yards from its original site (there is a story that the real Lia Fail is now in Scone, Scotland but was once under the coronation seat at Westminster). Here we have a King making astronomical observations, and declaring his interest in " hostile aerial beings" at a temple that was at that time thousands of years old. The cairn at Tara is even today brilliantly illuminated at the time of two important Celtic festivals; Samhain in early November and Imbolc in early February.
Today's Irish Druids can have no illusions about the stability of our planet, or about the other planets in our solar system. We have the old Druids knowledge of actual impending catastrophic happenings - that the earth would be destroyed by fire and water. We have modern ecological and environmental awareness of the global weather patterns collapsing. The fire of the internal combustion engine has consumed nearly all the fossil oxygen in our atmosphere. Commercial deforestation has destroyed the air and water cycles in ways that will take many thousands of years to self-repair. These modern looming catastrophes are denied by the governments of the money lenders but even the dogs in the street know its bad and that it's getting worse. But today's Celtic Druids know that the Universe and the souls of those living in it are indestructible - so we live in the here and now - just as our ancestors did.
2. Dagda
Dagda (or Daghda)
Dagda is the good god of the Earth. Dagda is quite often called the King of the Danann and is the patron of all Druí. He is the son of Dana (Danu) and Bile (Belanus) and the father of Brigid (Brighid) and Aengus mac Og. The Dagda is also a partner of the Morrigan.
He is the possessor of a vast cauldron from Murias and from it "no company ever went from it unthankful". He was also in possession of a club or staff, that could either give or take life. Dagda is associated with Newgrange and the Winter Sun Standing. ‘Lord of knowledge' and Aed, meaning "Fire".
He was a sorcerer, ruler over life and death, god of the earth's fertility, as well as being a near superhuman warrior. The Dagda could change the seasons and control the earth's abundance. He was originally the supreme leader of the Tuatha de Danaan and, as Ollathair (athair translates to, 'father' - Ollathair meaning 'All-Father'), he ruled the world. After the Milesians defeated the Tuatha, the old gods went underground and the Dagda divided up the lands and gave these 'fairy mounds' out to the Tuatha de Danaan. The Irish-Celtic God of the earth and treaties, and ruler over life and death.
Dagda, or The Dagda, ("the good god") is one of the most prominent gods and the great leader. He is a master of magic, a fearsome warrior and a skilled artisan. The Dagda has the Morrigan as his wife, with whom he mates on New Years Day. The Dagda is portrayed as possessing both super- human strength and appetite.
His attributes are -
a cauldron with an inexhaustible supply of food, a magical harp with which he summons the seasons, and an enormous club, with one end of which he could kill nine men, but with the other restore them to life. He also possessed two marvelous swine---one always roasting, the other always growing---and ever-laden fruit trees. The Dagda was the father God of the Celts they called him the Good God because he protected their crops. He was king of the Tuatha Dé Danann and ruled over Uisnech in Co. Meath. He had a cauldron called an Coire Ansic which supplied unlimited food.
He also had a living oak harp called Daur da Bláo and a harper known as Uaithne. When Dagda played Daur da Bláo he caused the seasons to change in their order. Dagda's harp played three types of music; Goltraí / saddness, Gentraí / joy and Suantrí / sleep. He is insulted by church scribes who say - he wears a brown low-necked tunic to his hips with a hooded mantle / cape that only just covered his shoulders and that he wore boots made from horse-hide...
As a druid god king of the Dannan he was well dressed with high status clothing and stylish footwear. He pulled his eight pronged war club on a wheel. It is said that one end of the club killed the living and the other end gave new life to the dead. His main temples are Brú na Boinne (Newgrange) and An Grianan of Aileach and Uisneach. In some texts his father was Elatha, and his mother was Ethlinn. Dagda was the High King of the Tuatha De Danann, who lived in Ireland before the coming of the Celts. His wife was Breg (a main tributary of the Danube) but his lover was Boann – referred to today as the River Boyne. But Dagda also engaged with the Morrigan (the goddess of war) on Samhain in exchange for a battle plan. His affair with Boann caused a great magic to be used – he made the Sun stand still for nine months and their son Angus was begotten, gestated and born in one day.
The known children of Dagda are Angus, Bodh Dearg, Cermait, Midir, Aine and Brigit. He may have been the brother or father of Ogma. Dagda was said to have ruled for 70 or 80 years over the Tuatha De Danann. He died at Brú na Boinne (aka Newgrange) succumbing to poison administered by Ceithlenn (wife of Balor) at the first of the two battles at Magh Tuiredh.
Some say that the Cerne Abbas in Dorset may represent the Dagda. Next are the slides and text (part of) the lecture "Dagda's Return to the Realm of Land" from Samhain Dagda yr7 (05/11/2019).
Dagda is the good god of the Earth. Dagda is quite often called the King of the Danann and is the patron of all Druí. He is the son of Dana (Danu) and Bile (Belanus) and the father of Brigid (Brighid) and Aengus mac Og. The Dagda is also a partner of the Morrigan.
He is the possessor of a vast cauldron from Murias and from it "no company ever went from it unthankful". He was also in possession of a club or staff, that could either give or take life. Dagda is associated with Newgrange and the Winter Sun Standing. ‘Lord of knowledge' and Aed, meaning "Fire".
He was a sorcerer, ruler over life and death, god of the earth's fertility, as well as being a near superhuman warrior. The Dagda could change the seasons and control the earth's abundance. He was originally the supreme leader of the Tuatha de Danaan and, as Ollathair (athair translates to, 'father' - Ollathair meaning 'All-Father'), he ruled the world. After the Milesians defeated the Tuatha, the old gods went underground and the Dagda divided up the lands and gave these 'fairy mounds' out to the Tuatha de Danaan. The Irish-Celtic God of the earth and treaties, and ruler over life and death.
Dagda, or The Dagda, ("the good god") is one of the most prominent gods and the great leader. He is a master of magic, a fearsome warrior and a skilled artisan. The Dagda has the Morrigan as his wife, with whom he mates on New Years Day. The Dagda is portrayed as possessing both super- human strength and appetite.
His attributes are -
a cauldron with an inexhaustible supply of food, a magical harp with which he summons the seasons, and an enormous club, with one end of which he could kill nine men, but with the other restore them to life. He also possessed two marvelous swine---one always roasting, the other always growing---and ever-laden fruit trees. The Dagda was the father God of the Celts they called him the Good God because he protected their crops. He was king of the Tuatha Dé Danann and ruled over Uisnech in Co. Meath. He had a cauldron called an Coire Ansic which supplied unlimited food.
He also had a living oak harp called Daur da Bláo and a harper known as Uaithne. When Dagda played Daur da Bláo he caused the seasons to change in their order. Dagda's harp played three types of music; Goltraí / saddness, Gentraí / joy and Suantrí / sleep. He is insulted by church scribes who say - he wears a brown low-necked tunic to his hips with a hooded mantle / cape that only just covered his shoulders and that he wore boots made from horse-hide...
As a druid god king of the Dannan he was well dressed with high status clothing and stylish footwear. He pulled his eight pronged war club on a wheel. It is said that one end of the club killed the living and the other end gave new life to the dead. His main temples are Brú na Boinne (Newgrange) and An Grianan of Aileach and Uisneach. In some texts his father was Elatha, and his mother was Ethlinn. Dagda was the High King of the Tuatha De Danann, who lived in Ireland before the coming of the Celts. His wife was Breg (a main tributary of the Danube) but his lover was Boann – referred to today as the River Boyne. But Dagda also engaged with the Morrigan (the goddess of war) on Samhain in exchange for a battle plan. His affair with Boann caused a great magic to be used – he made the Sun stand still for nine months and their son Angus was begotten, gestated and born in one day.
The known children of Dagda are Angus, Bodh Dearg, Cermait, Midir, Aine and Brigit. He may have been the brother or father of Ogma. Dagda was said to have ruled for 70 or 80 years over the Tuatha De Danann. He died at Brú na Boinne (aka Newgrange) succumbing to poison administered by Ceithlenn (wife of Balor) at the first of the two battles at Magh Tuiredh.
Some say that the Cerne Abbas in Dorset may represent the Dagda. Next are the slides and text (part of) the lecture "Dagda's Return to the Realm of Land" from Samhain Dagda yr7 (05/11/2019).
Understand this to mean that Dagda has been on a long journey to the Realm of Sky but that because he reached the zenith of his journey on 21/12/2012 he has now begun his return journey back to the Realm of Land. He brings three gifts...
Dagda is the great god of winter as he dominates the night sky but in summer his outstretched hand also touches the midday Sun. All ancient cultures know of him and include this great star group in their mythology as shown above - there must be others - please let me know if you know.
The old script above is the only Irish naming of Orion I know of - it is a classic mis interpretation through the lens of making it fit into a foreign tradition for religious reasons following mis hearing and then writing down that mis hearing and looking in the wrong place for what was wanted... On the far left is a First Nations bowman and on the far right is a double ended waisted drum from China!
Dagda has many names in Ireland (as we shall see later) but he was also known by many names across Europe.
On the left - the Cerne Abbas Giant is a hill figure near the village of Cerne Abbas in Dorset, England. Next is Taranis, the god of thunder, who was honoured in Gaul, Gallaecia, Britain, Ireland, the Rhineland and Danube regions. The Gundestrup cauldron dated to the late La Tène period and found at Rævemosen, near Gundestrup in Himmerland, Denmark shows Dagda on a richly decorated silver vessel dipping the dead in his Coire Ansic, the cauldron of rebirth and regeneration. On the far right also on the Gundestrup cauldron we see Dagda holding an Eight spoke Wheel (Eightfold Year) with two wild boar, (aka Gemini and Taurus) and Crom (Hydra) underneath him. In the pic of his temple we see on the left the entrance stone and on the right the tri-spiral (correct way up) from the end chamber inside the temple.
On the left - the Cerne Abbas Giant is a hill figure near the village of Cerne Abbas in Dorset, England. Next is Taranis, the god of thunder, who was honoured in Gaul, Gallaecia, Britain, Ireland, the Rhineland and Danube regions. The Gundestrup cauldron dated to the late La Tène period and found at Rævemosen, near Gundestrup in Himmerland, Denmark shows Dagda on a richly decorated silver vessel dipping the dead in his Coire Ansic, the cauldron of rebirth and regeneration. On the far right also on the Gundestrup cauldron we see Dagda holding an Eight spoke Wheel (Eightfold Year) with two wild boar, (aka Gemini and Taurus) and Crom (Hydra) underneath him. In the pic of his temple we see on the left the entrance stone and on the right the tri-spiral (correct way up) from the end chamber inside the temple.
Modern archaeology tells us that the winter solstice sunbeam alignment was only discovered in the 1970's but
we have a poem from 1897 telling us otherwise. The purple flower of magic and the fruit of the tree of life may be an Aminita Muscaria / Fly Argaric - a highly powerful hallucinogenic that brings greater awareness of the fullness of reality. It is suggested that WB Yeats was with George Russell in the above adventure in to the Brú, both were noted cabala practitioners who knew Alistair Crowley but also had passionate desires to re-awaken the Celtic Spirit in the people of Ireland.
we have a poem from 1897 telling us otherwise. The purple flower of magic and the fruit of the tree of life may be an Aminita Muscaria / Fly Argaric - a highly powerful hallucinogenic that brings greater awareness of the fullness of reality. It is suggested that WB Yeats was with George Russell in the above adventure in to the Brú, both were noted cabala practitioners who knew Alistair Crowley but also had passionate desires to re-awaken the Celtic Spirit in the people of Ireland.
Many people are obsessed with exact timing of events / things etc but this is only possible because of their disconnect with real time. Mid-day is when the Sun is due south but the commercial world demands control of time and declares a fake time of 12 o'clock as midday. Midnight is not at 23:59 either is it? In summer the Sun sets around 11pm and rises about 4:30am making true midnight about 1:45am... Every year we adjust our clocks forward and then backwards and stay out of tune with reality. But high noon will always be when the Sun is due south if you live in Ireland... So if a Celtic Druid says we will be there at high noon don't look at your watch, look to the shadow of the true midday Sun.
Dagda's most famous temple - on the left is the tri-spiral from inside the end chamber and on the right is the one on the entrance stone. This depicts transformation - total change but still containing the three... Is this the real secret of Brú na Boinne?
The 2004 Eightfold Landscape calendar as designed by Con Connor. It has evolved since 2004 but it is shown here to point out that the temples aligned to the 8 fold sun year capture leaking energies from a volcano. This story takes a full day on its own – but should be familiar to all Druí Daltaí.
One of the heroes for young Irish boys was the Boy hero of Erin. His story is not told in Irish schools anymore as the school system is run by jesuit priests and they have been erasing our Celtic culture since they arrived here uninvited. Setanta the boy becomes Cú Chullain the man and he is a depiction of Orion too.
From the Táin we get two bulls - the white horned and the brown. Re-imagine Gemini as the white horned bull and you'll see the battle of the bulls in the winter sky. Cáman means hurley, Gá means spear, Sliothar means hurley ball, Cú means hound. Setanta killed a hound with his sliothar and then worked as a replacement guard hound while training in a new puppy to replace him and that is how he got his name Cú Chullain - the hound of Cullain.
An amazing leftover from church editing of his story. Left in because they did not know its relevance to our ancient knowledge. Saiph = Blue, but Green to some needs extra explaining – No star is seen as 'green' from Earth except under certain climatic conditions which cause perceptions to err from the norm. This may be a clue to the prevailing weather conditions / global events during Cú Chullain's time.
Realising that the meteor showers are timed with the special effects of the bull fight from the Táin Bó Cúailnge brings greater depth to the star mythology shared here. The great hosting of Queen Meave for the Táin began in November and she returns in late February - this is an impossible feat for a huge army 2000 years ago for many reasons but crossing the Shannon twice during flood seasons is the single most important reason to point our understanding to deeper things.
During the Táin Sulataim (father of Cú Chullain) and Conchobhar both get to speak of the Three Realms. This would have normally been done by Druí but the church scribes dismiss the Druí and give their lines to others so the story could still have echoes of old knowledge... or else their version would be too disconnected.
The two bulls from Cu Chullain become the two stags of Fionn and at one time they were to two wild boar of Dagda. Fionn has a magical shield that was given to him by the dagda and Dagda was given this shield by Manannan. His Dord Fian would call the warriors of Ireland together when Fionn sounded three blasts. He has two Dragons on his belt (zodiac = belt).
Fionn (Setanta as a boy) is our magical warrior hero with his two hounds, Bran agus Sceolan. Another hero of Irish childhood. Fionn’s great story is not told in our schools anymore - his deepest message is shared here. It may be that the simple telling of Fionn's exploits is enough to rekindle the desire for real time adventure in the youth and that the Star Mythology complex is best reserved for the Druí, the guides to the Celtic Path.
Now we can see that the two bulls from Cu Chullain became the two stags of Fionn but were at one time the two wild boar of Dagda. His staff raised and lowered gave and took life. His cauldron was a shield when he rises, a harp at midnight and a cauldron as he sets just before sunrise. Note M35.
The picture above was made following a research discovery in Samhain 2019. For a long time I have searched Irish history, pre-history and mythology for references to Dagd'a Harp. It is called Daur da Bláo and described as '4 cornered, three stringed and made of oak, it is richly decorated with a double headed fish design, studded with jewelled eyes'. It has three musical sounds relating to birth of Dagda's three daughters - sorrow, joy and sleep - these experiences are of the mother in birthing. No Irish image of a 4 corner 3 string harp exists. Such harps with bow strings are still made in Scandinavia today called Hagelharps.
Dagda - dipping dead warriors in his cauldron of re-birth. Do the counting - 3's and 4's and 7's. 3 belt stars, 4 corner stars = 7 stars. A simple but profound teaching technique that has survived the editors of our past...
Dagda on the Winter Sun Standing in Ireland.
Rising shield first in the east before 6pm 21/12/2019. It was Manannan, son of Lir the Sea God, that gave this shield to Dagda, the Good God of the winter sky, who in turn gave this shield to Fionn mac Cumhaill, the great hunter-warrior and leader of the Fianna.
Mid-night due south is when Dagda stands tall above the Earth and we can see his magical Harp Daur da bláo. It is on this harp that the Dagda plays his three musics – Goltraí / saddness, Gentraí / joy and Suantrí / sleep - these experiences are of the mother in birthing.
Setting in the west at 5am Dagda's shield / harp becomes his Cauldron – an Coire Ansic. It is in the morning that the great Dagda brings the dead back to life -re-incarnating them for a renewed life experience because there are battles to be fought and lives to be lived.
So the next chance you get with a clear night sky – watch Dagda rise in the east shield first, peak at mid night playing his harp and set re-incarnating the Tuatha before sunrise. Call out his name “DAGDA” and give thanks that you know where he lives.
Rising shield first in the east before 6pm 21/12/2019. It was Manannan, son of Lir the Sea God, that gave this shield to Dagda, the Good God of the winter sky, who in turn gave this shield to Fionn mac Cumhaill, the great hunter-warrior and leader of the Fianna.
Mid-night due south is when Dagda stands tall above the Earth and we can see his magical Harp Daur da bláo. It is on this harp that the Dagda plays his three musics – Goltraí / saddness, Gentraí / joy and Suantrí / sleep - these experiences are of the mother in birthing.
Setting in the west at 5am Dagda's shield / harp becomes his Cauldron – an Coire Ansic. It is in the morning that the great Dagda brings the dead back to life -re-incarnating them for a renewed life experience because there are battles to be fought and lives to be lived.
So the next chance you get with a clear night sky – watch Dagda rise in the east shield first, peak at mid night playing his harp and set re-incarnating the Tuatha before sunrise. Call out his name “DAGDA” and give thanks that you know where he lives.
Three, three, three. And now you know why. The 3 belt stars are almost the same distance from Earth while the other stars of the group are at hugely varying different distances away from us. The three stars are the same age, brightness and at one time all three would have risen in a line across the horizon... (note the three full stops...)
A big important slide. When the media focused everyone on the Mayan 'end of the world in 2012' we in the northern hemisphere had our own super alignment. Dagda touched M35 - the place where galaxy's are born. For the Maya this happened in the exact opposite part of the Milky Way. Have a good study of this slide.
Dagda's full journey takes him approx 25,000 years or so - so after he touched M35 and he began his return it would be another 25000 years before he touches M35 again. In about 12,500 years or so he will be deep in the Realm of Sea but right now he has begun his return journey back to the Realm of Land. We are in 2019 on the catholick commercial calendar but as I write in 30/10/2019 we are in Dagda Year 7.
21/12/2019 begins Dagda Year 8 because 21/12/2012 was year 0, 13 was yr1, 14 was yr2, 15 was yr3, 16 was yr4, 17 was yr 5, 18 was yr6, 19 was yr 7... so Dagda yr 8 begins on the 22/12/2019.
21/12/2019 begins Dagda Year 8 because 21/12/2012 was year 0, 13 was yr1, 14 was yr2, 15 was yr3, 16 was yr4, 17 was yr 5, 18 was yr6, 19 was yr 7... so Dagda yr 8 begins on the 22/12/2019.
See the zodiac - Cancer, Gemini, Taurus Aries crossing the Milky Way at M35 and Dagda reaching his zenith in the Realm of Sky touching M35 and know that this is his club raised to give life! Dagda is prominent in the winter night sky and visible to us but in the summer at mid day he is also prominent while being invisible to us! Every year he is a little bit lower in the heavens as he returns to the Realm of Land but this is not easily visible to us except when we can see into the future - Stellarium is the website that allow this - enjoy!
Dagda's return to the Realm of Land bring us three gifts. Abundance from his cauldron, a purpose for the warrior and love from the heart. Dagda is in the process of re-incarnation into our realm, let us re-incarnate into higher awareness and share in the great gifts the great god gives us.
Samhain Dagda yr7 (05/11/2019)
/|\ Con
Samhain Dagda yr7 (05/11/2019)
/|\ Con
3. A series of short stories from the heroic period
Tara, Cú Chulainn and the kings and queens of Ancient Ireland.
What follows is a series of short stories from the heroic period. TEAMHAIR = TARA
Muireann Ni Bhrolchain (RIP April 14th 2015) , Celtic Studies Professor at Maynooth College has presented the following for your pleasure -
1) CONAIRE MOR - A KING OF TARA
Conaire Mór was the offspring of the king Eadarscéal and Meas Buachalla. She was a huge evil-looking woman who could come and go in the fairy mounds by magic. She herded huge cattle.
Tara had a king's chariot. Two horses of the same colour were yoked to it that had never before been harnessed. The chariot would tilt up before any man who was not destined to receive the kingship of Tara, so that he could not control it and the horses would spring at him. There was a king's cloak in the chariot and the cloak was too big for the man who would not receive Tara's sovereignty. There were two flag-stones in Tara - Bloc and Bluighne. When they accepted a man they would open before him until the chariot went through. And the Lia Fáil (standing stone) was waiting for him at the end of the chariot-course. When the man destined to be the king of Tara came in the chariot, Fál screeched against his chariot-axle, so that it was heard by all. But if the man in the chariot were not the rightful king of Tara, the stones Bloc and Bluighne would not open for him. They were usually in such a position that a hand would pass sideways between them. If he was not the rightful King of Tara, the Lia Fáil would not screech against his axle.
"Do you know what is happening at Tara?" Meas Buachalla asked her son.
"I do not," he replied. "They are choosing a king. You will have the followers for this."
They go to Tara together. Her long black hair was loose around her face. She has about her a druid, a shield bearer, satirists and horn blowers. A crowd was waiting with the chariot, horses and the cloak. "A chariot for you!" said his mother. Conaire enters the chariot and it received him. "Put the cloak about you." she said. He puts on the cloak in the presence of the people and it fits him. He stands in the chariot - it moves under him. Bloc and Bluigne open before him. The Lia Fáil screams as the crowd and his mother watch. "Fál has accepted him!" the crowd proclaims.
The crowd make submission to Conaire and give him his father's heritage.
2) CU CHULAINN AT THE BOYNE
Cú Chulainn was once beside the River Boyne in his chariot with his charioteer Laogh son of Rianghabhra. He was killing the salmon in Linn Féic. They saw a little man in purple clothing, sitting in a tiny bronze boat and travelling down the Boyne without rowing at all. He was Seanbheag the grandson of Ebhreac of the fairy mounds who came from the plain of Seaghais looking for the supernatural enlightenment that gives poetic inspiration.
There were nine fair-bearing hazels from whose nuts this inspiration could be received. These hazels dropped into the wells, the stream brought their poetic inspiration into the Boyne. Cú Chulainn put tiny Seanbheag and his little boat on the palm of his hand. Seanbheag pleaded with him: "I will give you my cloak and my tunic as a reward for my safety. They will fit anyone, whether big or small. No one will drown or burn so long as he wears them".
"I have them already", said Cú Chulainn. "Take my shield, my spear and no battle will be seized against you. You will never be wounded as long as the shields protect you", said Seanbheag. "I have them all in the hollow of my fist", said Cú Chulainn. Seanbheag sang to him some of his learning. He sang him this song:
I am not a lad; I am not a man,
I am not a child of learning.
The mysteries of God
Have made me gifted.
I am Abhchán, a sage of learning,
A poet from Seaghais.
Seanbheag is my name,
Ebhreac's grandson from the fairy mounds. "
Then Seanbheag offered Cú Chulainn wonderful rewards if he would let him free. But Cú Chulainn did not want to grant his wish. Then Seanbheag stretched out his hand and took his harp to himself. He began playing the three different types of music: he played him a geantraí (laughing song) so that Cú Chulainn was laughing; he played a goltraí (wailing song) so that he was wailed and he played a suantraí (sleeping song) so that he put Cú Chulainn to sleep.
As a result little Seanbheag escaped and disappeared down the Boyne in his tiny brass boat.
3)THE BIRTH OF CU CHULAINN
Eamhain Mhacha in the kingdom of Ulster is besieged by a flock of birds. The king Conor and his heroes decide to attack them. Conor's daughter Deichtine drives his chariot and the birds lead them to Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange). When it begins to snow they decide to stay there for the night. They find a tiny house with a young couple living there who give them food and shelter for the night. The young woman of the house gives birth during the night and Deichtine helps her to deliver a little boy. Just as the child is born a mare at the door of the house gives birth to two foals. The Ulstermen look after the baby and give him the foals as a present. Deichtine nurses the child for the mother.
But when morning comes it has all disappeared except their horses, the baby and the foals. The house, the young couple and the birds have disappeared. They return home where Deichtine cares for the baby until he was a boy. But then he catches an illness and dies. Deichtine is heartbroken and mourns his death. Then one day she is brought a goblet of water. But when she drinks from it a tiny creature slips into her mouth with the water. That night while she slept she had a dream that a man came to her.
He said: "You will bear my child. It was I who brought you to Brú na Bóinne. That boy you reared was mine and you will now give birth to my son and you will call him Séadanda. I am Lugh the son of Eithne. The foals that you brought from Brú na Bóinne should be given to our son".
Deichtine became visibly pregnant. The people of Ulster said that the father could have been Conor himself while he was drunk on the night she stayed with him at Brú na Bóinne. To put a stop to the rumours, Conor gave his daughter in marriage to Súaldamh the son of Roach, the brother of Fearghas son of Roach.
But Deichtine was embarrassed to go to bed with her new husband while pregnant. She pressed herself against the bedpost and there she was very sick. She was made virgin and whole again and went to her husband. Soon she is pregnant again. She bore a son and she called him Séadanda.
4) CU CHULAINN LOOKS FOR A WIFE
Once when the Ulstermen were performing feats at Eamhain Mhacha they noticed how all their women loved Cú Chulainn. They were worried and decided to find him a wife because he was too young, too bold and too beautiful. Conor ordered that they search the land for a suitable wife. The messengers search Ireland for a year without success. Cú Chulainn decides to search for a girl he heard of: Emer the daughter of Forghaill Monach who lived at Lughlocht of Lugh. He finds her sitting on the green surrounded by her friends.
"Why are you here?" she asks. "To seek you as a wife," he replied.
After a long conversation they agree that they are a good match but her father objects to his visiting her. He sets him a task - to train in the Otherworld (in the hope that he will be killed).
Cú Chulainn sets off for Scotland and then further afield to the Otherworld to train with the female warrior Scáthach (The Shadowy one). Scáthach predicts a wonderful future for him. He defeats her enemy Aoife and makes her pregnant with his son. While he is gone, Emer's father tries to marry her to someone but he vanishes when he hears of her engagement to Cú Chulainn.
Cú Chulainn completes his task, returns to Eamhain Mhacha and sets out to claim his bride. Her parents still object to the marriage. He kills her family and takes her with him regardless. He is attacked at Áth Sceanmeann (Delvin River, Gormanstown) and at Crúfóid (Moyfenrath, Meath before reaching the Boyne River on his way to Eamhain Mhacha.
They are welcomed by all and a wedding feast is held. But Bricriu of the poison tongue causes a riot saying that Conor has the right to sleep with every bride on the first night after the marriage. Cú Chulainn will not agree to this so a compromise is reached. Conor will be in the same bed as Emer but Fergus and Cathbhadh the Druid will be in the bed also to protect Cú Chulainn's honour. Conor pays Emer's bride price the following day, Cú Chulainn sleeps with his bride and they do not separate until he dies.
5) DEATH AT THE SLOPING MOUNDS
The king of Tara, Tuathal Teachtmar son of Fiachu Findhfholaidh had as a queen Báine the daughter of Scál (shadow). She bore the king two daughters, Fithir and Dáirine. Eochu Áincheann king of Leinster came to woo one of them and Dáirine was given to him. But Eochu took a dislike to her. He went to woo the younger daughter, Fithir. He told her that Dáirine was dead. Fithir was given to him and he returned to his own territory. Dáirine came to welcome her sister for she did not know that she was replacing her. The younger of the sisters, that is Fithir, died of shame when she saw her sister. Then Dáirine died of grief for her.
When Tuathal heard this he went on a hosting into Leinster and bound the compensation for his daughters on the Leinstermen. Here is the amount of the compensation: 150 cows, and 150 pigs and 150 cloaks - all of them each year. That is called the cattle tribute of Leinster (Bóraimhe Laighean.) Tuathal exacted it for 30 years and his son Feidhlimidh for 7 years, 20 years by Conn Chéadchathach and 12 years by by Art. Dúnlaing king of Leinster refused it to Cormac grandson of Conn.
Cormac went with his hosts into Leinster exactly at Samhain. Dúnlaing went around him with his host to Tara. They killed 30 daughters of the kings of Ireland and a further hundred maidens. These included the 10 daughters of Cormac himself, that is Ailbhe, Eithne, Gráinne, Lemhain, Scithe, Adhmhaer, Oenge, Tailinne and Indearbh along with the 8 daughters of Fearghas Foltleabhar the 12 daughters of Ailill Cindnathrach and the 3 Mámma.
Then Aonghas Fear Gaebuaibtheach blinded Cormac's eye. Dissension arose between him and Cormac in Tara when Aonghas said that a maiden of his kin would not be in bondage and he wounded Cormac's eye and killed his son. It is from this that Cormac was blind in one eye.
Cairbre Lifechair took the kingship of Tara in place of his father, for it would not be proper that a king with a blemish should rule there. Eithne, moreover, was the mother of that Cairbre. That is the death of the women of Tara. (At the Sloping Mounds/Trenches)
6)IRELAND’S FIRST JUDGEMENT AT TARA
The Milesians, the sons of Míl, arrived in Ireland and did battle with the Tuatha Dé Danann. A woman of their people died in the battle, she was Scota the daughter of Pharaoh of Egypt and the wife of Érimhón son of Míl. After her death the Sons of Míl including their poet Aimhirghin, travelled to Sliabh Mis. There they met the goddess Banbha. "A gift from me to you", she said. "What gift is that?" they asked. "That my name be upon this island", she replied. "And what is your name," they asked. "Banbha", she said. "Your name will be on the island then", said Aimhirghin.
They had the same conversation with her sisters Fódhla and Ériu. They met Ériu at Uisneach and she said: "Welcome warriors! Your coming has been foretold long ago. This island will be yours forever and no race will ever be more numerous than yours and my name should be on this island". "That will be the island's principal name", said Aimihrghin.
The sons of Míl reached Teamhair where there they meet the three kings of the Tuatha Dé Danann Mac Cuill, Mac Céacht and Mac Gréine. They made a judgement against the sons of Míl - the Tuatha Dé Danann should have the island for three days without attack, without battle or without giving hostages. The Tuatha Dé Danann were sure that the invaders would not return because their druids had cast spells upon them so that they would not return.
"We will allow your own judge Aimhirghin to make the judgement", they said. "He will not give a false judgement. If he does - he will die at our hands". Aimhirghin makes the judgement: "Let the island be left to them and we shall go past nine waves on the sea".
This was the first judgement to be made in Ireland.
The Sons of Míl took to sea and the spells of the Tuatha Dé Danann brought them far away from Ireland and they were close to destruction by the vicious winds and storms. Some of their people drowned but they were eventually victorious and claimed the land as their own.
7) HOW TEAMHAIR GOT HER NAME
The Book of Invasions tells us how Érimhón son Míl deserted his first wife Odhbha and travelled to Spain where he met a woman called Tea and he took her to Ireland as his wife. He wanted to give her a wonderful present as her marriage portion and allowed her to choose the land. Tea decided to choose the place then called Druin Chaín, the mound that is called Teamhair. It was called Teamhair from then on: the Wall of Tea, that is from the words múr (wall) and Tea (her name). She persuaded him to bury her there when she died.
Another version says that Érimhón found Tea in Thebes and brought her to Ireland. After a time she was dying with homesickness and she told him that she wanted to return to Thebes. Érimhón begged her to stay and told her that he would give her anything she wanted if only she would remain in Ireland. He promised that he would build her the most wonderful dwelling in the country on the most beautiful hill that could be found.
Érimhón seized Teamhair and built three walls on its upper part and named the place Teamhair so that it was called by that name by everyone ever afterwards. His wife's homesickness disappeared.
TEAMHAIR - a poem
How did Teamhair of Breagh get its name?
Please tell us you poets!
When was that place named?
When did Teamhair become Teamhair?
A boundary ditch was built around her house,
By great Tea the daughter of Lughaidh;
She was buried beyond the wall,
So that from her Teamhair is named.
I am Fintan the poet,
I am not a salmon of one stream;
There I was raised to renown,
On the territorial abode, above Teamhair.
TEAMHAIR - another poem
Tea of Breagh, a large household,
It is famous because she was a noblewoman,
A funeral mound of great standards,
The burial ground was not ransacked.
Tephi gave her name to the beautiful dwelling,
The king's beautiful and lucky wife,
The wall ofTephi, it confronts an army,
Who would dare any feat without fear.
8) THE SETTLEMENT OF TARA
Once during the reign of king Diarmaid mac Cearbhaill, the Uí Néill held a meeting in Magh Breagh to discuss the settlement of Teamhair. It seemed too large for them, that is the sweeping plain with seven views on every side. They talked about reducing the green as it appeared wasteful to them to have that amount of land without houses, farming and of no service to anyone.
Diarmaid invited them to a feast but they refused until the green of Teamhair was decided as it was before their day and how it would be forever more.
"I will take advice from Fintan son of Bóchra son of Bith son of Noah who survived the Flood", says Diarmaid. Fintan arrives at Teamhair. He tells them that the first judgement ever made in Ireland was given by Amhairghin at Teamhair.
"The first judgement in Ireland was given here", said Fintan. "I got my knowledge from the learned Tréfuilngidh Trí-eochair who causes the sun to rise and set. Call the men of Ireland to me. As you have no storytellers I will tell you the stories of the four quarters of Ireland and of the hearth of Teamhair with the four quarters of Ireland around it. I explain all that is unknown".
"This is the division", said Fintan, "west for knowledge, north for battle, east for prosperity, south for music, and the centre position for kingship. Here in the centre we find Ireland's kings, stewards, honour, sovereignty, entertaining, defenders, destructions, violence, warriors, charioteers, soldiers, high-kings, poets, mead, ale fame and prosperity".
"Where are these?" asked the people. "The lordship of Teamhair stretches from Meath to Newgrange to Moynalvey to Uisneach to Slane, to Kells, to Teathba. Remember that Uisneach and Teamhair are the two kidneys of Ireland". "Let Teamhair remain as we found it", said Fintan, "We should not contradict the arrangement which Tréfuilngidh Trí-eochair left us. He was God's angel or perhaps he was God himself".
With that Fintan left the men of Ireland and the green of Teamhair was settled forever more.
9) CU CHULAINN VISIT TO TARA
During the encounters of Cú Chulainn on Táin Bó Cúailnge he fought many combats with many brave warriors. He threatened to kill Ailill or Medb if he came close enough.
One of the warriors who confronted him during his defence of Ulster was Leathan.
He came on to his fort over the River Níth (River Dee, Co Louth) in Conaille (land from Cooley to the Boyne) and indeed waited to encounter Cú Chulainn. He was grieved by what Cú Chulainn had already done. Cú Chulainn cut off his head and left it there beside the body. Hence is the name Áth Leathan on the Níth. And their chariots broke when they met on the ford beside it. Hence is the name Áth Carpat. Mulcha, lethan's charioteer, fell on the shoulder of the hill that lies between Áth Lethan and Áth Carpat. Hence comes the placename Gúala Mulcha.
While the army was going over Mag mBreg Allecto came for a while, that Is, the Morrígan, in the form of a bird which perched on the pillar-stone in Temair Cúailnge and said to the bull:
"Does the restless Black Bull know (it) without destructive falsehood? … I have a secret that the Black Bull will know if he graze (?) … on the green grass … Fierce is the raven, men are dead, a sorrowful saying … every day the death of a great tribe …"
The the bull went with fifty heifers to Slíab Cuillinn, and his herdsman, Forgaimen, followed him. The bull threw of the thrice fifty boys who used to play on his back and killed two thirds of them. And before he went he pawed the earth in Tír Margéni in Cúailnge.
Cú Chulainn did not kill anyone between the Saili Imdoirchi in the district of Conaille until they reached Cúailnge. Cú Chulainn was then on the mountain of Cuinche. He threatened that wherever he saw Medb he would cast a stone at her head. This was not easy for him, for Medb travelled surrounded by half the army and with a screed of shields over her head.
10) CU CHULAINN AND THE KINGSHIP OF TARA
At Samhain the Ulstermen usually celebrated for seven days with games, feasts and drinking. While waiting for two of their heroes, Conall Cearnach and Fearghas mac Roích they passed the time played chess.
A flock of birds fly over them and Mughain, Conor's wife says: "I would love two of those birds!" All the other women agreed with her.
Cú Chulainn is asked to hunt the birds and he catches two for every woman except his own wife Emher. When two more birds pass by, he shoots at them and misses. In foul humour he falls asleep at a standing stone. Two women appear and horsewhip him close to death.! Cú Chulainn is taken to his bed and lies motionless until …
Next Samhain as warriors surround his bed, a mysterious visitor invites Cú Chulainn to visit the Other World with him with him. Cú Chulainn refuses.
The kingship of Tara is vacant for seven years since the horrible murder of Conaire Mór in the Hostel of Da Derga. The kings of the 4 provinces of Ireland wish to choose a successor. They convene the bull feast to prophecy the future king. A fair bull is killed and one man eats his fill of the meat and broth. He then sleeps while four druids chant over him. He sees the future king in his dreams. When he is awoken he tells his vision to the kings.
"I see a strong, noble, youthful warrior with two red circles about him and he is at the pillow of a sick man at Eamhain Mhacha." Messengers are sent to Eamhain Mhacha in search for the man.
"That is our Lughaidh of the Red Stripes"! declares Conor. "He is the fosterson of Cú Chulainn. He sits at his sickbed."
With that Cú Chulainn wakes and declares to Lughaidh:
"Fosterling to be king of Tara,
this is my advice - do not jest, do not mock,
be not cold hearted to friends,
be not weak with enemies,
be not afraid, be not rash,
be not contentious, be not hostile,
be not lazy, be not weak,
be not too quick, be not vulgar,
do not break a contract or repent,
adopt and follow my words my son!"
Lughaidh goes to Tara where he is proclaimed king. He sleeps in Tara that night and entertains many visitors.
11) THE DEATH OF CU CHULAINN
Cú Chulainn put on his cloak but it burst around him and a brooch fell from his hand. He said to Laogh: "prepare the Liath Mhacha and the chariot for us". Laogh said "No one could bring that horse to a chariot today".
The horse turned his left side to Cú Chulainn three times and shed great round tears of blood. Cú Chulainn raced southward in the chariot along the road of Midhluachair, across Mag Mugna. He saw three witches blind in the left eye. They were cooking a lap-dog, with poison and spells, on spits of holly. It was one of Cú Chulainn's tabus to pass a cooking-place without eating but it was also a tabu of his to eat the flesh of his namesake.
The witch said, "pay a visit with us". "I will not," Cú Chulainn said. "The food is only a hound", she said. The witch gave him the dog's shoulder, Cú Chulainn took it from her hand and put it under his left thigh. Both the hand and thigh lost their strength.
Cú Chulainn meets the enemy army. Lughaidh son of Cú Raí took a spear and cast it at Laogh. His entrails came out onto the chariot's upholstery. Cú Chulainn sorrowfully said farewell to Laogh. Lughaidh cast the spear, it pierced him. What was in his midriff came out onto the chariot's upholstery. Cú Chulainn said, "I would like to go to the lough yonder, to drink a drink from it". "You have our leave," they said, "provided that you come back to us".
He gathered his entrails up in his bosom and pressed his hand against his belly. After taking a drink, he washed himself and went to a stone pillar nearby. He put his belt around it so that he might die standing up.
The Liath Macha came to protect Cú Chulainn as long as his soul remained in his body and the hero's light still blazed from his forehead. The horse attacked them, killing 50 with his teeth and 30 with each of his hooves.
Then a scald-crow alit on his shoulder. Lughaidh arranged his hair behind him, and cut off his head. Cú Chulainn's sword fell from his hand and severed Lughaidh's arm. Cú Chulainn's arm was cut off to avenge that. The army left taking his head and arm with them as far as Tara. His head and arm both rest there and the full of his shield.
12) A JUDGEMENT AT TEAMHAIR
There was a battle at the Plain of Mucramha (near Athenry in Galway) fought between Eoghan son of Ailill of the Bare-Ear of Munster and Art son of Conn of the Hundred Battles king of Teamhair one the one side and Lughaidh son of Con on the other. Lughaidh son of Con was the victor and both Eoghan and Art were killed in the battle. Art left behind a son called Cormac …
As a result of the battle Lughaidh son of Con took the kingship of Ireland by force. He spent seven years as king in Teamhair. He took the baby, Cormac, son of the former king Art, into fosterage.
At one time the sheep belonging to a woman ate the glassen (woad)* of Lughaidh's queen. The case was brought before Lughaidh Mac Con for his judgement. "I judge", said Mac Con, "that the sheep should be given in place of the sheep". The little boy, Cormac, is sitting on the couch beside him. "No foster-father", he said. "The sheep should be sheared and the wool given for the stripping of the woad. This would be more just. Because the woad will grow in the soil again and the wool will grow upon the sheep".
The people recognize the truth of the judgement.
"That is the true judgement", they all said. "And also the child who gives it is the son of the true prince". Immediately, one side of the house begins to fall down the Cliffside; that is the side of the house where the false judgement was given. It will stay like that forever; and it is called the Clóenfherta (Crooked Mounds) of Teamhair …
The poet said:
The brave warrior Lughaidh,
He gave a false judgement, I think,
Forever since then 'til now,
The Ráth shall be crooked on this side.
For a year after that judgement, Lughaidh Mac Con remained in the kingship. But during that time no grass grew through the ground, no leaves appeared on the trees and no grain of corn grew throughout the countryside. The men of Ireland understood that he was an unjust ruler and they banished him from the kingship of Teamhair.
(*a plant used for dying cloth etc.)
13) LUGH COMES TO TEAMHAIR
The mythological saga The Battle of Moytura tells the tale of three kings of Teamhair. The first was the wise Nuadha who resigned when he lost an arm in battle. The second was Breas the flawed Fomorian king who gave bad judgements and mistreated the poet Cairpre. The third was the perfect God Lugh who arrives to Teamhair to save the Tuatha Dé Danann in their battle with the one-eyed, one-armed and one-legged Fomorians (the enemy from overseas).
At that time the poet of the Tuatha Dé Danann came to Breas's house for hospitality (he was Cairbre the son of Édhaoin. He was brought into a tiny, pitch black, narrow house where he saw that there was no furniture, no fire not even a bed within. The only food that he received was three little dry cakes on a dish.
When he got up the following morning he was furious and vented his anger at the king. As he crossed the courtyard he proclaimed:
"He will be without food on a dish,
And without the cow's milk on which a calf feeds,
He will be homeless after darkness,
Let it be Breas's circumstance -
to be without paying a company of storytellers".
"Bres's affluence is no longer", he said. That was the truth and he suffered only affliction from that hour. That is the first satire that was made in Ireland. Breas left Ireland and returned to his father's people overseas. Meanwhile in Teamhair, Nuadha resumes the kingship. He sits at the head of the table in the Teach Midhchuarta (Banqueting Hall). The doorkeeper sees the Shining One approaching …
14) RUADHAN CURSES TEAMHAIR
(From the story the death of Diarmaid mac Cearbhaill)
St Ruadhán of Lothra visited St Brendan of Birr. They visit Teamhair and asked the king Diarmaid mac Cearbhaill for his security. He refused: "protection should not be given to those who would destroy my rule". The clerics chanted curses and beat their bells at the king. Twelve fostersons of the king died at Teamhair. When their fosterfathers pleaded with the clerics they brought the boys back to life.
For a year the clerics cursed Diarmaid. His steward said; "the clerics finished their food, they may fast against you."
Diarmaid saw a vision that night: a large tree at Teamhair with its tip reaching to the clouds of heaven and sheltering all Ireland. He sees two foreigners hacking the tree and felled it by placing a strap about it. The sound of the tree falling woke him up. "It is true", said Diarmaid, "I am the tree and the foreigners hacking it are the clerics curtailing my life; it is by them that I shall fall".
The king gets up next morning and he went to the place were the clerics were. "It is evil to destroy my rule because I protect the truth", said Diarmaid. "Ruadhán - yours will be the first church in Ireland to be destroyed. Your monks shall leave you".
"May I soon weary of your kingship", said Ruadhán.
"May your city be deserted and pigs dig up the graveyard", said Diarmaid. "May Teamhair be deserted and never a dwelling upon her!" said Ruadán. "May there be a blemish upon your body!" said Diarmaid. Ruadhán's eye burst immediately.
"May your body be maimed by enemies and your limbs scattered!" said Ruadán. "May a wild boar dig up your home and scatter your relics!" said Diarmaid. “May wild dogs howl about your cemetery every nones and midday". "May that knee not rise until it is buried with your body!" said Ruadhán. Ruadhán called up the black gloom so that there would never be smoke from the houses in Teamhair.
Diarmaid looks up at the ridgepole. "That ridgepole is your enemy", said Ruadán. "It will smite you when you have been beaten by the foreigners". "Your redress cleric", said Diarmaid.
They make peace.
15) TARA AND SKRYNE - CORMAC’S DEATH
There was a time when the people called the Déise lived at Magh Breagh. This was during the time that Cormac mac Airt was the king of Teamhair. Cormac had a son Ceallach who captured Créidhe a girl of the Déise. There was a fierce warrior among the Déise called Aonghus Gaíbuaibhtheach. His name came from his vicious spear with its swinging chains and he took revenge on any insult to his family.
He sets out for Cormac's court and meets a woman on his way. "A drink and food as I am thirsty and hungry!" he demands of her. "Your way of life is evil", she said. "You are likely to rape a lone woman as avenge your people". Aonghus was furious and he threw a bucket at her head and killed her.
The watchman sees Aonghus marching towards Teamhair and proclaims: "I see a rough angry warrior with a huge spear coming to us". "That is Aonghus", replied Cormac.
Aonghus storms into the court where Ceallach and Cormac are sitting. Aonghus thrusts the spear through Ceallach's breast so that it became wedged in the wall behind him. As he withdrew the spear, a link of the chain hit Cormac's eye and split it in two. He also killed the steward of the house, Séadhna as well as another nine warriors of the household before he managed to escape.
From then on Cormac could not sleep in Teamhair, it was unlucky for a blemished king to sleep there. He built Achall on the side of Teamhair - he dug the Rath so that he could sleep there for the rest of his life.
Another version says: Cormac could no longer enter Teamhair and that he lived the rest of his life at Achall by Teamhair. The story adds that today Achall is called Scrín Cholm Cille - Skryne.
Cormac defeated the Déise in seven battles and they are subsequently exiled from Teamhair. The women cried: they were parted from Teamhair forever. Aonghus' wife said:
"I salute Teamhair of the Hill and
The beautiful, salmon-filled Boyne,
Defamed, my heart breaks
I will miss the Aonach of Tailltiu."
Cormac died a year later at Cleitheach near Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange).
16) CU CHULAINN’S VISIT TO TARA
The warriors of Ulster took turns in the Fews Mountains guarding the way to Eamhain Mhacha. As Cú Chulainn and his charioteer Iobhar proceed he asks "What are those mountains over there?" he asks. "The Mourne Mountains," Iobhar answers. "What plain is that?" he asks. "The plain of Breagha", is the reply. Iobhar tells him the names of all the forts between Tara and Kells and the fort of the three sons of Neachtain Scéine (on the River Skayne ). *
"They have killed more Ulstermen than are alive, let us go and meet them", says Cú Chulainn. The sons of Neachtain Scéine come to meet them. One steps forward. "If you do not reach that man with the first thrust you will never reach him", Iobhar warns. But Cú Chulainn casts a spear at him, breaking his back and then beheading him. The second brother approaches.
"I swear that he will not play that stick on Ulstermen again," he says. He kills and beheads him and then the third brother. Then he heard the cry of their mother, as she mourns them.
He returns to the Fews Mountains where he captures a herd of wild deer and ties them to the chariot. Then they see a flock of swans. "Which would the Ulstermen think best, if I bring them alive or dead?" "The bravest carry them off alive". He ties 12 swans to his chariot. He returns to Eamhain Mhacha in that fashion with a wild deer, a flock of swans and the severed heads on the chariot. "I swear unless a man is found to fight with me, I shall shed the blood of everyone in the fort!" he says.
"Send forth naked women to meet him!" orders Conor. The women, led by Mughain, Conor's wife, go to meet the boy and bare their breasts to him. "These are the warriors you will meet today!" said Mughain.
He hid his face and the warriors placed him in vats of cold water. The first tub burst about him, the second boiled the water and the third heated the water. Mughain put a blue cloak with a silver brooch about him and Cú Chulainn sits at Conor's knee.
(* Probably Ringlestown Fort today)
Comment from the Celtic Druid Temple
You can still visit many of these magical and heroic places and if you sit quietly you can sometimes feel these stories vibrating in the Sky, Land and Sea.
What follows is a series of short stories from the heroic period. TEAMHAIR = TARA
Muireann Ni Bhrolchain (RIP April 14th 2015) , Celtic Studies Professor at Maynooth College has presented the following for your pleasure -
1) CONAIRE MOR - A KING OF TARA
Conaire Mór was the offspring of the king Eadarscéal and Meas Buachalla. She was a huge evil-looking woman who could come and go in the fairy mounds by magic. She herded huge cattle.
Tara had a king's chariot. Two horses of the same colour were yoked to it that had never before been harnessed. The chariot would tilt up before any man who was not destined to receive the kingship of Tara, so that he could not control it and the horses would spring at him. There was a king's cloak in the chariot and the cloak was too big for the man who would not receive Tara's sovereignty. There were two flag-stones in Tara - Bloc and Bluighne. When they accepted a man they would open before him until the chariot went through. And the Lia Fáil (standing stone) was waiting for him at the end of the chariot-course. When the man destined to be the king of Tara came in the chariot, Fál screeched against his chariot-axle, so that it was heard by all. But if the man in the chariot were not the rightful king of Tara, the stones Bloc and Bluighne would not open for him. They were usually in such a position that a hand would pass sideways between them. If he was not the rightful King of Tara, the Lia Fáil would not screech against his axle.
"Do you know what is happening at Tara?" Meas Buachalla asked her son.
"I do not," he replied. "They are choosing a king. You will have the followers for this."
They go to Tara together. Her long black hair was loose around her face. She has about her a druid, a shield bearer, satirists and horn blowers. A crowd was waiting with the chariot, horses and the cloak. "A chariot for you!" said his mother. Conaire enters the chariot and it received him. "Put the cloak about you." she said. He puts on the cloak in the presence of the people and it fits him. He stands in the chariot - it moves under him. Bloc and Bluigne open before him. The Lia Fáil screams as the crowd and his mother watch. "Fál has accepted him!" the crowd proclaims.
The crowd make submission to Conaire and give him his father's heritage.
2) CU CHULAINN AT THE BOYNE
Cú Chulainn was once beside the River Boyne in his chariot with his charioteer Laogh son of Rianghabhra. He was killing the salmon in Linn Féic. They saw a little man in purple clothing, sitting in a tiny bronze boat and travelling down the Boyne without rowing at all. He was Seanbheag the grandson of Ebhreac of the fairy mounds who came from the plain of Seaghais looking for the supernatural enlightenment that gives poetic inspiration.
There were nine fair-bearing hazels from whose nuts this inspiration could be received. These hazels dropped into the wells, the stream brought their poetic inspiration into the Boyne. Cú Chulainn put tiny Seanbheag and his little boat on the palm of his hand. Seanbheag pleaded with him: "I will give you my cloak and my tunic as a reward for my safety. They will fit anyone, whether big or small. No one will drown or burn so long as he wears them".
"I have them already", said Cú Chulainn. "Take my shield, my spear and no battle will be seized against you. You will never be wounded as long as the shields protect you", said Seanbheag. "I have them all in the hollow of my fist", said Cú Chulainn. Seanbheag sang to him some of his learning. He sang him this song:
I am not a lad; I am not a man,
I am not a child of learning.
The mysteries of God
Have made me gifted.
I am Abhchán, a sage of learning,
A poet from Seaghais.
Seanbheag is my name,
Ebhreac's grandson from the fairy mounds. "
Then Seanbheag offered Cú Chulainn wonderful rewards if he would let him free. But Cú Chulainn did not want to grant his wish. Then Seanbheag stretched out his hand and took his harp to himself. He began playing the three different types of music: he played him a geantraí (laughing song) so that Cú Chulainn was laughing; he played a goltraí (wailing song) so that he was wailed and he played a suantraí (sleeping song) so that he put Cú Chulainn to sleep.
As a result little Seanbheag escaped and disappeared down the Boyne in his tiny brass boat.
3)THE BIRTH OF CU CHULAINN
Eamhain Mhacha in the kingdom of Ulster is besieged by a flock of birds. The king Conor and his heroes decide to attack them. Conor's daughter Deichtine drives his chariot and the birds lead them to Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange). When it begins to snow they decide to stay there for the night. They find a tiny house with a young couple living there who give them food and shelter for the night. The young woman of the house gives birth during the night and Deichtine helps her to deliver a little boy. Just as the child is born a mare at the door of the house gives birth to two foals. The Ulstermen look after the baby and give him the foals as a present. Deichtine nurses the child for the mother.
But when morning comes it has all disappeared except their horses, the baby and the foals. The house, the young couple and the birds have disappeared. They return home where Deichtine cares for the baby until he was a boy. But then he catches an illness and dies. Deichtine is heartbroken and mourns his death. Then one day she is brought a goblet of water. But when she drinks from it a tiny creature slips into her mouth with the water. That night while she slept she had a dream that a man came to her.
He said: "You will bear my child. It was I who brought you to Brú na Bóinne. That boy you reared was mine and you will now give birth to my son and you will call him Séadanda. I am Lugh the son of Eithne. The foals that you brought from Brú na Bóinne should be given to our son".
Deichtine became visibly pregnant. The people of Ulster said that the father could have been Conor himself while he was drunk on the night she stayed with him at Brú na Bóinne. To put a stop to the rumours, Conor gave his daughter in marriage to Súaldamh the son of Roach, the brother of Fearghas son of Roach.
But Deichtine was embarrassed to go to bed with her new husband while pregnant. She pressed herself against the bedpost and there she was very sick. She was made virgin and whole again and went to her husband. Soon she is pregnant again. She bore a son and she called him Séadanda.
4) CU CHULAINN LOOKS FOR A WIFE
Once when the Ulstermen were performing feats at Eamhain Mhacha they noticed how all their women loved Cú Chulainn. They were worried and decided to find him a wife because he was too young, too bold and too beautiful. Conor ordered that they search the land for a suitable wife. The messengers search Ireland for a year without success. Cú Chulainn decides to search for a girl he heard of: Emer the daughter of Forghaill Monach who lived at Lughlocht of Lugh. He finds her sitting on the green surrounded by her friends.
"Why are you here?" she asks. "To seek you as a wife," he replied.
After a long conversation they agree that they are a good match but her father objects to his visiting her. He sets him a task - to train in the Otherworld (in the hope that he will be killed).
Cú Chulainn sets off for Scotland and then further afield to the Otherworld to train with the female warrior Scáthach (The Shadowy one). Scáthach predicts a wonderful future for him. He defeats her enemy Aoife and makes her pregnant with his son. While he is gone, Emer's father tries to marry her to someone but he vanishes when he hears of her engagement to Cú Chulainn.
Cú Chulainn completes his task, returns to Eamhain Mhacha and sets out to claim his bride. Her parents still object to the marriage. He kills her family and takes her with him regardless. He is attacked at Áth Sceanmeann (Delvin River, Gormanstown) and at Crúfóid (Moyfenrath, Meath before reaching the Boyne River on his way to Eamhain Mhacha.
They are welcomed by all and a wedding feast is held. But Bricriu of the poison tongue causes a riot saying that Conor has the right to sleep with every bride on the first night after the marriage. Cú Chulainn will not agree to this so a compromise is reached. Conor will be in the same bed as Emer but Fergus and Cathbhadh the Druid will be in the bed also to protect Cú Chulainn's honour. Conor pays Emer's bride price the following day, Cú Chulainn sleeps with his bride and they do not separate until he dies.
5) DEATH AT THE SLOPING MOUNDS
The king of Tara, Tuathal Teachtmar son of Fiachu Findhfholaidh had as a queen Báine the daughter of Scál (shadow). She bore the king two daughters, Fithir and Dáirine. Eochu Áincheann king of Leinster came to woo one of them and Dáirine was given to him. But Eochu took a dislike to her. He went to woo the younger daughter, Fithir. He told her that Dáirine was dead. Fithir was given to him and he returned to his own territory. Dáirine came to welcome her sister for she did not know that she was replacing her. The younger of the sisters, that is Fithir, died of shame when she saw her sister. Then Dáirine died of grief for her.
When Tuathal heard this he went on a hosting into Leinster and bound the compensation for his daughters on the Leinstermen. Here is the amount of the compensation: 150 cows, and 150 pigs and 150 cloaks - all of them each year. That is called the cattle tribute of Leinster (Bóraimhe Laighean.) Tuathal exacted it for 30 years and his son Feidhlimidh for 7 years, 20 years by Conn Chéadchathach and 12 years by by Art. Dúnlaing king of Leinster refused it to Cormac grandson of Conn.
Cormac went with his hosts into Leinster exactly at Samhain. Dúnlaing went around him with his host to Tara. They killed 30 daughters of the kings of Ireland and a further hundred maidens. These included the 10 daughters of Cormac himself, that is Ailbhe, Eithne, Gráinne, Lemhain, Scithe, Adhmhaer, Oenge, Tailinne and Indearbh along with the 8 daughters of Fearghas Foltleabhar the 12 daughters of Ailill Cindnathrach and the 3 Mámma.
Then Aonghas Fear Gaebuaibtheach blinded Cormac's eye. Dissension arose between him and Cormac in Tara when Aonghas said that a maiden of his kin would not be in bondage and he wounded Cormac's eye and killed his son. It is from this that Cormac was blind in one eye.
Cairbre Lifechair took the kingship of Tara in place of his father, for it would not be proper that a king with a blemish should rule there. Eithne, moreover, was the mother of that Cairbre. That is the death of the women of Tara. (At the Sloping Mounds/Trenches)
6)IRELAND’S FIRST JUDGEMENT AT TARA
The Milesians, the sons of Míl, arrived in Ireland and did battle with the Tuatha Dé Danann. A woman of their people died in the battle, she was Scota the daughter of Pharaoh of Egypt and the wife of Érimhón son of Míl. After her death the Sons of Míl including their poet Aimhirghin, travelled to Sliabh Mis. There they met the goddess Banbha. "A gift from me to you", she said. "What gift is that?" they asked. "That my name be upon this island", she replied. "And what is your name," they asked. "Banbha", she said. "Your name will be on the island then", said Aimhirghin.
They had the same conversation with her sisters Fódhla and Ériu. They met Ériu at Uisneach and she said: "Welcome warriors! Your coming has been foretold long ago. This island will be yours forever and no race will ever be more numerous than yours and my name should be on this island". "That will be the island's principal name", said Aimihrghin.
The sons of Míl reached Teamhair where there they meet the three kings of the Tuatha Dé Danann Mac Cuill, Mac Céacht and Mac Gréine. They made a judgement against the sons of Míl - the Tuatha Dé Danann should have the island for three days without attack, without battle or without giving hostages. The Tuatha Dé Danann were sure that the invaders would not return because their druids had cast spells upon them so that they would not return.
"We will allow your own judge Aimhirghin to make the judgement", they said. "He will not give a false judgement. If he does - he will die at our hands". Aimhirghin makes the judgement: "Let the island be left to them and we shall go past nine waves on the sea".
This was the first judgement to be made in Ireland.
The Sons of Míl took to sea and the spells of the Tuatha Dé Danann brought them far away from Ireland and they were close to destruction by the vicious winds and storms. Some of their people drowned but they were eventually victorious and claimed the land as their own.
7) HOW TEAMHAIR GOT HER NAME
The Book of Invasions tells us how Érimhón son Míl deserted his first wife Odhbha and travelled to Spain where he met a woman called Tea and he took her to Ireland as his wife. He wanted to give her a wonderful present as her marriage portion and allowed her to choose the land. Tea decided to choose the place then called Druin Chaín, the mound that is called Teamhair. It was called Teamhair from then on: the Wall of Tea, that is from the words múr (wall) and Tea (her name). She persuaded him to bury her there when she died.
Another version says that Érimhón found Tea in Thebes and brought her to Ireland. After a time she was dying with homesickness and she told him that she wanted to return to Thebes. Érimhón begged her to stay and told her that he would give her anything she wanted if only she would remain in Ireland. He promised that he would build her the most wonderful dwelling in the country on the most beautiful hill that could be found.
Érimhón seized Teamhair and built three walls on its upper part and named the place Teamhair so that it was called by that name by everyone ever afterwards. His wife's homesickness disappeared.
TEAMHAIR - a poem
How did Teamhair of Breagh get its name?
Please tell us you poets!
When was that place named?
When did Teamhair become Teamhair?
A boundary ditch was built around her house,
By great Tea the daughter of Lughaidh;
She was buried beyond the wall,
So that from her Teamhair is named.
I am Fintan the poet,
I am not a salmon of one stream;
There I was raised to renown,
On the territorial abode, above Teamhair.
TEAMHAIR - another poem
Tea of Breagh, a large household,
It is famous because she was a noblewoman,
A funeral mound of great standards,
The burial ground was not ransacked.
Tephi gave her name to the beautiful dwelling,
The king's beautiful and lucky wife,
The wall ofTephi, it confronts an army,
Who would dare any feat without fear.
8) THE SETTLEMENT OF TARA
Once during the reign of king Diarmaid mac Cearbhaill, the Uí Néill held a meeting in Magh Breagh to discuss the settlement of Teamhair. It seemed too large for them, that is the sweeping plain with seven views on every side. They talked about reducing the green as it appeared wasteful to them to have that amount of land without houses, farming and of no service to anyone.
Diarmaid invited them to a feast but they refused until the green of Teamhair was decided as it was before their day and how it would be forever more.
"I will take advice from Fintan son of Bóchra son of Bith son of Noah who survived the Flood", says Diarmaid. Fintan arrives at Teamhair. He tells them that the first judgement ever made in Ireland was given by Amhairghin at Teamhair.
"The first judgement in Ireland was given here", said Fintan. "I got my knowledge from the learned Tréfuilngidh Trí-eochair who causes the sun to rise and set. Call the men of Ireland to me. As you have no storytellers I will tell you the stories of the four quarters of Ireland and of the hearth of Teamhair with the four quarters of Ireland around it. I explain all that is unknown".
"This is the division", said Fintan, "west for knowledge, north for battle, east for prosperity, south for music, and the centre position for kingship. Here in the centre we find Ireland's kings, stewards, honour, sovereignty, entertaining, defenders, destructions, violence, warriors, charioteers, soldiers, high-kings, poets, mead, ale fame and prosperity".
"Where are these?" asked the people. "The lordship of Teamhair stretches from Meath to Newgrange to Moynalvey to Uisneach to Slane, to Kells, to Teathba. Remember that Uisneach and Teamhair are the two kidneys of Ireland". "Let Teamhair remain as we found it", said Fintan, "We should not contradict the arrangement which Tréfuilngidh Trí-eochair left us. He was God's angel or perhaps he was God himself".
With that Fintan left the men of Ireland and the green of Teamhair was settled forever more.
9) CU CHULAINN VISIT TO TARA
During the encounters of Cú Chulainn on Táin Bó Cúailnge he fought many combats with many brave warriors. He threatened to kill Ailill or Medb if he came close enough.
One of the warriors who confronted him during his defence of Ulster was Leathan.
He came on to his fort over the River Níth (River Dee, Co Louth) in Conaille (land from Cooley to the Boyne) and indeed waited to encounter Cú Chulainn. He was grieved by what Cú Chulainn had already done. Cú Chulainn cut off his head and left it there beside the body. Hence is the name Áth Leathan on the Níth. And their chariots broke when they met on the ford beside it. Hence is the name Áth Carpat. Mulcha, lethan's charioteer, fell on the shoulder of the hill that lies between Áth Lethan and Áth Carpat. Hence comes the placename Gúala Mulcha.
While the army was going over Mag mBreg Allecto came for a while, that Is, the Morrígan, in the form of a bird which perched on the pillar-stone in Temair Cúailnge and said to the bull:
"Does the restless Black Bull know (it) without destructive falsehood? … I have a secret that the Black Bull will know if he graze (?) … on the green grass … Fierce is the raven, men are dead, a sorrowful saying … every day the death of a great tribe …"
The the bull went with fifty heifers to Slíab Cuillinn, and his herdsman, Forgaimen, followed him. The bull threw of the thrice fifty boys who used to play on his back and killed two thirds of them. And before he went he pawed the earth in Tír Margéni in Cúailnge.
Cú Chulainn did not kill anyone between the Saili Imdoirchi in the district of Conaille until they reached Cúailnge. Cú Chulainn was then on the mountain of Cuinche. He threatened that wherever he saw Medb he would cast a stone at her head. This was not easy for him, for Medb travelled surrounded by half the army and with a screed of shields over her head.
10) CU CHULAINN AND THE KINGSHIP OF TARA
At Samhain the Ulstermen usually celebrated for seven days with games, feasts and drinking. While waiting for two of their heroes, Conall Cearnach and Fearghas mac Roích they passed the time played chess.
A flock of birds fly over them and Mughain, Conor's wife says: "I would love two of those birds!" All the other women agreed with her.
Cú Chulainn is asked to hunt the birds and he catches two for every woman except his own wife Emher. When two more birds pass by, he shoots at them and misses. In foul humour he falls asleep at a standing stone. Two women appear and horsewhip him close to death.! Cú Chulainn is taken to his bed and lies motionless until …
Next Samhain as warriors surround his bed, a mysterious visitor invites Cú Chulainn to visit the Other World with him with him. Cú Chulainn refuses.
The kingship of Tara is vacant for seven years since the horrible murder of Conaire Mór in the Hostel of Da Derga. The kings of the 4 provinces of Ireland wish to choose a successor. They convene the bull feast to prophecy the future king. A fair bull is killed and one man eats his fill of the meat and broth. He then sleeps while four druids chant over him. He sees the future king in his dreams. When he is awoken he tells his vision to the kings.
"I see a strong, noble, youthful warrior with two red circles about him and he is at the pillow of a sick man at Eamhain Mhacha." Messengers are sent to Eamhain Mhacha in search for the man.
"That is our Lughaidh of the Red Stripes"! declares Conor. "He is the fosterson of Cú Chulainn. He sits at his sickbed."
With that Cú Chulainn wakes and declares to Lughaidh:
"Fosterling to be king of Tara,
this is my advice - do not jest, do not mock,
be not cold hearted to friends,
be not weak with enemies,
be not afraid, be not rash,
be not contentious, be not hostile,
be not lazy, be not weak,
be not too quick, be not vulgar,
do not break a contract or repent,
adopt and follow my words my son!"
Lughaidh goes to Tara where he is proclaimed king. He sleeps in Tara that night and entertains many visitors.
11) THE DEATH OF CU CHULAINN
Cú Chulainn put on his cloak but it burst around him and a brooch fell from his hand. He said to Laogh: "prepare the Liath Mhacha and the chariot for us". Laogh said "No one could bring that horse to a chariot today".
The horse turned his left side to Cú Chulainn three times and shed great round tears of blood. Cú Chulainn raced southward in the chariot along the road of Midhluachair, across Mag Mugna. He saw three witches blind in the left eye. They were cooking a lap-dog, with poison and spells, on spits of holly. It was one of Cú Chulainn's tabus to pass a cooking-place without eating but it was also a tabu of his to eat the flesh of his namesake.
The witch said, "pay a visit with us". "I will not," Cú Chulainn said. "The food is only a hound", she said. The witch gave him the dog's shoulder, Cú Chulainn took it from her hand and put it under his left thigh. Both the hand and thigh lost their strength.
Cú Chulainn meets the enemy army. Lughaidh son of Cú Raí took a spear and cast it at Laogh. His entrails came out onto the chariot's upholstery. Cú Chulainn sorrowfully said farewell to Laogh. Lughaidh cast the spear, it pierced him. What was in his midriff came out onto the chariot's upholstery. Cú Chulainn said, "I would like to go to the lough yonder, to drink a drink from it". "You have our leave," they said, "provided that you come back to us".
He gathered his entrails up in his bosom and pressed his hand against his belly. After taking a drink, he washed himself and went to a stone pillar nearby. He put his belt around it so that he might die standing up.
The Liath Macha came to protect Cú Chulainn as long as his soul remained in his body and the hero's light still blazed from his forehead. The horse attacked them, killing 50 with his teeth and 30 with each of his hooves.
Then a scald-crow alit on his shoulder. Lughaidh arranged his hair behind him, and cut off his head. Cú Chulainn's sword fell from his hand and severed Lughaidh's arm. Cú Chulainn's arm was cut off to avenge that. The army left taking his head and arm with them as far as Tara. His head and arm both rest there and the full of his shield.
12) A JUDGEMENT AT TEAMHAIR
There was a battle at the Plain of Mucramha (near Athenry in Galway) fought between Eoghan son of Ailill of the Bare-Ear of Munster and Art son of Conn of the Hundred Battles king of Teamhair one the one side and Lughaidh son of Con on the other. Lughaidh son of Con was the victor and both Eoghan and Art were killed in the battle. Art left behind a son called Cormac …
As a result of the battle Lughaidh son of Con took the kingship of Ireland by force. He spent seven years as king in Teamhair. He took the baby, Cormac, son of the former king Art, into fosterage.
At one time the sheep belonging to a woman ate the glassen (woad)* of Lughaidh's queen. The case was brought before Lughaidh Mac Con for his judgement. "I judge", said Mac Con, "that the sheep should be given in place of the sheep". The little boy, Cormac, is sitting on the couch beside him. "No foster-father", he said. "The sheep should be sheared and the wool given for the stripping of the woad. This would be more just. Because the woad will grow in the soil again and the wool will grow upon the sheep".
The people recognize the truth of the judgement.
"That is the true judgement", they all said. "And also the child who gives it is the son of the true prince". Immediately, one side of the house begins to fall down the Cliffside; that is the side of the house where the false judgement was given. It will stay like that forever; and it is called the Clóenfherta (Crooked Mounds) of Teamhair …
The poet said:
The brave warrior Lughaidh,
He gave a false judgement, I think,
Forever since then 'til now,
The Ráth shall be crooked on this side.
For a year after that judgement, Lughaidh Mac Con remained in the kingship. But during that time no grass grew through the ground, no leaves appeared on the trees and no grain of corn grew throughout the countryside. The men of Ireland understood that he was an unjust ruler and they banished him from the kingship of Teamhair.
(*a plant used for dying cloth etc.)
13) LUGH COMES TO TEAMHAIR
The mythological saga The Battle of Moytura tells the tale of three kings of Teamhair. The first was the wise Nuadha who resigned when he lost an arm in battle. The second was Breas the flawed Fomorian king who gave bad judgements and mistreated the poet Cairpre. The third was the perfect God Lugh who arrives to Teamhair to save the Tuatha Dé Danann in their battle with the one-eyed, one-armed and one-legged Fomorians (the enemy from overseas).
At that time the poet of the Tuatha Dé Danann came to Breas's house for hospitality (he was Cairbre the son of Édhaoin. He was brought into a tiny, pitch black, narrow house where he saw that there was no furniture, no fire not even a bed within. The only food that he received was three little dry cakes on a dish.
When he got up the following morning he was furious and vented his anger at the king. As he crossed the courtyard he proclaimed:
"He will be without food on a dish,
And without the cow's milk on which a calf feeds,
He will be homeless after darkness,
Let it be Breas's circumstance -
to be without paying a company of storytellers".
"Bres's affluence is no longer", he said. That was the truth and he suffered only affliction from that hour. That is the first satire that was made in Ireland. Breas left Ireland and returned to his father's people overseas. Meanwhile in Teamhair, Nuadha resumes the kingship. He sits at the head of the table in the Teach Midhchuarta (Banqueting Hall). The doorkeeper sees the Shining One approaching …
14) RUADHAN CURSES TEAMHAIR
(From the story the death of Diarmaid mac Cearbhaill)
St Ruadhán of Lothra visited St Brendan of Birr. They visit Teamhair and asked the king Diarmaid mac Cearbhaill for his security. He refused: "protection should not be given to those who would destroy my rule". The clerics chanted curses and beat their bells at the king. Twelve fostersons of the king died at Teamhair. When their fosterfathers pleaded with the clerics they brought the boys back to life.
For a year the clerics cursed Diarmaid. His steward said; "the clerics finished their food, they may fast against you."
Diarmaid saw a vision that night: a large tree at Teamhair with its tip reaching to the clouds of heaven and sheltering all Ireland. He sees two foreigners hacking the tree and felled it by placing a strap about it. The sound of the tree falling woke him up. "It is true", said Diarmaid, "I am the tree and the foreigners hacking it are the clerics curtailing my life; it is by them that I shall fall".
The king gets up next morning and he went to the place were the clerics were. "It is evil to destroy my rule because I protect the truth", said Diarmaid. "Ruadhán - yours will be the first church in Ireland to be destroyed. Your monks shall leave you".
"May I soon weary of your kingship", said Ruadhán.
"May your city be deserted and pigs dig up the graveyard", said Diarmaid. "May Teamhair be deserted and never a dwelling upon her!" said Ruadán. "May there be a blemish upon your body!" said Diarmaid. Ruadhán's eye burst immediately.
"May your body be maimed by enemies and your limbs scattered!" said Ruadán. "May a wild boar dig up your home and scatter your relics!" said Diarmaid. “May wild dogs howl about your cemetery every nones and midday". "May that knee not rise until it is buried with your body!" said Ruadhán. Ruadhán called up the black gloom so that there would never be smoke from the houses in Teamhair.
Diarmaid looks up at the ridgepole. "That ridgepole is your enemy", said Ruadán. "It will smite you when you have been beaten by the foreigners". "Your redress cleric", said Diarmaid.
They make peace.
15) TARA AND SKRYNE - CORMAC’S DEATH
There was a time when the people called the Déise lived at Magh Breagh. This was during the time that Cormac mac Airt was the king of Teamhair. Cormac had a son Ceallach who captured Créidhe a girl of the Déise. There was a fierce warrior among the Déise called Aonghus Gaíbuaibhtheach. His name came from his vicious spear with its swinging chains and he took revenge on any insult to his family.
He sets out for Cormac's court and meets a woman on his way. "A drink and food as I am thirsty and hungry!" he demands of her. "Your way of life is evil", she said. "You are likely to rape a lone woman as avenge your people". Aonghus was furious and he threw a bucket at her head and killed her.
The watchman sees Aonghus marching towards Teamhair and proclaims: "I see a rough angry warrior with a huge spear coming to us". "That is Aonghus", replied Cormac.
Aonghus storms into the court where Ceallach and Cormac are sitting. Aonghus thrusts the spear through Ceallach's breast so that it became wedged in the wall behind him. As he withdrew the spear, a link of the chain hit Cormac's eye and split it in two. He also killed the steward of the house, Séadhna as well as another nine warriors of the household before he managed to escape.
From then on Cormac could not sleep in Teamhair, it was unlucky for a blemished king to sleep there. He built Achall on the side of Teamhair - he dug the Rath so that he could sleep there for the rest of his life.
Another version says: Cormac could no longer enter Teamhair and that he lived the rest of his life at Achall by Teamhair. The story adds that today Achall is called Scrín Cholm Cille - Skryne.
Cormac defeated the Déise in seven battles and they are subsequently exiled from Teamhair. The women cried: they were parted from Teamhair forever. Aonghus' wife said:
"I salute Teamhair of the Hill and
The beautiful, salmon-filled Boyne,
Defamed, my heart breaks
I will miss the Aonach of Tailltiu."
Cormac died a year later at Cleitheach near Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange).
16) CU CHULAINN’S VISIT TO TARA
The warriors of Ulster took turns in the Fews Mountains guarding the way to Eamhain Mhacha. As Cú Chulainn and his charioteer Iobhar proceed he asks "What are those mountains over there?" he asks. "The Mourne Mountains," Iobhar answers. "What plain is that?" he asks. "The plain of Breagha", is the reply. Iobhar tells him the names of all the forts between Tara and Kells and the fort of the three sons of Neachtain Scéine (on the River Skayne ). *
"They have killed more Ulstermen than are alive, let us go and meet them", says Cú Chulainn. The sons of Neachtain Scéine come to meet them. One steps forward. "If you do not reach that man with the first thrust you will never reach him", Iobhar warns. But Cú Chulainn casts a spear at him, breaking his back and then beheading him. The second brother approaches.
"I swear that he will not play that stick on Ulstermen again," he says. He kills and beheads him and then the third brother. Then he heard the cry of their mother, as she mourns them.
He returns to the Fews Mountains where he captures a herd of wild deer and ties them to the chariot. Then they see a flock of swans. "Which would the Ulstermen think best, if I bring them alive or dead?" "The bravest carry them off alive". He ties 12 swans to his chariot. He returns to Eamhain Mhacha in that fashion with a wild deer, a flock of swans and the severed heads on the chariot. "I swear unless a man is found to fight with me, I shall shed the blood of everyone in the fort!" he says.
"Send forth naked women to meet him!" orders Conor. The women, led by Mughain, Conor's wife, go to meet the boy and bare their breasts to him. "These are the warriors you will meet today!" said Mughain.
He hid his face and the warriors placed him in vats of cold water. The first tub burst about him, the second boiled the water and the third heated the water. Mughain put a blue cloak with a silver brooch about him and Cú Chulainn sits at Conor's knee.
(* Probably Ringlestown Fort today)
Comment from the Celtic Druid Temple
You can still visit many of these magical and heroic places and if you sit quietly you can sometimes feel these stories vibrating in the Sky, Land and Sea.