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Homer
tells us of a woman, a war, and the wrath of the god/goddesses in a
story that was believed to be woven from myth and fantasy. However,
we have located the site of the city of Troy, thanks to archeology
and science. The Irish cycles, because of lack of evidence, as
labeled as myth and legend. Till we find out otherwise, we can enjoy
them, just as we enjoy Homer, and believe as we will.
There
are Four Irish Cycles...the Mythological Cycle, the Ulster Cycle,
the Fenian Cycle and the Historical Cycle. I will give a brief
description of these four cycles, and we will explore the first, the
Mythological Cycle.
The
first Cycle, the Mythological, is based on the Tuatha De Danann, or
the Tribe of Dana, or the Children of Dana, from which the Faery
tradition is derived, This concerns itself with the 5 waves of
invasion, presenting three certain colonization's of Ireland. Note
that the fifth wave of invasion, the Milesians, or Celts, is fixed at
about 1000 Before the Common Era (BCE), at about the time of Solomon.
The
second Cycle, the Ulster, begins at the Common Era. This is the
story of King Conchobar (Conor MacNessa) of Ulster. The story is told
in "The Sons of Usnach" and "The Tain BoCualigne"
(The Cattle Raid of Coolney). The foster son of King Conchobar is
CuChulainn (pronounced Coo-Coolyn), the greatest of Irish heroes.
The
third Cycle is the Fenian or Ossianic Cycle, called that because of
the Author. These are the legends of Fin macCunail and his roving
Fianan (warbands). Finn's son was Oisin or Ossian.
Fin'
Fiana served King Cormac mac Airt, the greatest of Irelands kings.
Cormac is dated to the third century CE. The books recording these
are "Teagasc an Riogh" (Instructions of a King), The Book
of Acaill (a book of the principles of Criminal Law) and "The
Psalter of Tara (no longer in existence). Cormac died circa 267CE.
Both this and the Ulster Cycle are similar, but characteristics
differ. Both are of heroes, but differ in modes of transport and
camaraderie. While the Ulster Cycle is of forming the basis of Irish
life, the Fenian Cycle is a parallel of the Arthurian legends of
Britain and is romantic in nature and celebrates outdoor life in the
waste and wilds. The "Agallanma Seanorach" (The Colloquy of
the Ancients) accounts the Fiana's great doings, given to St. Patrick
by Oisin and Caoilte, about 150 years later.
The
fourth and last is the Historical Cycle. This is a collection of
stories on various high Kings of Ireland and a number of provincial
or lesser kings, circa third to eighth century CE. These are
ConaireMor, to Con of the Hundred Battles, Niall of the Nine Hostages
and the Dnall, son of Aed. Niall was the greatest King between the
time of Cormac macAirt and the coming of Patrick. His descendants
were Ard-Righs of Ireland for the next 600 years. This is also known
at the Cycle of Kings, and re less magical, less heroic and less
romantic. The focus is on Kingship being a marriage between King and Realm.
We
now focus on the Mythological Cycle. This cycle is concerned with
the Five Waves of Invasion of Ireland.
The
first wave is called Partholan. He was the first groups leader. He
was the son of Seara, son or Sru, of the family of Magog. He came to
Ireland 22 years before the birth of Abraham, when the world was 1978
years. He landed at Kenmare (in the West) and had brought his wife,
his three sons and their wives, and a thousand more. The settled in
the middle of the island, and it was called Saimher, after the dog of
Partholon's wife. Partholan killed the dog in a fit of rage, when he
found that his wife has committed a misconduct with her attendant,
named Todhga. She made no apology, saying that, in effect, can a man
or woman be in close, in private, without meddling the one with the
other. Partholan struck the dog and killed it.
The
reason Oartholon came to Ireland is because he killed his parents,
and was fleeing for his life. For this displeased the Gods, and they
sent a plague on his race, even unto Ireland. And they all died.
Ireland
was a waste for 30 years, till the coming of the next invasion.
It
is called the Neimheadh, those of Nemed, who was a son of Agnoman,
of the family of Magog. (Remember that name?) Nemed came from
Scythia, with 34 ships and 30 persons in each. There were also
pirates from Africa, called Fomorians, of the race of Cham, who
attacked the Neimheadh. The Neimheadh won three battles, then Nemed
dies of sickness and the Fomorians enslaved the Neimheadh, exacting a
2/3rds tribute of all they owned, their cows, their corn and their
Children, which was due every November, on the eve of Samhain. The
Neimheadh revolted, but a Formorian named Morc, brought ships from
Africa, and the Neimheadh fled or were killed. Those who did not were
enslaved and absorbed. Those who fled went to Greece.
In
Greece, they were enslaved by the Greeks, and were given leather
sacks in which to haul soil to rocky places, to lay the soil to make
the places fertile. The became known by the names of their leather
sacks. They were called the Firbolg. The revolted, and turned their
leather sacks in to boat skins, and returned to Ireland, 217 years
after the coming of Nemed.
The
Firolg are usually broken down into three groups returning to
Ireland. The Firbolg, who were named after the leather sacks, the Fir
Domnann, named for the pits that were left when the earth was dug
out, and the Gaileon, named for the darts, or spears, they used as
weapons. But it is commonly referred to as the Firbolg Invasion.
These were comprised of the 5 sons of Dela: Slainge of the Spears,
Rudraige, Gann, Genann, and Sengann. These groups gathered at Tara,
and having conquered, divided Ireland into 5 parts, one for each son
of Dela, and were the first to call their leader the High King. This
is the meaning of the Pentangle to the Celtic Tradition, the 5 arms,
one for each son, or division part of Ireland, all united at the
center, but the High Kings of Tara. Those who read the Mabinogion
remember the story of Branwen, how Bran avenged his sister, having
been dishonored, by killing all the men of Ireland, leaving only 5
pregnant women, who gave birth to sons. This is the Welsh reference
to the same event, 5 sons who divided Ireland between them.
Another
group who fled from the Formorians were the descendants of Iobath,
the third chief of Nemed. These people were called the Tuatha De
Danann. Legend says they went to Greece, to Athens. There they
learned magic and their arts till they became skilled in every trick
of sorcery. Syria made war on Athens, and the TDD raised the dead
Athenians with daemons, who possessed their bodies. The Syrians
caught on, drove stakes of Ash wood through their bodies. They did not
rise and the daemons fled. The Syrians slaughtered the balance of the
Athenians, but the TDD fled. They went to Norway, took four cities,
and placed four sages in those cities to teach the ways of the TDD.
Their chief was Nuada, son of Echtach. The four cities were Failias,
Gorias, Findias, and Murias. They then went to Scotland, where they
stayed for 7 years. They brought the 4 noble treasures: The stone of
Destiny, which screamed when a proper King of Ireland stood upon it,
the Sword of Nuada, which no one escaped when it was drawn from its
scabbard, the Spear of Lugh, against which no victory could be won,
and the Cauldron of Dagda, the Undry, from which no company would go
away unsatisfied.
They
arrived at Ulster, on the Eve of Beltaine. They told the Firbolg to
surrender or do battle for Ireland. They fought, the Firbolg were
overwhelmed, a hundred thousand were slain and the TDD won. These are
the Tribe of the Gods who are the Children of Danann. They ruled
Ireland for 197 years, till the Sons of Miles (aka the Celts) came.
The
Milesian are of the family of Gaedhal, who are also of Magog, and
had subjugated the Germans and established themselves in Central
Europe. After 1000BCE they came to England, Ireland and Scotland.
They killed the Three Kings and the Three Queens of Ireland, the
remaining TDD dispersed and, by decree, the Milesians claimed the
above ground, leaving the DeDanann to live below ground. And the TDD
went into the hills and faery regions and were rarely seen again.
Though enemies, all five invasions were related, the family of Magog,
and all spoke the Gaelic tongue.
The
Major Gods and Goddesses from this cycle, which you may (or may not)
recognize are Danna, mother of the Gods and Goddesses, Nuada, Lugh,
Dagda, Breo-saighit (Brigid), Eire, after whom Ireland was named
(Erin), The Morrigu/Morrigan (Triple aspects are Macha, Badhbh and
Neamhain), Angus mac Og, Ogma, Bodb the Red and many more. |
