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Lugh the Long Handed
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Name: Lugh Lámhfada / Lugaid / Lugaidh / Lonnansclech/ Luga/ Lámfada/
'Light' 'Long-Handed'
Title: Samildánach (meaning 'All Skills')/ Ildánach
Patronymics: mac Céin :: mac Ethlenn :: Maicnia (boy-warrior)
Counterparts: Wales - Lleu Llaw Gyffes
Gaul - Lugos/Lugus/Mercury
Properties: God of Light, God of the Harvest
Associated Deities: Danu, Medb
Associated Sites: Brugh na Boinne / Newgrange :: Moytura :: Teltown/Tailltiu
Profession: Master of All Arts & Crafts, Master Druid, King, Warrior
Wives: Buí/Boí :: Nás :: Echtach :: Énglic
Father: Cian Mac Diancecht
Mother: Ethnea Ní Bhaloir
Sister: Ebliu wife of Fintan
Half-Sister: Muirne 'of the White Neck'
Foster Father: Manannan Mac Lír
Foster Mother: Tailtiu wife of Eochaid Mac Eirc :: some sources give Duach as his foster-mother an ancestress of Tailtiu
Paternal Grandfather: Dian Cécht
Maternal Grandfather: Balor of the Evil Eye
Maternal Grandmother: Ceithlenn
Race: Fomorian & Tuatha Dé Danann
Sons:
Cúchulainn
Cnu Deireoil
Consort: Dechtire (whose great grandfather was the Dagda)
Festival: Lughnasa / Lughnasadh
Sacred Month: August
Herbs: Healing, Sleep Inducing : Hops : Chamomile : Hemp
Horse: Enbarr of the flowing mane on loan from Manannan
Dog: Failinis
Associated Tribes: The Luigni of Meath and Sligo
Weapons: Gae Assail - The Spear of Assal one of the four treasures of the Tuatha de Danann
The God Lugh was the God of Light or the harvest, a festival was held in his honour in August called Lughnasa, August was his sacred month.
He was reputed to be the divine father of Cúchulainn whom he conceived with Dechtire when he carried her away to his palace beneath Brugh na Boinne.
He was known as Ildánach which means master of all arts and crafts. When he first went to the palace of the King Nuada he was stopped at the door by the sentry who said only those with a skill may pass. Lugh said he was a wright but he got the reply that they had one already and so Lugh named all his professions in turn: smith, champion, harper, poet-historian, sorcerer, physician, cupbearer, craftsman in metal only to be told the Tuatha Dé already had experts in these. So then Lugh asked had they got one man who had the whole combination of skills and the reply was no and so he was allowed enter.
He is credited with creating Fidhchell the classic boardgame of Celtic tradition, as well as ball games and horsemanship.
Lugh the Long-handed became a king after Nuada of the Silver Arm who was ruler of the Tuatha Dé decided to give the sovereignty to Lugh after seeing a display of his technical skills and feeling he was the one person who could overthrow the Fomorians. Lugh organized everyone to their maximum potential against the Fomorians and killed their leader Balor of the Evil Eye with a slingshot through his eye which then turned its baleful gaze onto his own men, this occurred at the second battle of Magh Tuiredh. Balor was his grandfather and his slaying fulfilled a prophecy which Balor's Druid had given him many years previously.
Lugh was killed by Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht and Mac Gréine in revenge for his killing of their father Cermait who had slept with one of Lugh's wives. The attack occurs near the hill of Uisnech, Lugh flees from the combined might of the three gods and is drowned in Loch Lugborta, his cairn is located near the shore. There are variant traditions which have him buried either at Newgrange or at Luglochta Loga the fortress of Forgall Monach in Co. Louth.
Stories, Myth & Legends associated with Lugh:
The Fate of the Children of Turenn
Bres Mac Elatha and the Tuatha Dé Danann
The Second Battle of Magh Tuiredh
The Story of the Tuatha De Danann
Deathtales of the Tuatha De Danann
Baile In Scail - The Phantom's Frenzy
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