The Fomorians

Name: Fomorian / Fomhoire / Formorian/Fomoraig / Faoi-Mhuir

Origins: Africa, Asia ?

Kings:  Conaing, Morc, Indech, Tethra, Balor, Elatha

 

Queens:  Ceithlenn

 

Associated Sites: Conaing's Tower, & Tory Island, (Torinis) The Hebrides  Rathlin  Islay  Lochlann (Norway) Dun Aengus

 

Warriors:  Cichol

 

Smith: Dolb

 

Steward:  Liagh (collected the taxes from the Nemedians)

 

Poets: Oghma 

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The Fomorians by John Duncan Scottish 19th century artist

The Fomorians were an ancient sea-faring race it is thought that they originally came from Northern Africa or Asia as they are described as having dark hair and dark skin in the original accounts.  The name 'Fomor' literally means 'beneath the sea' from the Gaelic  faoi-mhuir.  Today scholars believe that 'Mor' means 'phantom' or 'spirit' and therefore proves that the Fomorians were considered to be Gods with magical powers.

Conaing is one of the first of these Fomorians to have settled and they seem to have settled on all the Northern Islands along the coast of Ireland and across to Scotland and Norway.  They were reputed to have great magical powers.  Some accounts have them living beneath the waves.  It would seem that they split up into different tribes and that some did decide to reside in the Underworld such as Tethra the Fomorian  faery king.  They were certainly renowned Sea-farers and their ships were important to them.  An account from the Second Battle of Magh Tuiredh says that their fleet stretched from Norway to the North-east coast of Ireland.  

Most Fomorians are described as dark-haired but there are exceptions Elatha the father of Bres being described as having 'golden-hair and being the handsomest man in sight'.  He also seems to have been less blood-thirsty and more interested in justice.  He refused to go to war with his son Bres against the Tuatha Dé because it was an 'unjust cause'.

 According to the ancient accounts in the Lebor Gabala Erenn the tribes of the Nemedians, Fir-Bolg, and Tuatha Dé all spoke the same tongue and were supposed to be descended from the same family, the Fomorians were a completely separate race.  With separate language and customs.  Although they do intermarry with the Tuatha De Danann in these accounts see The Story of the Tuatha De Danann below.

In some accounts the Fomorians are described as one-eyed, one armed, one legged monsters with vast magical powers.  In ancient times a curse was always pronounced on someone using this one-eyed, one armed, one legged stance as it was deemed to have great magical power, Lugh uses this method to cast a curse at his enemies in the Second Battle of Magh Tuiredh.

Stories, Myths and Legends associated with the Fomorians

Bres Mac Elatha and the Tuatha Dé Danann

 

The Second Battle of Magh Tuiredh

 

How Balor was Defeated

 

The Courting of Emer

 

The Fate of the Children of Turenn

 

Partholon

 

Fir Bolg

 

  The Story of the Tuatha De Danann

 

  Death Tales of the Tuatha De Danann

 

Credhe's Lament

 

The Hard Servant

 

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© Shee-Eire.