The Tuatha De Dannan are a race of people in Irish mythology, they are thought to have derived from the pre-Christian Gods of Ireland. However, the sources that survive containing accounts of them were written in the Christian era and their divine status is exchanged for mortal kings, heroes and warriors. Tuatha De Dannan is translated as ‘the people of the goddess Danu', led by their King Nuada they arrived in Ireland c.1500BC displacing the existing Fir Bolg. During the Battle of Magh Tuiredh, Nuada had his arm chopped off, being no longer perfect, he was replaced by the Fomorian Bres who terrorised the population. The physician Dian Cecht replaced Nuada's arm with a working silver prosthetic one and his son recited a spell and flesh grew on the silver arm (Dian Cecht later slew his son in a jealous rage) and Nuada regained his throne. The Tuatha De Dannan then fought the Second Battle of Magh Tuiredh against the Formorians, Nuada was killed by the evil eye of Balor but Lugh of the Tuatha De Dannan in turn slew Balor and took over as king.The Tuatha De Dannan's next challenge was to repel the Milesian invasion, the Milesians came from present day Galicia and Northern Portugal. The Milesians encountered three goddesses of the Tuatha De Dannan; Eiru, Banba and Fodla who requested that island be named after them, Eiru is the origin of modern name Eire and Banba and Fodla are often used in poetry when referring to Ireland. Their three husbands MacCuill, MacGreine and MacCecht brew up a mighty storm to displace the Milesian ships but their great poet, Amergin chanted verse to calm the waves allowing the Milesians to land and defeat the Tuatha De Dannan at the Battle of Tailtiu. As part of their surrender terms the Tuatha De Dannan were banished underground to dwell in the sidhe which are the hills or earthen mounds that dot the Irish landscape. These underground strongholds were seen as gateways to the otherworld or underworld.
Russell Shortt is a travel consultant with Exploring Ireland, the leading specialists in customised, private escorted tours, escorted coach tours and independent self drive tours of Ireland. Article source: http://www.exploringireland.net
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