Wustropp — The Earthworks, 6fc, of 8. E. Co. Limerick. LJ7 



I state what seems to me most probable views; but some, at least, must get 

 overturned by further research. Though we have a substantial mass of early 

 statements, even good, but slightly later, authorities do all they can to contra- 

 dict the obvious facts, and make the Tuatha De not "demons or fairies, but 

 descendants of Japhet." All such euhemerist assertions are worth nothing. 

 The " Fomorigh," or " under-sea folk," were probably gods of non-Milesian 

 tribes. Only in the ranks of the Tuatha Dc do the gods of Gaul and Britain 

 appear. The " Fomoraig " are " champions of the Sid," probably of the holy 

 mounds, not of their rival gods. We have a similar phrase in " the host 

 round the cairns," in St. Columba's poem, and the Coir Anmann says that 

 Cormac Coinloinges, "who watched at cairns," was called Nia in Chcdrn, 

 " the champion of the cairn." 1 



Of the Tuatha De we have full evidence from Gaul of the worship of 

 Lug, Ogma, Neman, Net, Danu, Grian, Brigid, and Ann, with, perhaps, Midir 3 

 and Bile. Along with them we have the three crow-like goddesses of war, 

 one called Bodbh of Battle, " (C)athubodua," and the divine bull of the legend 

 of Cualnge, " Donnotaurus." 3 The worship of many of these gods in Britain 

 is equally well established. Lieu or Lugh ; Nudd (or Ludd) Lamereint, 

 Nuada Argetlamh ; Manawyddan, son of Llyr (or Manannan) ; Don or 

 Danu ; and Govannan or Goibniu. The sacred mounds were divided between 

 the divine races by Manannan and Bodb Derg; but they were "people of 

 the Ski " (whatever exactly was intended), probably long before our literary 

 sources begin. 



Traces of the worship of the following gods I have so far found in Cliu : — 

 Lug, Nuada, Nechtan, Cuil, Aine, Ferfi, Segomo, Net, and Manannan, of the 

 Tuatha De. Of the non-Milesian gods I may note Bodb Dearg, Cliu, Dairine, 

 Dergthene, Deda, Garban, and Febra, Donn Firimie, Edaoin, Cliodna, and a 

 swarm of the relations of Deda, son of Sen, including the mountain goddesses 

 Mis, Eehtge, and Eblinn, and the river goddess Sinann. 



1 Loc. cit., p. 403. 



- This I doubt, as the bull and Phrygian cap suggeM thai " Medroa " is Mithra (Rev. 

 Celt., xxv, p. 47). The question whether Berekynthia and Brigendo are the Irish war 

 goddess Brigid deserves more study. I venture to suggest that the mortal representatives 

 of certain gods bore their patrons' names ; the priestess of Knockainey may have been 

 "'Aine." I do not think (as has been suggested) that kings were called "Nuada" ; 

 the name at different periods arises from chronologers dating the same god at various 

 generations. Lastly, the equation of Bile with Balor rests oniy on similar but doubtful 

 pedigrees. 



3 Borne by human chiefs, as by the prince of Helvii. For Tarvus Trigaranos see Rev. 

 Celt., xviii, pp. 253-4. 



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