DeDanaan

Filed by Aine MacDermot

Lámhfadha, Lugh (of the Long Arm); Llew or Lleu [Welsh]; Lugus or Lugos [Gaulish]; Lughnasadh : pron. (loo)

1. Son of Cian and Ethniu; grandson of Balor; fostered by Manannán Mac Lir and Tailtiu; father, by Dectera, of Cúchullain; A god of many skills, some say the god of all skills; cognate with a sun god. He was the guardian of the spear of Gorias which never missed it’s mark and killed all opponents. He was also called Samildanach (sôh’vil dàn’ah, meaning many skills). He later went on to fulfill the prophecy that he would kill his grandfather, when he slew Balor of the Evil Eye at the Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh (Moytura). Lugh’s last appearance seems to have been in a magical mist when Conn of the Hundred Battles (high chieftain, AD 177-212) saw him. Lugh foretold how many children Conn would have and the length of his reign. When the old gods were driven underground, Lugh was given the sídhe of Rodrubán by the Dagda.

Over the years, Lugh’s legendary image was slowly diminished in the minds of the people until he became simply a faery craftsman named Lugh-chromain, ‘little stooping Lugh,’ which became Anglicized as Leprechaun, the shoemaker. He is a folk-variant of the Fir Dhearga or the Red Men and, like them, indulges in jokes at mortals’ expense, while guarding a treasure of gold. The leprechaun is now all that most people know of Lugh, whose name is remembered in the many place names across many lands, not just Ireland.

2. Lughnasadh : Celebrated on August 1st, this Celtic festival marked the season of harvest and was the Feast of Lugh. Lugh created it to commemorate his foster-mother Tailtiu, a goddess of the land, who died laboring to clear the plains of Ireland for agricultural use. Games were held in her honor at Teltown, animals and produce were sold, and temporary marriages were entered into, with no binding contract, although many such marriages endured. Early records claim the feast was celebrated for fifteen days. Christianity usurped this festival and called it Lammas, the feast of first fruits.