An Chraobh Airgid

Person

Bres

Breas · Old Irish Bres

The beautiful king of the Tuatha Dé who gave nothing, son of a Fomorian king.

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Son of Elatha, king of the Fomorians, and of Ériu, a woman of the Tuatha Dé Danann; his full name, Eochaid Bres, means Eochaid the beautiful. He was made king when Nuada lost his hand, but under him the Tuatha Dé were taxed and went hungry, until Coirpre’s satire brought him down. He came back with the Fomorians to the second battle of Mag Tuired, and bought his life from Lugh with the secret of when to plough, sow and reap. In the Fate of the Children of Tuireann the Fomorian leader is also called Bres, but he is the son of Balor.

Kin and bonds

In the tales

  • The Coming of the Tuatha Dé Danann They burned their ships on the shore, and for three days a druid’s mist hid them. Then they sent word to the people who held Ireland: half the land, or a battle.
  • The Second Battle of Mag Tuired A beautiful king who gives nothing, a stranger with every art, an eye no army can face, and a harp that plays sorrow, laughter and sleep.

See also

  • Balor The Fomorian champion whose evil eye no army could face; Lugh’s grandfather.
  • Coirpre Poet of the Tuatha Dé Danann, who made the first satire in Ireland.
  • The Dagda’s Harp “Oak of two greens” and “four-angled music”: a harp with two names.
  • The Fomorians Old enemies of the gods. In folklore, giants.
  • Goibniu The smith of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
  • Indech King of the Fomorians at the second battle of Mag Tuired.
  • Lugh The god of many skills.
  • Nuada of the Silver Hand King of the Tuatha Dé Danann, who lost a hand in battle and was given one of silver.
  • Ogma Champion of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and brother of the Dagda.
  • Tuatha Dé Danann The old gods of Ireland.

Sources

Medieval manuscript. Written down by Irish scholars between the eighth and seventeenth centuries.

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