The mythology of a lot of the islands along the west coast of Ireland still elude to foreign, ancient civilisations for building the forts and towers that remain. Tory Island’s mythology is by far the richest and most imaginative as I read ‘Stories from Tory Island’, by Dorothy Harrison. Originally the first occupiers were Nemedians from Scythia (who came from the Black Sea, I think) who were in turn oppressed by the Fomorians (perhaps Carthaginian, possibly north Africans) traders, raiders, pirates, giants, who demanded that two thirds of their children be handed over as payment of cruel tax.
Conan, the first Fomorian king, built a great tower from where he could raid and plunder mainland.60,000 warriors arrived from Ireland to Tory in an attempt to rid the island of Fomorians. After displacing Conan, Balor of the Evil Eye became king, he became known as the Evil of the Night.
Folklore says 9 tonnes of his gold still lie buried near the fort of Dún Balor.
His Daughter, Ethnea, was the Moon Goddess. Seduced by a Tuatha Dé Dannann fella, she was imprisoned in a cave by her father. She became pregnant and gave birth to triplets, who her father later tried to drown.
Her only surviving son was named Lugh, or the Sun God (who continues to be celebrated by his festivals or all be it called by different names, Puck Fair, Climbing of the Reek on every August 1st. Lugh eventually killed his father, Balor, in a great battle.
Lugh was buried across the road from here, at Brú na Bóinne.
Lady Gregory bestowed on him the highest honour, the father of Cú Chulainn.
Lugh began the festival of Lúnaghsa (Gaelic for August) in honour of his foster mother, Tailtiú, who died of exhaustion after clearing the forests of Ireland for harvesting crops.
Tailtiú is the true Mother of Boann, the Goddess of the River Boyne, and the festival place was Tailteann, close to a tributary of the river Boyne in County Meath, and principal assembly place for meetings of the early Ú Néill dynasty….. isn’t it a very small country we live in and very, very old?
The Tory currach has inching forward. We carved the name of the original builder on a piece of larch for the stern. It is a gem of a project, following the lines of a craftsman by attempting to reconstruct the currach he made.
Conan, the first Fomorian king, built a great tower from where he could raid and plunder mainland.60,000 warriors arrived from Ireland to Tory in an attempt to rid the island of Fomorians. After displacing Conan, Balor of the Evil Eye became king, he became known as the Evil of the Night.
Folklore says 9 tonnes of his gold still lie buried near the fort of Dún Balor.
His Daughter, Ethnea, was the Moon Goddess. Seduced by a Tuatha Dé Dannann fella, she was imprisoned in a cave by her father. She became pregnant and gave birth to triplets, who her father later tried to drown.
Her only surviving son was named Lugh, or the Sun God (who continues to be celebrated by his festivals or all be it called by different names, Puck Fair, Climbing of the Reek on every August 1st. Lugh eventually killed his father, Balor, in a great battle.
Lugh was buried across the road from here, at Brú na Bóinne.
Lady Gregory bestowed on him the highest honour, the father of Cú Chulainn.
Lugh began the festival of Lúnaghsa (Gaelic for August) in honour of his foster mother, Tailtiú, who died of exhaustion after clearing the forests of Ireland for harvesting crops.
Tailtiú is the true Mother of Boann, the Goddess of the River Boyne, and the festival place was Tailteann, close to a tributary of the river Boyne in County Meath, and principal assembly place for meetings of the early Ú Néill dynasty….. isn’t it a very small country we live in and very, very old?
The Tory currach has inching forward. We carved the name of the original builder on a piece of larch for the stern. It is a gem of a project, following the lines of a craftsman by attempting to reconstruct the currach he made.
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