The Battle of Moytura

This Saint Patrick’s Day I am reminded of this story.

In days long ago, when the Tuatha de Dananan, or children of light, came to Ireland, they found the Fomori opposing them for the mastery of Ireland. They were an evil race of wraith like spirits that had in their enslavement a crude race of giants.  They moved upon the central plain of Ireland, a place called Moytura. There the Fomori brought forth their King, Balor of the Evil Eye. He brought several servants that would lift the lid of his great eye and a warrior in bright shining mail would die. The battle went badly for the Tuatha de Dananan, and Nuada Silver Hand was slain, and Govanan the Smith along with many others of the Children of the Goddess. Just when things seemed at their worst, there came upon the plain a great warrior, bright like the Sun, with golden hair and a great shining Spear.  Luke (Lugh) hefted up the great spear to his shoulder and flung it with all his might. As it flew through the air all living things upon the Earth held their breath as their fate was in the balance. When it struck the Eye of Balor there was a great flash of light that rose to the heights of the Heavens, and to the depths of the great Sea and the hidden places of the Earth. Ireland was free of all Evil for many hundreds of years. For after that the Fomori retreated to their island of Tori, and there they remained lashed by the waves in their ancient tower.  The Children of Light ruled Ireland in peace and contentment until the coming of man to Ireland. The Celtic Cross is both the symbol of Luke the Sun God and the forces of light combined with the Cross of Christ. The Irish harvest festival is named after the Sun God, Lughnasa. I am reminded in these days of controversy and hatred that there is a great and continuing struggle between light and darkness that with courage, love and charity in one’s heart we can defeat those that worship darkness and their ideals of hatred, violence, slavery and denigration. May our world be free of evil and hatred, yet ever vigilant.