father was Cian, son of Danu and brother of master-smith Goibhniu and Sawan. Lugh's mother was Ethlinn, daughter of Balor. Balor discovered from a prophecy that one day, his grandson would kill him. Balor sought to avoid this fate by imprisoning his daughter in the tower, very much like Acrisius tried to imprisoned his own daughter Danaë.
Cian was an owner of a magic cow that had endless supply of milk. Though disguise and deception, Balor lured away Sawan, who was guarding the cow, during his brother's absence. Balor then stole Cian's cow. Cian sought vengeance upon Balor.
Through stealth and the magic of druidess Birog, Cian entered Balor's tower in Tory Island and found Balor's daughter Ethlinn, locked away in one of the chambers. The two fell in love and slept with one another.
Balor later learned of Ethlinn giving birth to three sons. Frightened, but enraged, Balor ordered that his grandsons were to be thrown in a whirlpool.
One of Balor's men rolled the Ethlinn's children in a sheet and head toward the top of the tower. One infant fell out and dropped into the bay. Birog saved the child, who fell into the bay. The druidess brought the infant to Cian, who named him Lugh.
Thinking this child had drowned, the Fomorian continued to the top of the tower, before throwing the other two infants into the whirlpool.
In a different version of the Lugh's birth (which was less exciting), the Fomorians formed alliance with the arrival of the Tuatha Dé Danann to Ireland. Balor offered his daughter Ethlinn to Cian in marriage. This wedding happened before the First Battle of Moytura (Mag Tuired).
For awhile, his uncle Goibhniu brought up Lugh in the forge, and taught him his trade. He learned other skills as well. Lugh was sometimes called Lugh Samildánach ("Skilled in All Arts").
The story goes on, that the young man went to the house of Nuada of the Silver Hand, seeking service with the king. At the door, the doorman refused him entry. Lugh told the doorman that he wished to serve the king as carpenter, the doorman replied that they already had a carpenter named Luchta. Lugh said he was also smith, the doorman again replied they already have a master-smith. Lugh then told him he was a warrior, then a bard, a physician and so forth. Each time the doorman replied that, someone else had already taken this service or that service. Finally, Lugh asked the doorman if the king know of anyone who could do all these skills; otherwise he would leave. None were found who could accomplish all these skills.
Ogma tested Lugh's strength. Ogma threw a large stone outside from the hall. The stone broke into four large pieces. Not only did Lugh threw the stone back to the centre of the hall, but the stone became whole.
Lugh was then asked to play a harp. His music could lulled to sleep, make them cry or merry. Nuada readily accept the gifted young man in his service. Nuada asked them to deliver the Tuatha Dé Danann from servile to the Fomorians.
Lugh was also brought up in the Tír Tairngire – "Land of Promise" by Manannán mac Lir, the god of sea. Lugh was often named Lugh Lamfada, which means "Lugh of the Long Arm".
From Manannán, Lugh brought many gifts to the Tuatha Dé Danann. These magical gifts come from four great magical cities: Falias, Gorias, Findias and Murias. From the Falias, the Danann received the talking stone of truth, called Lia Fail. It was sometimes called ("Stone of Destiny"), because the Lia Fail would reveal who was the rightful king of Ireland.
The second treasure from the city Findias, was the great magical sword, called Freagarthach (the "Answerer"), that Lugh and Nuada wielded. Lugh also brought with him the invincible spear from Gorias. The last treasure from Murias was Cauldron of Dagda. This cauldron could feed everyone in Ireland without emptying.
With these four gifts from the goddess Danu, they would have a chance of defeating the Fomorians.
|Second Battle of Magh Tuiredh|
With these treasures, the Tuatha Dé Danann believed it was time to overthrow Fomorian overlordship. Lugh set about gathering hosting to oppose th