Danaan and Fomorian Battle of Moytura
The Second Battle of Moytura took place on a plain in
the north of Co. Sligo, which is remarkable for the number of
sepulchral monuments still scattered over it. The first battle, of
course, was that which the Danaans had waged with the Firbolgs, and
the Moytura there referred to was much further south, in Co. Mayo.
The battle with the Fomorians is related with an astounding wealth of
marvellous incident. The craftsmen of the Danaans, Goban the smith,
Credné the artificer (or goldsmith), and Luchta the carpenter, keep
repairing the broken weapons of the Danaans with magical speed—three
blows of Goban's hammer make a spear or sword, Luchta flings a handle
at it and it sticks on at once, and Credné jerks the rivets at it
with his tongs as fast as he makes them and they fly into their
places. The wounded are healed by the magical pig-skin. The plain
resounds with the clamour of battle:
“Fearful indeed
was the thunder which rolled over the battlefield; the shouts of the
warriors, the breaking of the shields, the flashing and clashing of
the swords, of the straight, ivory-hilted swords, the music and
harmony of the ‘belly-darts’ and the sighing and winging of the
spears and lances.”
Moytura, Ireland,
battle, Firbolgs, Mayo, Fomorians
Second Battle of
Moytura took place on a plain in the north of Co. Sligo with the
Fomorians
