Battles now
between the Clan Partholan and the Fomoroh, on the plain of Ith,
beside the river Finn, Co. Donegal, so called from Ith [Note: See
Vol. I, p. 60], son of Brogan, the most ancient of the heroes,
slain here by the Tuatha De Danan, but more anciently known by some
lost Fomorian name; also at Iorrus Domnan, now Erris, Co. Mayo,
where Kical and his Fomorians first reached Ireland. These battles
are a parable--objective representations of a fact in the mental
history of the ancient Irish--typifying the invisible war waged
between Partholanian and Fomorian deities for the spiritual
sovereignty of the Gael.
AGE OF THE NEMEDIAN GODS AND SECOND CYCLE OF THE FOMORIANS.
1700 B.C. age of the NEMEDIAN divinities, a later branch of the
PARTHOLANIAN _vide post_ NEMEDIAN pedigree. NEMEDH, his wife Maca
(first appearance of Macha, the war goddess, who gave her name to
Armagh, i.e., Ard Macha, the Height of Macha), Iarbanel; Fergus,
the Red-sided, and Starn, sons of Nemedh; Beothah, son of Iarbanel;
Erglann, son of Beoan, son of Starn; Simeon Brac, son of Starn;
Ibath, son of Beothach; Britan Mael, son of Fergus. This must be
remembered, that not one of the almost countless names that figure
in the Irish mythology is of fanciful origin. They all represent
antique heroes and heroines, their names being preserved in
connection with those monuments which were raised for purposes of
sepulture or cult.
Wars now between the Clanna Nemedh and the second cycle of the
Fomoroh, led this time by Faebar and More, sons of Dela, and
Coning, son of Faebar; battles at Ros Freachan, now Rosreahan,
barony of Murresk, Co.
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