Celtic Mythological figure of the day Options

[Vampchick21]

I have in my possession a book entitled "Celtic Myth and Legend; An A - Z of People And Places" by Mike Dixon Kennedy. It's my thought to present one Celtic Figure from this book for discussion here while this board of the month is active. Some of them might be a bit obscure (heck, some of them I'm unfamilar with and I'm a Celtic Neo-Pagan who's made a personal study of this stuff for years!), some of them are very familar figures. Enjoy!

For March 18, 2006

Bres
(Irish)

1. During the First Battle of Magh Tuiredh, Nuadha, the king of the Tuatha De Danann, lost an arm, and, because the king had to be physically unblemished, he could no longer reigh and abdicated in favour of Bres, who had been raised among the Tuatha De Danann, his mother's people, even though his father, Elatha, was a Fomhoire leader.
Bres was not a good ruler, even though his alternative name of Gormac means 'dutiful son', being both tyrannical and mean, offering no form of entertainment to his followers and making even the greates of them toil like common slaves. He married Brighid, the daughter of the Daghdha, but compelled her father to build him a fort. He treated Oghma with contempt and made him collect firewood. Unable to stand the tyranny any longer, Coirbre, the Fili of the Tuatte De Danann, cursed Bres in a magical satire that made his face erupt in boils. Forced to abdicate, he defected to the Fomhoire and mustered an army against his former people.
During the Second Battle of Mah Tuiredh, Bres was captured and pleaded for his life, promising in return four harvests a year and continual supplies of milk from the Tuatha De Danann's cows. These offers were rejected, but his life was spared in return for essential advice on the best times to plough, sow and reap.

The entire tale of the Battles of Mah Tuiredh can be found here
http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~dc920/tured.html

[MoonChild]

Very intresting link, thanks Vampie.

[Vampchick21]

Very intresting link, thanks Vampie.

I love these myths and stories. They're so very colourful and vivid, even through the centuries, after repeated oral tellings prior to being transcribed by early Christian monks. One day I may try my hand at pulling the different mythological cycles together in a format that would be good for children.

[freyjasdottir]

that sounds like an awesome idea. I'd be in line for a copy since the only books I've been able to find for my kids on myths are mainly Greek/Roman ones.

[Vampchick21]

lol! I'll use that as a bit of personal encouragement. Some of the better known myths have already been made child-friendly (The Children of Lir comes to immediate mind), but I'd love to make the entire story of Cu Chulainn child friendly....which is a mega task given the orginal tale.