MOGH RUITH
People say that Mogh Ruith was the king of the Fir Bolgs and he lived in Valentia. Some say Mogh Ruith was a blind druid who lived through the millenia thanks to his close association with the fairies who ensured his longevity. Others consider the name Mogh Ruith to be a title that was passed down through the generations.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mug_Ruith
Mug Ruith (or Mogh Roith, "slave of the wheel") is a figure in Irish mythology, a powerful blind druid of Munster who lived on Valentia Island, County Kerry. He could grow to enormous size, and his breath caused storms and turned men to stone. He wore a hornless bull-hide and a bird mask, and flew in a machine called the roth rámach, the "oared wheel". He had an ox-driven chariot in which night was as bright as day, a star-speckled black shield with a silver rim, and a stone which could turn into a poisonous eel when thrown in water.
Stories about Mug Ruith are set in various periods of Irish history. Some say he lived during the reign of 3rd century High King Cormac mac Airt, while others put him in Jerusalem during the time of Christ. In Lebor Gabála Érenn he is said to have died in the reign of Conmael, nearly two thousand years before Cormac's time. Perhaps due to this array of times and settings, poets attributed the druid with extraordinary longevity (he lived through the reign of nineteen kings according to one story). His powers and long lifespan have led some to conclude he was a euhemerised sun or storm god.
The various medieval legends about his adventures in the Holy Land at the dawn of Christendom paint him as an interesting and mysterious character. He is said to have been a student of Simon Magus, who taught him his magic skills and helped him build the flying machine roth rámach. In at least two other poems Mug Ruith is identified as the executioner who beheaded John the Baptist, bringing a curse to the Irish people. He cuts an equally impressive figure in The Siege of Knocklong, set in Cormac mac Airt's time. Here he defeats Cormac's druids in an elaborate magical battle in exchange for land from King Fiachu Muillethan of southern Munster, from whom Cormac had been trying to levy taxes. Mug Ruith's daughter was Tlachtga, a powerful druidess, who gave her name to a hill in County Meath and a festival celebrated there.
The territory Mug Ruith received for his descendants was Fir Maige Féne, later known as Fermoy. The medieval tribe of Fir Maige Féne claimed descent from him, although they were ruled by the unrelated O'Keefes of Eóganacht Glendamnach.[1]
Mug Ruith (or Mogh Roith, "slave of the wheel") is a figure in Irish mythology, a powerful blind druid of Munster who lived on Valentia Island, County Kerry. He could grow to enormous size, and his breath caused storms and turned men to stone. He wore a hornless bull-hide and a bird mask, and flew in a machine called the roth rámach, the "oared wheel". He had an ox-driven chariot in which night was as bright as day, a star-speckled black shield with a silver rim, and a stone which could turn into a poisonous eel when thrown in water.
Stories about Mug Ruith are set in various periods of Irish history. Some say he lived during the reign of 3rd century High King Cormac mac Airt, while others put him in Jerusalem during the time of Christ. In Lebor Gabála Érenn he is said to have died in the reign of Conmael, nearly two thousand years before Cormac's time. Perhaps due to this array of times and settings, poets attributed the druid with extraordinary longevity (he lived through the reign of nineteen kings according to one story). His powers and long lifespan have led some to conclude he was a euhemerised sun or storm god.
The various medieval legends about his adventures in the Holy Land at the dawn of Christendom paint him as an interesting and mysterious character. He is said to have been a student of Simon Magus, who taught him his magic skills and helped him build the flying machine roth rámach. In at least two other poems Mug Ruith is identified as the executioner who beheaded John the Baptist, bringing a curse to the Irish people. He cuts an equally impressive figure in The Siege of Knocklong, set in Cormac mac Airt's time. Here he defeats Cormac's druids in an elaborate magical battle in exchange for land from King Fiachu Muillethan of southern Munster, from whom Cormac had been trying to levy taxes. Mug Ruith's daughter was Tlachtga, a powerful druidess, who gave her name to a hill in County Meath and a festival celebrated there.
The territory Mug Ruith received for his descendants was Fir Maige Féne, later known as Fermoy. The medieval tribe of Fir Maige Féne claimed descent from him, although they were ruled by the unrelated O'Keefes of Eóganacht Glendamnach.[1]
Name: Mug Ruith Roith Mog Ruith Ruth Mogh Ruth Mog Roith Mogh Ruith
Title: Devotee of the Wheel
Properties: God of the Seasons (yearly cycle)
Profession: Arch Druid Sun God
Race: Fir Bolg
Mug Ruith is a famous druid of ancient Ireland. His father was Cethern and he had a famous daughter called Tlachta who was a sorceress. Some writers believe that Mug Ruith was an early sun God and his daughter Tlachta a fertility goddess. In medieval times there were many tales which linked Mug Ruith to the magician Simon Magus. In one of these tales they create a flying machine together called roth ramach (rowing wheel) which was sighted flying over Tlaghta, Co. Meath. He is always outspoken against the encroaching christian religion and a staunch supporter of Paganism.
He is described as either one-eyed, or blind in the tales and he can dry up the lakes with his breath or raise storms. The chieftain Fiachu Muillethan gave him a large tract of land in north Cork as a reward for helping him defeat Cormac Mac Art in the siege of Knocklong.
The mediaeval legend tells how one of his eyes was lost in Alps becoming a 'snow-calf' or mound, the other eye was destroyed while trying to stop the course of the sun for two days. He is able to fly and spy upon his enemies. His magical equipment includes his 'encennach' - bird head-dress and his 'roth ramach' (rowing wheel) which are the tools he uses to fly through the sky.
sources: The Encyclopaedia of Celtic Wisdom - Caitlin and John Matthews, Element Books 1994.
The Dictionary of Celtic Mythology - James Mac Killop, Oxford University Press 1998.
Stories Myths & Legends associated with Mug Ruith
Summary of Siege of Knocklong
Roscanna of Mug Ruith
The Story of Tlachta
Title: Devotee of the Wheel
Properties: God of the Seasons (yearly cycle)
Profession: Arch Druid Sun God
Race: Fir Bolg
Mug Ruith is a famous druid of ancient Ireland. His father was Cethern and he had a famous daughter called Tlachta who was a sorceress. Some writers believe that Mug Ruith was an early sun God and his daughter Tlachta a fertility goddess. In medieval times there were many tales which linked Mug Ruith to the magician Simon Magus. In one of these tales they create a flying machine together called roth ramach (rowing wheel) which was sighted flying over Tlaghta, Co. Meath. He is always outspoken against the encroaching christian religion and a staunch supporter of Paganism.
He is described as either one-eyed, or blind in the tales and he can dry up the lakes with his breath or raise storms. The chieftain Fiachu Muillethan gave him a large tract of land in north Cork as a reward for helping him defeat Cormac Mac Art in the siege of Knocklong.
The mediaeval legend tells how one of his eyes was lost in Alps becoming a 'snow-calf' or mound, the other eye was destroyed while trying to stop the course of the sun for two days. He is able to fly and spy upon his enemies. His magical equipment includes his 'encennach' - bird head-dress and his 'roth ramach' (rowing wheel) which are the tools he uses to fly through the sky.
sources: The Encyclopaedia of Celtic Wisdom - Caitlin and John Matthews, Element Books 1994.
The Dictionary of Celtic Mythology - James Mac Killop, Oxford University Press 1998.
Stories Myths & Legends associated with Mug Ruith
Summary of Siege of Knocklong
Roscanna of Mug Ruith
The Story of Tlachta