Beings by cycle
Mythological Cycle
The literature of the Tuatha Dé Danann, Ireland’s old gods, set in the island’s mythic prehistory before the coming of the Gaels: the great invasions, the two battles of Mag Tuired, and the wonders that ended with the gods withdrawing into the hollow hills.
- Mythological Balor of the Evil Eye Balor of the Evil Eye is the Fomorian king of Irish mythology whose destroying gaze levels armies, killed at the Second Battle of Mag Tuired by his prophesied grandson Lugh.
- Mythological Crann Bethadh Crann bethadh, usually rendered Celtic Tree of Life, is largely a modern popularisation: the genuine medieval Irish evidence behind it is the bile tradition of sacred tribal trees, and the familiar knotwork symbol has no medieval precedent.
- Mythological Ériu Ériu is the Tuatha Dé Danann sovereignty goddess who gave Ireland its name, meeting the Milesian invaders at Uisneach alongside her sisters Banba and Fódla.
- Mythological Ogham and the Tree Alphabet Ogham is the earliest Irish writing system, an alphabet of strokes and notches carved on standing stones from roughly the fourth to seventh centuries AD.