WHO WERE THEY

The men

"It was (1)Nuada who was king of the Tutha De Danaan at the time, but (2)Manannan, son of Lyr, was the greatest.*"

Nuada is the king, but as in all celtic society, the druids is, in fact more powerful. Manannan is the ArcheDruid.

"and of the other who were chief among them were (3)Ogma, brother to the king,who thaught them writing"

The celtic form of writing is called Ogham. Writing was considered a sacred science in those days. Ogma was not only a scribe, he was a druid too (and Bard) keeper of traditions and myths.

"and (4)Diancecht, who understood healing."

Another druid (or Ovate)he is a shaman and a general practitioner of medecine."*

"and (5)Neit, a god of battle"*

Note that Lady Gregory does not write "the god of battles". Neit is not a god. He is a militiary man, a tactician and a high ranking soldier.

"and (6)Credenos, the craftman

and (7)Goibnio, the smith."*

Only eight men are cited here, with a reference to another Lyr. It is obviously a small group of people, an elite. Another man, the Dagda, is mentioned as the father of the three sisters : Eire, Folda, and Banba.

The women:

"And among the women, the greatest were: Babd,

Macha, Morrigou,

Eire, Folda and Banba, daughters of the Dagda

Eadon, nurse of the poets

Brigit, a lady of peotry"*.

The women here amount to eight too.

__________

TUATHA FRONT PAGE

*Extract from the book Gods and Fighting Men" by Lady Gregory" Copyrights 1904. Published by Colin & Smithe ISBN 0-901072-37.

____________