Around the time Lugh was strutting his stuff, his dad Cían was rallying around on a recruitment campaign. But Brian and his two brothers Iuchar and Iucharba hurled a shillelagh into the works by murdering Cían.

Lugh was naturally very upset. He’d make those ruffians pay. In fact murdering Cían was such a foolhardy deed, he’d even give them a chance of atonement. All they had to do was fetch three magic apples from some distant place, nip to Greece and grab a pigskin of healing, pop on to Persia for a poison spear, do a little deep-sea diving and claim a cooking spit from Undersea Nymphs and then a magic boar which re-incarnated after being eaten.

“And that’s it,” said Lugh. “When you get back, just pop along to the Hill of Mochaen over there, and shout three times very loudly ‘We are back — We have your goodies!’”

Some years later, the brothers returned from their epic quest — somewhat the worse for wear and burdened with luggage. They were welcomed by their father Teireann, and then set off to the Hill of Mochaen. They shouted. They did not have to wait long. Mochaen and his sons took exception to the noisy interlopers, charged down the hill and pounded hell out of them. What a welcome.

When Lugh put in an appearance, Brian and his siblings were in a very sorry state. Teireann approached Lugh in tears, pleading to use the healing pigskin to save their lives. “No way,” said Lugh, “let the bleeders bleed. At least they had a chance to defend themselves — more than my old man was granted. Now if you don’t mind I want to go home and try out my goodies.”

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Article last revised on May 19, 2019 by Rowan Allen.
Editors: Peter J. Allen, Chas Saunders

References: Coming soon.

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