Some thoughts on the coming of Lugh.

He raced the waves along the strand; he gathered apples sweeter than honey from trees with crimson blossoms: and wonderful birds came to play with him. Mananaun's daughter, Niav, took him, through woods where there were milk-white deer with horns of gold, and blackmaned lions and spotted panthers, and unicorns that shone like silver, and strange beasts that no one ever heard of; and all the animals were glad to see him, and he played with them and called them by their names.

"I see a kingly harp within reach of your hand," said Lugh.

"That is the harp of the Dagda. No one can bring music from that harp but himself. When he plays on it, the four Seasons--Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter- pass over the earth."

"I will play on it," said Lugh.

The harp was given to him.

Lugh played the music of joy, and outside the dun the birds began to sing as though it were morning and wonderful crimson flowers sprang through the grass--flowers that trembled with delight and swayed and touched each other with a delicate faery ringing as of silver bells. Inside the dun a subtle sweetness of laughter filled the hearts of every one: it seemed to them that they had never known gladness till that night.

Lugh played the music of sorrow. The wind moaned outside, and where the grass and flowers had been there was a dark sea of moving waters. The De Danaans within the dun bowed their heads on their hands and wept, and they had never wept for any grief.

Lugh played the music of peace, and outside there fell silently a strange snow. Flake by flake it settled on the earth and changed to starry dew. Flake by flake the quiet of the Land of the Silver Fleece settled in the hearts and minds of Nuada and his people: they closed their eyes and slept, each in his seat.

Lugh put the harp from him and stole out of the dun. The snow was still falling outside. It settled on his dark cloak and shone like silver scales; it settled on the thick curls of his hair and shone like jewelled fire; it filled the night about him with white radiance. He went back to his companions.

The sun had risen in the sky when the De Danaans awoke in Nuada's dun. They were light-hearted and joyous and it seemed to them that they had dreamed overnight a strange, beautiful dream.

"The Fomorians have not taken the sun out of the sky," said Nuada. "Let us go to the Hill of Usna and send to our scattered comrades that we may make a stand against our enemies."

The sea is ever-changing.

I sit in my room The room is framed with magic The window set about With shells, with starfish Through it I see the sea Sitting beside it, I hear the sea But the sea is distant A thousand miles or more "Come out to play!" Manannán is calling me "Come out to play!" I know He is the trickster "No trick," he says "There is a door. Go into the next room and see." And there is a door I open it to solid water Which does not spill Through the open doorway I enter the water and swim I know what it is to be a selkie The water perfectly cool I swim I know the speed of a dolphin And Manannán rides on my back Not the stately Storm King Of beard and robes He is something other Suggestion of beard Green hide Webbed feet He is something ancient Entirely other And I see He rides the dolphins And the great fishes He loves this! And the smaller fish His "little lambs" And I understand That this This is why He is God of the Sea Because in this life This underwater life Where He knows The pleasure of speed The pleasure of travel He will protect His fast steeds His little lambs

artist: Helen Rich

Manannán mac Lir - a great master of illusion has much to teach us!

The Voyage of Bran from a tapestry by Terry Dunne