Day 3: A Battle Between Light and Shadow: The Tuatha Dé Danann and the Fomorians
Cliffs of Moher
(Day 3 in the Samhain Series)
“They came in dark clouds through the air, alighting upon the mountains of Connemara. They brought with them four treasures, and with them came light and knowledge into the land.”
— Adapted from Lebor Gabála Érenn (“The Book of Invasions”)
As the nights deepen and the air grows heavy with mist, the earth remembers her oldest stories.
Samhain has always been the season when the world leans toward shadow — when light yields to dark, and we pause between what was and what is to come.
Beneath this turning lies an ancient tale: the battle between the Tuatha Dé Danann and the Fomorians, two great races whose struggle mirrors the shifting balance of the seasons themselves.
Children of Light and Shadow
The Tuatha Dé Danann, “the People of the Goddess Danu,” were said to be radiant beings of immense power — gifted in magic, poetry, healing, and craft.
Some legends claim they descended from the heavens in a mist, bringing with them four sacred treasures: the Stone of Fal (which cried out under the rightful king), the Sword of Nuada, the Spear of Lugh, and the Cauldron of Dagda — each representing sovereignty, justice, strength, and abundance.
(Lebor Gabála Érenn, 11th century; Britannica, 2024)
The Tuatha Dé Danann as depicted in John Duncan's Riders of the Sidhe (1911)
But not all who dwelled in Ireland sought harmony.
Before the Tuatha’s arrival, the island was ruled by the Fomorians, often described as beings of shadow and sea — one-eyed giants and monstrous warriors who rose from the depths and the northern mists.
They were chaos incarnate: storm and famine, plague and decay.
Yet even they were not wholly evil. In some tellings, they are necessary to the balance — the force that tests and tempers the light.
(Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology, MacKillop, 1998)
The Fomorians, as depicted by John Duncan (1912)
The Tyranny of the Tribute
The Fomorians demanded a cruel tribute from those who lived under their rule: a third of every harvest, every newborn child, every living creature — taken in sacrifice to appease their hunger.
This “Fomorian tax” represents the harsh toll of the dark season — the loss, decay, and surrender that come when the land must rest.
(Cath Maige Tuired, trans. Gray, 1982)
Illustration of Lugh and his magical spear by H. R. Millar
When the Tuatha Dé Danann came to power, they too were forced to pay this tax. It wasn’t until Lugh Lámfada, the Shining One — grandson of both a Tuatha and a Fomorian — rose to challenge their oppressors that the tide turned.
In the second Battle of Mag Tuired, light met shadow in a fierce reckoning.
Lugh struck down Balor of the Evil Eye, whose deadly gaze could wither crops and men alike. The balance shifted; the harvest was won, and the Tuatha claimed the land once more.
But every victory comes with consequence. The Tuatha’s triumph marked the end of their golden age.
Soon, they themselves would fade beneath the hills, becoming the Aos Sí — the fairy host who walk unseen through our world still.
The Myth Beneath the Harvest
If we listen with our seasonal hearts, the myth of the Tuatha and the Fomorians isn’t just an old Irish legend — it’s the story of the turning year itself.
The bright, fertile half (Tuatha Dé Danann) yields to the dark, resting half (Fomorians). Growth gives way to decay; light gives way to night. Samhain is that still point between them — the moment when both exist in equal measure before the descent into winter.
The “Fomorian tax” lives on in our bones.
Each autumn we surrender something to the dark: sunlight, warmth, the easy abundance of summer.
Yet what feels like loss is part of the sacred rhythm of renewal. As the soil sleeps, as old leaves return to earth, life quietly begins again.
Walking the Balance
To honor this story during Samhain, light two candles: one for the Tuatha — the shining, creative spark — and one for the Fomorians — the fertile dark that makes growth possible.
Reflect on what you’re releasing and what you’re ready to carry forward into the new year.
You might whisper a simple blessing:
“As light falls to shadow and shadow to light,
I honor both in the turning of night.”
Remember — even the gods bowed to the cycles of the land. We are no different.
The veil is thin now.
Between the worlds, ancient powers still stir — reminding us that creation and destruction, light and dark, are never enemies.
They are dance partners in the endless rhythm of life.
Stay warm my friend. And as always, take care of you.
Melody
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Further Reading for the Mythically Curious
As you may already know, I have a deep love for history—especially the myths and legends that have shaped cultures around the world. Researching this series has been such a joy, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably want to wander deeper into the old stories yourself. Here are some of my favorite reads and resources for exploring the mythic roots of Samhain, the Tuatha Dé Danann, and the Fomorians.
Books Worth Getting Lost In
The Mythic Ireland by Michael Dames — A gorgeous blend of archaeology, folklore, and spirituality that ties myth to the sacred landscape of Ireland.
Gods and Fighting Men by Lady Augusta Gregory — A public-domain classic retelling the epic cycles of Irish myth, including the Tuatha Dé Danann and their battles with the Fomorians.
The Silver Branch by Ella Young — A lyrical and mystical take on Celtic legends, perfect if you love stories that read like spells.
Lebor Gabála Érenn (The Book of Invasions) — The medieval text that forms the backbone of Ireland’s mythic history. It’s dense but fascinating to browse if you want to see how the old scribes wove the lore together.
Online Rabbit Holes
Wikipedia: Tuatha Dé Danann — A great starting point with lots of links to primary and secondary sources.
Wikipedia: Fomorians — A companion read to the above, explaining their origins and role in Irish mythology.
Mythopedia: Tuatha Dé Danann — A concise and modern retelling with plenty of context.
Mythical Ireland — One of my personal favorites for exploring how myth, landscape, and ancient ritual still intertwine in the Irish countryside.
Dúchas.ie — A treasure trove of digitized Irish folklore and oral histories collected by the Irish Folklore Commission.
