The long-armed master of every art
Lugh is the brilliant young god of the Tuatha De Danann, called Lamfada, 'of the long arm', for the reach of his spear and sling, and Samildanach, 'skilled in all arts together'. His blood straddles the war between god-races: his father Cian was of the Tuatha De Danann, his grandfather the Fomorian giant Balor, whose single eye laid low whole companies when its lid was raised. Cath Maige Tuired preserves his famous arrival at Tara: the doorkeeper demands his trade, and Lugh names them one by one, wright, smith, champion, harper, poet, historian, sorcerer, physician, each time told the court already has such a man, until he asks whether any one man there commands them all, and is admitted to the sage's seat.
Given command of the army at the second battle of Mag Tuired, Lugh faced Balor as four men levered the great eyelid open. His sling-stone struck first, driving the eye out through the back of Balor's skull so that its gaze fell on the Fomorian ranks behind. After the victory he spared the half-Fomorian king Bres in exchange for the lore of ploughing, sowing and reaping. He founded the August harvest festival of Lughnasadh in mourning for his foster-mother Tailtiu, who died clearing the plains; the festival still gives Irish its word for the month of August.
In the Ulster Cycle Lugh is the otherworld father of the hero Cu Chulainn. His name is written across the continent as well: Lugdunum, 'fort of Lugus', became Lyon, and scholars have long matched him with the Gaulish god Caesar called Mercury.
