Irish Myth: Book of Invasions Trivia Quiz

Answer: Fomorians

King Partholan drove the Fomorians off to Tory Island (near Donegal), only to die of plague with all of his people save his nephew Tuan. (The Milesians are the (probably European) mortals who later drove the Danaans to Tir na Nog and settled Ireland {themselves;} the Rutulians are a race mentioned in Virgil's {Aneid;} and Mabinogi is a Welsh word meaning something like 'fantasy story.')

Answer: Efrawg

Efrawg was a Welsh earl.

Answer: The Ring of Mananan

Sea-god Mananan, son of Lir, certainly owned or created many marvels, but no magic {rings;} in any event his treasures were not among the Danaans' four. The fourth treasure of the Danaans was the Lia Fail, or Stone of Destiny.

Answer: Nuada

...Hence the epithet, 'Nuada of the Silver Hand.' Being blemished by the loss of his hand, Nuada was ineligible for kingship, causing much mischief which failed to be wholly resolved when Nuada's hand was later magically restored. (Tyr also lost a hand, but in Norse myth, when Fenris bit it off as he was being bound.)

Answer: Grandson

It had been prophesied that Balor would die at his grandson's hands, so he had his only daughter cloistered in a tower for life. However, Balor angered Kian by stealing his magic cow, so Kian got Birog the druidess magically to provide access to the tower and maiden.

After that encounter was consummated, Balor's daughter Ethlinn bore triplets, which Balor ordered destroyed. As is usual in myth, one of the triplets escaped destruction, namely, Lugh, who was raised first by Kian and later by Duach of the Otherworld. (Reminiscent of many Greek myths, chiefly that of Perseus-Danae-Acrisius.)

Answer: The Harp of the Dagda

The Dagda recovered his harp (plundered by the retreating Fomorians) and, with the Strain of Slumber, put the Fomor to sleep. (Fragarach was the name of a magical sword of Mananan Mac Lir that was entrusted to Lugh. Duach, a foster father of Lugh, did indeed gift Lugh with a magical boat, but the boat was another of Mananan's marvels.

The Pig-Skin of Greek King Tuis had magical healing properties, but it was before the battle with the Fomorians that Lugh sent the murderers of his father Kian on a suicide quest to fetch the pig-skin, among other marvels (reminiscent of similar suicide quests from Greek myth, such as the voyage of the Argonauts, Bellerophon's joust with the chimera, and the Twelve Tasks of Heracles).)

Answer: Defeated in battle with mortals and retreated to Tir na Nog.

The Milesians defeated the Danaans in battle, slaying their three kings. The surviving Danaans retreated below the hollow hills and became the Sidhe, dwelling thereafter in Tir na Nog, the Land of the Living.

Answer: Into a fish consumed by the wife of Chief Carell, after which he was reborn as 'Tuan Mac Carell.'

God, no one who doesn't know could ever guess this. That's right, 'Tuan Mac Carell' -- Tuan Mackerel -- was born after entering a woman's body as a fish (specifically, a salmon). Ridiculous, I acknowledge.

Answer: Lived nine hundred years as swans.

Their wicked step-mother Aoife transformed them into swans doomed to spend 300 years at Lake Derryvaragh, 300 years in the Straits of Moyle, and 300 years on the coast between Erris and Inishgloryu, until a Southern woman was mated with a Northern man. Bov the Red turned Aoife into a shrieking wind demon in revenge, but the curse could not be broken. 900 years later, they were captured by a chief of Connacht (in the North) as a wedding present for his betrothed, Princess Deoca of Munster (in the South).

At the wedding, they changed back into human shape, and died.

Answer: All nine.

After violating every geis ever placed upon him (including one placed upon him at birth never to hunt birds), Conary died of thirst, when all sources of water were magically dried. Immediately after his death, his corpse was decapitated. Conary's man Mac Cecht ('the Champion') then came running up with Conary's golden cup filled with water he had managed, too late, to find.

The following dialogue ensued: 'O Conary,' he said, 'never believe that Mac Cecht failed thee. Here is the drink.' He poured the water down the throat of Conary. 'Is the drink good, O King?' he {said;} and out of the other world the voice of Conary answered: 'It is a good drink, Mac Cecht.'