Gaiscioch Magazine Issue 1 | Page 6

The Mythology of the Gaiscioch What is a Gaiscioch? The Gaiscíoch takes it’s name from an Irish legend found within the “Lebor Gabála Érenn” and “Cath Maige Tuired” which chronicles the arrival of the Tuatha de Danann to the shores of Connaught, Ireland. T hey came from four islands in the north west known as Findias, Falias, Gorias, and Murias. From these islands came four mystical relics, the Spear of Lugh, the Sword of Nuada, the Cauldron of Dagda, and the Lia Fáil. In addition, there were four great druid poets by names of Morfessa, Esras, Uiscias, and Semias. A great prophecy of impending doom was foretold by one of their seers and the Tuatha de Danann took to the ocean and sailed east to the shores of Connaught, Ireland, where upon their arrival they burned their ships so that they could never return. This created a black mist that swept the western half of Ireland and shrouded their arrival in mystery and legend. The native Fir Bolg, whom were slaves that mutinied their ship and crashed it into the shores of Ireland saw this black mist and prophesied of great peril and destruction that should befall upon them. It was here that we first saw the appearance of the Gaiscioch. They were a hand chosen band of warriors, diplomats, poets, craftsmen, and sages that the Tuatha de Danann chose to fight along their side and represent them to foreign realms. It was in the First Battle of Moyturna where the Tuatha de Danann encountered the Fir Bolg for the first time. They sent Bres, one of the finest warriors of the Tuatha to meet with the Fir Bolg’s finest warrior Sreng. The two met and exchanged spears and Bres offered the Fir Bolg half of Ireland to do with as they please. Sreng returned to his king with the spear which was far superior to their own and the offer to own half of Ireland. The