Mug Nuadat
Encyclopedia
In Irish mythological history Mug Nuadat (slave of Nuada
) was a legendary, supposed King of Munster in the 2nd century AD. He was, according to later medieval tradition, a rival of the High King
, Conn of the Hundred Battles
and for a time after the year 123 was the de facto ruler of the southern half of Ireland. Everything south of a line drawn between Galway Bay
and Dublin was known as Leth Moga ("Mug's half"), and everything north of that line was Leth Cuinn'
' (Modern Irish: Leath Cuinnn)("Conn's half").
Conn later invaded Leth Moga and drove Mug from Ireland. He took refuge in Spain
and returned with an army, but was defeated and killed by Conn at Mag Léna (Kilbride, County Offaly
) (although in some versions Conn treacherously killed Mug in his bed).
His son was Ailill Ollamh. His grandson, also named Éogan Mór
, fought alongside Conn's son Art
at the Battle of Maigh Mucruimhe
and is credited with founding the Eóganachta
dynasty.
T.F. O'Rahilly
speculated that Mug Nuadat may in fact have been the God Nuada rather than an actual historicial person. Equally it could be that Éogan Mór was the earthly representation of the God.
Nuada
In Irish mythology, Nuada or Nuadu , known by the epithet Airgetlám , was the first king of the Tuatha Dé Danann. He is cognate with the Gaulish and British god Nodens...
) was a legendary, supposed King of Munster in the 2nd century AD. He was, according to later medieval tradition, a rival of the High King
High King of Ireland
The High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...
, Conn of the Hundred Battles
Conn of the Hundred Battles
Conn Cétchathach , son of Fedlimid Rechtmar, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland, and the ancestor of the Connachta, and, through his descendant Niall Noígiallach, the Uí Néill dynasties, which dominated Ireland in the early middle ages, and...
and for a time after the year 123 was the de facto ruler of the southern half of Ireland. Everything south of a line drawn between Galway Bay
Galway Bay
Galway Bay is a large bay on the west coast of Ireland, between County Galway in the province of Connacht to the north and the Burren in County Clare in the province of Munster to the south. Galway city is located on the northeast side of the bay. It is about long and from to in breadth...
and Dublin was known as Leth Moga ("Mug's half"), and everything north of that line was Leth Cuinn'
Leath Cuinn
Leath Cuinn and Leath Moga refers to a legendary ancient division of Ireland.-Geographical extant:Leath Cuinn was the island north of the Esker Riada...
' (Modern Irish: Leath Cuinnn)("Conn's half").
Conn later invaded Leth Moga and drove Mug from Ireland. He took refuge in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and returned with an army, but was defeated and killed by Conn at Mag Léna (Kilbride, County Offaly
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
) (although in some versions Conn treacherously killed Mug in his bed).
His son was Ailill Ollamh. His grandson, also named Éogan Mór
Éogan
In Irish traditional history Eógan , eldest son of Ailill Ollamh, was a 2nd or 3rd century AD king of Munster. He is credited with founding or at least giving his name to the Eóganachta, a dynasty which ruled as kings of Munster and later princes of Desmond until the late 16th century...
, fought alongside Conn's son Art
Art mac Cuinn
Art mac Cuinn , also known as Art Óenfer , was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland....
at the Battle of Maigh Mucruimhe
Battle of Maigh Mucruimhe
The Cath Maige Mucrama , is an early Middle Irish language tale which forms part of the Cycles of the Kings.-Content:...
and is credited with founding the Eóganachta
Eóganachta
The Eóganachta or Eoghanachta were an Irish dynasty centred around Cashel which dominated southern Ireland from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of Desmond, and its offshoot Carbery, well into the 16th century...
dynasty.
T.F. O'Rahilly
T. F. O'Rahilly
Thomas Francis O'Rahilly was an Irish scholar of the Celtic languages, particularly in the fields of Historical linguistics and Irish dialects. He was a member of the Royal Irish Academy.-Biography:He was born in Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland...
speculated that Mug Nuadat may in fact have been the God Nuada rather than an actual historicial person. Equally it could be that Éogan Mór was the earthly representation of the God.