Tadg mac Nuadat
Encyclopedia
Tadg, son of Nuada
, was a druid
and the maternal grandfather of Fionn mac Cumhail in the Fenian Cycle
of Irish mythology
. It is unclear whether his father was the short-lived High King
Nuada Necht
, the god
Nuada Airgetlam of the Tuatha Dé Danann
, or another figure of a similar name. Nuada Airgetlam is usually the father of Tadg with a mortal woman.
He lived on the hill of Almu.
Tadg had a daughter, Muirne
, who was sought after by many suitors, including Cumhal
, leader of the fianna
, but he refused them all, having foreseen that his daughter's marriage would result in the loss of his ancestral seat. But Cumhal abducted Muirne, so Tadg appealed to the High King, Conn of the Hundred Battles
, who outlawed and pursued him. Cumhal was killed in the Battle of Cnucha at the hand of Goll mac Morna
, who took over leadership of the fianna, but Muirne was already pregnant. Tadg rejected her and ordered his people to burn her, but Conn prevented this and sent Muirne away into the protection of an ally.
Muirne's son, Fionn, was born and brought up in secret, and when he grew up he took the leadership of the fianna from Goll, and demanded satisfaction for his father's death from Tadg, threatening war or single combat if he was refused. Tadg offered him his residence on the hill of Almu, and Fionn accepted.
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 druid
Druid
A druid was a member of the priestly class in Britain, Ireland, and Gaul, and possibly other parts of Celtic western Europe, during the Iron Age....
and the maternal grandfather of Fionn mac Cumhail in the Fenian Cycle
Fenian Cycle
The Fenian Cycle , also referred to as the Ossianic Cycle after its narrator Oisín, is a body of prose and verse centering on the exploits of the mythical hero Fionn mac Cumhaill and his warriors the Fianna. It is one of the four major cycles of Irish mythology along with the Mythological Cycle,...
of Irish mythology
Irish mythology
The mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved, shorn of its religious meanings, in medieval Irish literature, which represents the most extensive and best preserved of all the branch and the Historical Cycle. There are...
. It is unclear whether his father was the short-lived 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...
Nuada Necht
Nuada Necht
Nuadu Necht , son of Sétna Sithbac, a descendant of Crimthann Coscrach, of the Laigin, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland...
, the god
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
Nuada Airgetlam of the Tuatha Dé Danann
Tuatha Dé Danann
The Tuatha Dé Danann are a race of people in Irish mythology. In the invasions tradition which begins with the Lebor Gabála Érenn, they are the fifth group to settle Ireland, conquering the island from the Fir Bolg....
, or another figure of a similar name. Nuada Airgetlam is usually the father of Tadg with a mortal woman.
He lived on the hill of Almu.
Tadg had a daughter, Muirne
Muirne
Muirne or Muireann Muncháem was the mother of Fionn mac Cumhail in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology.She had many suitors, but her father, the druid Tadg mac Nuadat, had foreseen that her marriage would lead to the loss of his home on the hill of Almu, so he refused them all. But one of them,...
, who was sought after by many suitors, including Cumhal
Cumhal
Cumhall son of Trénmór is a figure in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology, a leader of the fianna and the father of Fionn mac Cumhaill....
, leader of the fianna
Fianna
Fianna were small, semi-independent warrior bands in Irish mythology and Scottish mythology, most notably in the stories of the Fenian Cycle, where they are led by Fionn mac Cumhaill....
, but he refused them all, having foreseen that his daughter's marriage would result in the loss of his ancestral seat. But Cumhal abducted Muirne, so Tadg appealed to the High King, 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...
, who outlawed and pursued him. Cumhal was killed in the Battle of Cnucha at the hand of Goll mac Morna
Goll mac Morna
Goll mac Morna was a member of the fianna and an uneasy ally of Fionn mac Cumhail in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. He had killed Fionn's father, Cumhal, and taken over the leadership of the fianna, but when Fionn grew up and proved his worth Goll willingly stepped aside in his favour.His...
, who took over leadership of the fianna, but Muirne was already pregnant. Tadg rejected her and ordered his people to burn her, but Conn prevented this and sent Muirne away into the protection of an ally.
Muirne's son, Fionn, was born and brought up in secret, and when he grew up he took the leadership of the fianna from Goll, and demanded satisfaction for his father's death from Tadg, threatening war or single combat if he was refused. Tadg offered him his residence on the hill of Almu, and Fionn accepted.