Tailtiu
Encyclopedia
Tailtiu or Tailltiu (ˈtalʲtʲu; modern spelling: Taillte) is the name of a presumed goddess
from Irish mythology
. Telltown
(also known as Taillten) in County Meath
, was named for her.
, last Fir Bolg
High King of Ireland
, who named his capital after her (Telltown
, between Navan
and Kells
). She survived the invasion of the Tuatha Dé Danann
and became the foster mother of Lugh
.
Tailtiu is said to have died of exhaustion after clearing the plains of Ireland
for agriculture. Lugh established a harvest festival and funeral games, Áenach Tailteann, in her honour, which continued to be celebrated as late as the 18th century.
, was held at Telltown
. Historically, the Áenach Tailteann was a time for contests of strength and skill, and a favored time for contracting marriages and winter lodgings. A peace was declared at the festival, and religious celebrations were also held. Aspects of the festival survive in the celebrations of Lughnasadh
, and were revived as the Telltown Games for a period in the twentieth century.
A similar Lughnasadh festival was held at Carmun (whose exact location is under dispute). Carmun
is also believed to have been a goddess
of the Celts, perhaps one with a similar story as Tailtiu.
In historical times the town of Tailtiu was where the principal assembly of the early Uí Néill
dynasties was held.
From the Locus Project at CELT, Tailte had one or two raths [residence(s)] in Munster:
Rathcanann and Rath Con may or may not be identical.
Goddess
A goddess is a female deity. In some cultures goddesses are associated with Earth, motherhood, love, and the household. In other cultures, goddesses also rule over war, death, and destruction as well as healing....
from 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...
. Telltown
Telltown
Telltown is an outdated place name in County Meath, Ireland, for the area between Navan and Kells. It was named for the Irish mythological figure or goddess, Tailtiu...
(also known as Taillten) in County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
, was named for her.
In Irish mythology
According to the Book of Invasions, Tailtiu was the daughter of the king of Spain and the wife of Eochaid mac EircEochaid mac Eirc
In Irish mythology Eochaid , son of Erc, son of Rinnal, of the Fir Bolg became High King of Ireland when he overthrew Fodbgen. He was the first king to establish a system of justice in Ireland. No rain fell during his reign, only dew, and there was a harvest every year.His wife was Teia Tephi...
, last Fir Bolg
Fir Bolg
In Irish mythology the Fir Bolg were one of the races that inhabited the island of Ireland prior to the arrival of the Tuatha Dé Danann.-Mythology:...
High King of Ireland
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...
, who named his capital after her (Telltown
Telltown
Telltown is an outdated place name in County Meath, Ireland, for the area between Navan and Kells. It was named for the Irish mythological figure or goddess, Tailtiu...
, between Navan
Navan
-People:Navan was the childhood home of Pierce Brosnan, who appeared in the television series Remington Steele and was the fifth film actor to play James Bond. TV personality Hector Ó hEochagáin, and comedians Dylan Moran and Tommy Tiernan also hail from Navan....
and Kells
Kells, County Meath
Kells is a town in County Meath, Ireland. The town lies off the M3 motorway, from Navan and from Dublin. In recent years Kells has grown greatly with many Dublin commuters moving to the town....
). She survived the invasion 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....
and became the foster mother of Lugh
Lugh
Lug or Lugh is an Irish deity represented in mythological texts as a hero and High King of the distant past. He is known by the epithets Lámhfhada , for his skill with a spear or sling, Ildánach , Samhildánach , Lonnbeimnech and Macnia , and by the...
.
Tailtiu is said to have died of exhaustion after clearing the plains of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
for agriculture. Lugh established a harvest festival and funeral games, Áenach Tailteann, in her honour, which continued to be celebrated as late as the 18th century.
In Irish history
The first Áenach Tailteann, later the Taillten FairTaillten Fair
The Taillten Fair was an annual event held in medieval times at Telltown, County Meath, Ireland. The fair was a survival or revival of the Áenach Tailteann, the assembly and funeral games for the goddess Tailtiu, and was held on Lughnasadh, aka Lammas Eve, .For a period of time in the twentieth...
, was held at Telltown
Telltown
Telltown is an outdated place name in County Meath, Ireland, for the area between Navan and Kells. It was named for the Irish mythological figure or goddess, Tailtiu...
. Historically, the Áenach Tailteann was a time for contests of strength and skill, and a favored time for contracting marriages and winter lodgings. A peace was declared at the festival, and religious celebrations were also held. Aspects of the festival survive in the celebrations of Lughnasadh
Lughnasadh
Lughnasadh is a traditional Gaelic holiday celebrated on 1 August. It is in origin a harvest festival, corresponding to the Welsh Calan Awst and the English Lammas.-Name:...
, and were revived as the Telltown Games for a period in the twentieth century.
A similar Lughnasadh festival was held at Carmun (whose exact location is under dispute). Carmun
Carman
In Irish mythology, Carman or Carmun was a warrior-woman and sorceress from Athens who tried to invade Ireland in the days of the Tuatha Dé Danann, along with her three sons, Dub , Dother and Dian...
is also believed to have been a goddess
Goddess
A goddess is a female deity. In some cultures goddesses are associated with Earth, motherhood, love, and the household. In other cultures, goddesses also rule over war, death, and destruction as well as healing....
of the Celts, perhaps one with a similar story as Tailtiu.
In historical times the town of Tailtiu was where the principal assembly of the early Uí Néill
Uí Néill
The Uí Néill are Irish and Scottish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noigiallach , an historical King of Tara who died about 405....
dynasties was held.
From the Locus Project at CELT, Tailte had one or two raths [residence(s)] in Munster:
- ráith canann: a ráith of queen Tailte, LL 201; cf. Rathcannon tl., Co. Limerick
- ráith con: rath of queen Tailte, LL 201; in Tuath Tailten, UM 165b, Lec. 514, Stowe D ii 2, 656; cf. Rathcon, in dry. and d. Cashel, Tax
Rathcanann and Rath Con may or may not be identical.