Biróg

The druidess who helped Cian to find and penetrate Balor's tower where he seduced Eithne. She later saved the child of this union, Lug Lámfhota, from drowning.

A Druidess in ancient Irish legend. The Fomorian king Balor had a beautiful daughter named Ethlinn whom he kept imprisoned because of a Druidic prophecy that he would be slain by his grandson. Balor had stolen a magical cow from three brothers, Kian, Sawan, and Goban.

Through the magical spells of Birog, Kian, disguised as a woman, was able to enter the tower where Ethlinn was imprisoned. He then slept with Ethlinn, who in due course delivered three sons at one birth. Balor commanded them to be drowned, but one of them, named Hugh, survived, and in the course of time fulfilled the Druidic prophecy and slew Balor.

Biróg, in Irish mythology, is a leanan sídhe or fairy woman. A folktale recorded by John O'Donovan in 1835 relates how the Fomorian warrior Balor, to frustrate a prophesy that he would be killed by his own grandson, imprisons his only daughter Eithne in the tower of Tory Island, away from any contact with men. But Biróg helps a man called Mac Cinnfhaelaidh, whose magical cow Balor stole, to gain access to the tower and seduce her. Eithne gives birth to triplets, but Balor gathers the them up in a sheet and sends a messenger to drown them in a whirlpool. The messenger drowns two of the babies, but unwittingly drops one in the harbour, where he is rescued by Biróg. She takes the child back to his father, who gives him to his brother, Gavida the smith, in fosterage. The boy grows up to kill Balor.^[1] By comparison with texts like Cath Maige Tuired and the Lebor Gabála Érenn, the unnamed boy is evidently Lugh, and his father, Mac Cinnfhaelaidh, is a stand-in for Lugh's father Cian.^[2]

References

1. ^ John O'Donovan (ed. & trans.), Annala Rioghachta Éireann: Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters Vol. 1, 1856, pp. 18-21, footnote S
2. ^ T. W. Rolleston, Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race, 1911, pp. 109-112; Augusta, Lady Gregory, Gods and Fighting Men, 1094, pp. 27-29

v • d • e Irish mythology: the Mythological Cycle Early invaders Cessair • Partholón • Nemed Fomorians Balor • Bres • Buarainech • Cethlenn • Cichol Gricenchos • Conand • Corb • Elatha • Ethniu • Tethra Fir Bolg Eochaid mac Eirc • Fiacha Cennfinnán • Fodbgen • Gann and Genann • Rinnal • Rudraige • Sengann • Sláine • Sreng • Tailtiu Tuatha Dé Danann Abartach • Abhean • Aed • Aengus • Aí • Áine • Airmed • Anann • Badb • Banba • Beag • Bé Chuille • Bébinn • Boann • Bodb Derg • Brea • Brian • Brigid • Caer • Cermait • Cian • Cliodhna • Creidhne • The Dagda • Danand • Danu • Delbáeth • Dian Cecht • Ecne • Egobail • Elcmar • Ernmas • Étaín • Ériu • Fand • Fiacha mac Delbaíth • Fionnuala • Flidais • Fódla • Goibniu • Iuchar • Iucharba • Lí Ban • Lir • Luchtaine • Lugh • Mac Cuill • Mac Cecht • Mac Gréine • Macha • Manannán • Miach • Midir • Morrígan • Nechtan • Neit • Nemain • Niamh • Nuada • Ogma • Tuireann • Uaithne Four Treasures; • Lia Fáil  Milesians Amergin Glúingel • Breogán • Éber • Érimón • Fenius Farsa • Goídel Glas • Míl • Scota Others The Aos Sí • Biróg • Bran mac Febail • Cailleach • Carman • Crobh Dearg • Crom Cruach • Donn part of a series on Celtic mythology

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