Gods and fighting men

Gods and Fighting Men is the actual collection of Irish Mythology from the earliest legends. It affects all of Ireland and the stories are fairly widespread throughout the Gaelic world. Gods and Fighting Men is an excellent book as it tells the lore from the Book of Invasions as well as other timeless myths and legends of the Celtic people. It tells legends of the earliest inhabitants of Ireland, the coming of the Tuatha De Danaan (also known as the sidhe or The People of Dana) and the stories of Finn MacCumhail.

The legends of the Tuatha De Danaan are essential for a comprehensive understanding of Irish mythology, actually comprising the majority of the Mythological Cycle, and deal with the initial settling of all of Ireland.

The Mythological Cycle is the most important cycle in Irish mythology, because it sets up the scenario for all that is to follow. The Fenian Cycle (legends of Finn MacCumhail and his warband) are fascinating not only for their strong associations with Nature, but also for the fact that the stories are well-known both in Ireland and in the Scottish Highlands. The Gods still walked and resided on (or in) the Earth and interacted often with mortals. Magic was all around.

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