King Eochaid's Fall - Celtachor

With the spear to his heart

And the wind in his hair

To the Men of Dea, and he told them

Of the Fir Bolg warrior Sreng

To Connacht they did march

Preparing battlements for war

Passing the mountain Belgata

To arrive at the field of battle

At Magh Nia

The Trinity of the Tuatha

Badb, Macha and Anann

Arrived at Temhair

Where the Fir Bolgs did rest

They cast a mist dark and deep

And summoned showers

Of fire and blood!

The Fir Bolg’s engulfed in flame

Unable to see, unable to speak

Eleven battalions of the Fir Bolgs

Marched and stood defiant

On the East

Nuada sent Eochaid the offer

Eochaid refused

He would not show defeat

The war was delayed

By a quarter of a year

Armour, swords and spears ready

Until the day of battle came

From both sides, three times nine hurlers

Entered the battle but they will die

Four days passed, warriors did fall

And on that day the tide was turned

The Men of Dea rose up, and fell

On the Fir Bolgs like rain on the Earth

Eochaid went for a drink

His men not by his side

But the Tuatha not far behind

To the Strand they did go

Nuada’s Sons fought the king

Dragging him into the sea

Daggers endlessly piercing!

Leaving a heap of stones where he died

The dead king now watches the sea

A victory for the Tuatha

This was the battle of Magh Tuiread