The Myth of Tlachtga
Why was Tlachtga so called? Not difficult. Tlachtga was the daughter of Mog Roith, son of Fergus. Three sons of the magician Simon [Magus] raped her.
She went with her father to learn the magic arts practised anywhere in the world. And it was she who made for Trian the Rolling Wheel, the stone in Forcathu and the Pillar in Cnamchaill. She came from the East and brought with her these things until she reached the hills of Tlachtga.
It was there she bore three sons, Doirb, Cumma and Muach, who gave their names to three regions. As long as their names are remembered in Ireland the land will not be visited by vengeful strangers.
Tlachtga Hills, splendid and high,
Foreboding doom to a great, unswerving king
Before the step which Tlachtga . . . took,
The daughter of King Roth's clever votary.
Mog Roith, the son of Fergus Fal,
The kingly and noble son of Ross.
Cacht, the daughter of the quarrelsome Catmend
Was his colourful and noble mother.
Roth, son of Rigoll was his fosterer.
This is why the name "Mog Roith" was given him.
Two sons of Mog: Buan and [Fer-]Corb,
Were successful over armies in deeds of liberation.
She [Cacht] was the [foster] mother of the handsome sons
Of Der Droighen, dark, strong and active,
And the real mother of Cairpre [Lifechair].
It is certain that he deceived the Hui-Bairdne.
The daughter of Mog hosted with thousands,
Tlachtga, the chosen--not that she was without feelings--
To accompany her great and noble father,
To noble Simon [Magus] of sevenfold splendour.
Three sons had Simon--pleasing to look upon:
Sorrowful her struggle with their devilry.
. . . [text missing] . . . powerful.
Theirs was a powerful family, vehement and resilient.
The sons grew passionate
Towards Tlachtga at the same time,
The flowed into her body--it is no lie--
[making] descendants of beauty and lineage.
For Trian--it was no honour--Tlachtga
Created the red and swiftly mobile wheel,
Together with the great and noble Mog,
And with Simon of sevenfold splendour.
She brought with her wise sayings;
She left the moving wheel,
The finished stone of Forcarthu she left,
And the pillar in Cnamchaill.
Whoever sees it will become blind,
Whoever hears it will become deaf,
And anyone who tries to take a piece of the
Rough spoked wheel will die . . .
After the woman came from the East,
She gave birth to three sons after hard labour.
She died, the light and lively one.
This urgent, unconcealable news was to be heard.
The names of the sons were of great import . . .
Muach and Cumma and Doirb the noble.
The crowd . . . [text missing] . . .
because it is appropriate that they shall hear it:
That as long as over the stately Banba
The names of the three sons are remembered
As the truthful story tells . . .
No catastrophe will befall its inhabitants.
The hill where this woman from the East is buried,
To surpass all other women,
This is the name it was given:
The Hill of Tlachtga. (Matthews & Matthews, p. 201, 202)
- Ireland.
- Meaning literally "bone damage".
- Meaning "Devotee of the Wheel". "O'Rahilly has suggested that Mog Roith the druid is but the last remnant of a Celtic deity, Roth, God of the Wheel. The Wheel represents not only the sun, but the great cycle of years and seasons." (Matthews & Matthews), p.189) The blind druid Mog Roith was the father of Tlachtgha.
- Pronounced sah-vin or sow-in. The Celtic new year, November 1, beginning at sundown October 31.
- A new testament character (Acts 8:8-25) who tried to buy the power of the Holy Ghost to use for his own ends. Grafted into Celtic mythology by Christian monks to help demonize the old Gods.
- Daughter of Mog Roith, mother of Doirb, Cumma and Muach, and patronness of druidic skills. In Gaelic, tlacht means earth, and gae means spear; Tlachtga is thus the "Earth-Spear". "Tlachtga gives her name to the Hill of Ward, near Athboy, County Meath; it was here that the fires of Samhain were lit . . . at which it was their custom to assemble and bring together the druids of Ireland on the eve of Samhain to offer sacrifice to all the gods." (Matthews & Matthews, p. 198,199).
Banba:
Cnamchaill:
Mog Roith (alt. Mog Ruith):
Samhain:
Simon Magus:
Tlachtga (alt. Tlachtgha):
Matthews, Caitlin and Matthews, John. The encyclopedia of Celtic wisdom. (1994). Rockport, MA.: Element
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