Lyrics - The First Battle Of Moytara by Cruachan

They came here when the sun was high.
The sea was calm to meet them.
From out of the wind above the hills.
Come a fleet of godly men.
Borne on strong winds from the otherworld.
Shrouded by magical mists-
The
Tuatha
De
Danann came in their-
Great magical mystical ships.
Nuada, king of
Tuatha
De,
Turned his eager sharp eyes
Towards the land of his ancestral home,
The valleys,
The sea and the skies.
He was a giant among mortal men,
A hero among the immortals'
Who led his people{warriors strong}
Back to the land of their fathers.
The
Fir
Bolg,
Who were in
Eireann before the
Tuatha
De
Danann.
Sent streng their mighty champian to parley with the future king.
Breas was sent by
Nuada to find out his intent,"
I greet you as a brother", said
Streng "
By
Eochai
I've been sent".
The terms of battle were laid, half of
Eireann
Breas asked,
The
Fir
Bolg said this can't be paid, the time of goodwill has now passed.
Both sides made plans, they prepared their wells of healing,
Tribes and clans led by the chieftains and their kings.
The sun shone down on helmets, shields and swords,
Midsummers day-
The two armies walked in haodes-
Towards
Magh
Nai-
The
Fir
Bolg followed their chietains,
And swept towards the
Tuatha
DE like waves crash on the beaches.
The clash of sword and shield,
The splintering of bone,
The
Fir
Bolg would not yield,
Though they heard their people's moans.
The naked hillmen warriors, were forced back through the fight,
Followed by his bodyguard,
The
Dagda took their lives'
But the ground was piled high with the dead of the
Tuatha
De
All surviving warriors fled to live and fight another day."
We have been defeated but tomorrows another day""
Summon your courage.
Prepare yourselves,
Tomorrow the
Fir
Bolg we slay"
Four more days of battle came and many fine warriors fell,
Mothers lost their fighting sons-
The wounded healed in wells.
Nuada lost his strong right arm,
Now he will lose his throne,
The sons of
Nuada killed
Eochai,
But they too were overthrown.
Streng led the
Fir
Bolg to the fort and met with the injured,
Nuada,
Both men declared a truce and
Eireann was fairly divided.

Return to songs by Cruachan.