Amergin Glúingel facts for kids

Amergin Glúingel, whose name means "white knees," was a very important person in ancient Irish myths. He was a bard, which is like a poet and storyteller, and also a judge for a group of people called the Milesians. He was even chosen as the Chief Ollam of Ireland, which was the highest position for a poet and scholar. Many old poems are said to have been written by Amergin himself.

Amergin Glúingel: Ireland's Ancient Bard

Who Was Amergin Glúingel?

Amergin Glúingel was one of the seven sons of Míl Espáine, a legendary ancestor of the Irish people. He played a key role when the Milesians came to Ireland. They wanted to take the island from another magical group called the Tuatha Dé Danann. This was to get revenge for their great-uncle Íth, who had been unfairly killed by the Tuatha Dé Danann kings.

The Milesians Arrive in Ireland

The Milesians landed their ships at a place called Inber Scéne. This place was named after Amergin's wife, Scéne, who sadly died at sea during their journey.

When they arrived, three queens of the Tuatha Dé Danann met them. Their names were Banba, Ériu, and Fódla. Each queen gave the Milesians permission to settle in Ireland. In return, Amergin promised to name the island after each of them.

• The name Ériu is where the modern name for Ireland, Éire, comes from.
• Banba and Fódla are still used today as poetic names for Ireland.

Amergin's Magical Song

Even though the queens gave permission, the Milesians still had to fight for the island. They faced the three kings of the Tuatha Dé Danann, along with their powerful druids and warriors. Amergin acted as a fair judge for both sides. He set the rules for how the battle would happen.

The Milesians agreed to leave the island and go back into the ocean. They had to go beyond the "ninth wave," which was a magical boundary. When they got the signal, they started to move back towards the beach. But the druids of the Tuatha Dé Danann created a huge magical storm! This storm tried to stop the Milesians from reaching land.

However, Amergin was very powerful. He sang a special song, calling on the spirit of Ireland. This song is now famous as The Song of Amergin. His song helped to calm the storm, and he guided the ships safely to land.

There were many battles and heavy losses on both sides. But in the end, the Milesians won. The three kings of the Tuatha Dé Danann were each killed in single fights. This was done by three of Míl's sons who survived: Eber Finn, Érimón, and Amergin himself.

The Song of Amergin

Lady Gregory, a famous writer, translated The Song of Amergin in her book Gods and Fighting Men (1904):

I am the wind on the sea;
I am the wave of the sea;
I am the bull of seven battles;
I am the eagle on the rock
I am a flash from the sun;
I am the most beautiful of plants;
I am a strong wild boar;
I am a salmon in the water;
I am a lake in the plain;
I am the word of knowledge;
I am the head of the spear in battle;
I am the god that puts fire in the head;
Who spreads light in the gathering on the hills?
Who can tell the ages of the moon?
Who can tell the place where the sun rests?

Dividing the Land

After the victory, Amergin divided the land of Ireland between his two brothers. Eber took the southern half of Ireland, and Érimón took the northern half. However, within a year, Érimón defeated Éber in battle. This made Érimón the king of the entire island.

Some local stories say that Amergin's burial place is under Millmount Fort in a town called Drogheda.

See Also

• Chief Ollam of Ireland
• Milesians (Irish)
• Tuatha Dé Danann