Battle of Mag Itha facts for kids

Mag Itha (pronounced 'Magh Ee-ha') is a very old place from Irish mythology. It's famous because it's believed to be where the first battle in Ireland happened. This battle took place a very, very long time ago, possibly around 2600 BCE. That's over 4,600 years ago!

The battle was fought between two groups: the Fomorians and the followers of Partholón. The Fomorians were led by a character named Cichol Gricenchos.

The First Settlers and the Fomorians

According to an ancient Irish book called the Lebor Gabála Érenn (which means "The Book of the Taking of Ireland"), the Fomorians lived in Ireland for about 200 years before Partholón arrived. They survived by fishing and catching birds.

When Partholón and his people came to Ireland, they were the first to build houses and even brew ale! The Lebor Gabála says Partholón arrived around 2590 BCE. The Battle of Mag Itha happened about ten years later, around 2580 BCE.

The story says that Partholón's helper, Ith, cleared the land of Mag Itha. The battle itself took place on the "smooth lands" of this plain.

Different Stories of the Battle

Old stories tell us different things about the Battle of Mag Itha:

• The Lebor Gabála Érenn version:

* 300 Fomorians fought in the battle. * Partholón was victorious. * Some early versions of the story say Cichol was killed and the Fomorians were completely defeated. * Later versions say the Fomorians had only one arm and one leg each. * These later stories also claim the battle lasted a whole week! * Interestingly, they say no one was killed or hurt because the battle was fought using magic.

• The Annals of the Four Masters version:

* This old record dates the battle to around 2668 BCE. * It says 800 Fomorians took part in the fight. * According to this account, all 800 Fomorians were killed.

Another old writer, Geoffrey Keating, also mentioned the battle in his book Foras Feasa ar Éirinn. However, he didn't give many details or a specific date for the event.

Where is Mag Itha?

The exact location of Mag Itha is a bit of a mystery! Different old texts and scholars suggest various places:

• Magh Itha an Indusa: This is an old name for an area called Magh Ene. It's located between Lough Erne in County Fermanagh and the Drowes River in County Donegal. This spot is also near Dernish Island in County Sligo, which some believe was an island where the Fomorians lived.
• Along the River Finn: John O'Donovan, a famous scholar, thought Mag Itha was along the River Finn. This river is near Lough Swilly in the area of Raphoe, County Donegal.
• Other plains: R. A. Stewart Macalister, another scholar, mentioned that there were other plains with the same name. These were located south of Arklow in County Wicklow and in the territory of the Déisi.

So, while the battle of Mag Itha is a key part of Irish legends, its exact location remains a topic of discussion among historians and mythologists!

See also

In Spanish: Magh Ithe para niños