Midhir

Also known as: Midhir of Bri Leith / Midhir of the Yellow Hair · Family: Tuatha de Danaan · Role: chief among them · First appears: The Gods · The Ever-living Living Ones · Bodb Dearg · Part 2

Midhir of Bri Leith, also called Midhir of the Yellow Hair, was a chief among the Tuatha de Danaan and a son of Dagda. His daughters Doirenn, Aife and Aillbhe were given as wives to three men. At another time he gave Ribh and Eocho a horse for their goods and went with them as far as Magh Dairbthenn.

He took Fuamach as his wife, and they had a daughter, Bri. After a while he took Etain Echraide as his wife; he later told her that she had been his first wife, and that Fuamach’s jealousy and the spells of Bresal Etarlaim had parted them. At Teamhair, he said he had caused Ailell to desire Etain and kept him from meeting her so she could keep her good name. When Etain agreed to go with him if Eochaid Airem gave leave, Midhir challenged Eochaid to chess. At the end of the month he kissed Etain and escaped with her as one of two swans “linked together by a chain of gold.”

Eochaid Airem searched Ireland for them, then besieged Midhir at Bri Leith for nine years. Midhir sent out women who looked like Etain to mislead him, but Etain called to Eochaid, who recognized her and took her home to Teamhair. Midhir fostered Etain’s daughter Esa for seven years. Angry at the attack on his hill, Midhir and his people later brought Conaire to his death at Da Derga’s Inn.

His sons included Donn (son of Midhir), Conn, son of Midhir, Aedh, son of Midhir and Flann, son of Midhir; Sigmall was his grandson. In a later battle, Caoilte rode in Midhir’s chariot and used a spear to kill the King of Lochlann.