Balor

Also known as: Balor of the Evil Eye / Balor of the Strong Blows · Family: Fomor · Role: king · First appears: The Gods · Lugh of the Long Hand · The Coming of Lugh · Part 1

Balor, king of the Fomor, shut his only child, Ethlinn, in a tower after a Druid foretold that his grandson would cause his death. In time, Ethlinn bore a son, Lugh; Balor ordered the child thrown into the sea, but he survived and was rescued by Birog. Balor also deceived Samthainn and stole the Glas Gaibhnenn, carrying it across the sea to his island. His wife, Ceithlenn, later told him that Lugh was their daughter's son and that his coming meant they would never again have power in Ireland.

When Bres offered to lead seven battalions against Lugh, Balor urged him to kill the young man and carry Ireland away to Lochlann. At the Great Battle of Magh Tuireadh, Balor killed Nuada and Macha; then Lugh cast his spear through Balor's eye, turning its force against the Fomor, and struck off his head. As told in the account of the huntings, Lugh hung Balor's head in the fork of a hazel-tree.