Gaiscioch Magazine - Issue 1

The Mythology of the Gaiscioch
What is a Gaiscioch? The Gaiscíoch takes it’s name from an Irish legend found within
the “Lebor Gabála Érenn” and “Cath Maige Tuired” which chronicles the arrival of the
Tuatha de Danann to the shores of Connaught, Ireland.
hey came from four islands in the north west
Tknown as Findias, Falias, Gorias, and Murias.
From these islands came four mystical relics,
the Spear of Lugh, the Sword of Nuada, the Cauldron
of Dagda, and the Lia Fáil. In addition, there were four
great druid poets by names of Morfessa, Esras, Uiscias,
and Semias. A great prophecy of impending doom
was foretold by one of their seers and the Tuatha de
Danann took to the ocean and sailed east to the shores
of Connaught, Ireland, where upon their arrival they
burned their ships so that they could never return.
This created a black mist that swept the western half
of Ireland and shrouded their arrival in mystery and
legend.
The native Fir Bolg, whom were slaves that mutinied
their ship and crashed it into the shores of Ireland
saw this black mist and prophesied of great peril and
destruction that should befall upon them. It was here
that we first saw the appearance of the Gaiscioch. They
were a hand chosen band of warriors, diplomats, poets,
craftsmen, and sages that the Tuatha de Danann chose
to fight along their side and represent them to foreign
realms.
It was in the First Battle of Moyturna where the Tuatha
de Danann encountered the Fir Bolg for the first time.
They sent Bres, one of the finest warriors of the Tuatha
to meet with the Fir Bolg’s finest warrior Sreng. The
two met and exchanged spears and Bres offered the Fir
Bolg half of Ireland to do with as they please.
Sreng returned to his king with the spear which was
far superior to their own and the offer to own half of
Ireland. The Fir Bolg king felt that if they gave the
Tuatha half it would not be long before they were strong
enough to take it all. He ordered the Fir Bolg to war.
When the Tuatha de Danann learned of this, they
refused battle until the fight was fair. They sent their
finest craftsmen and warriors to the Fir Bolg to teach
them how to craft weaponry that was equal to their own
and train their warriors to use them. After 6 months
the two sides chose their best warriors. Bres met Sreng
in the middle of the battlefield and told him that they
didn’t need to continue this senseless war. But the Fir
Bolg could not stand down.
© Royal Irish Academy
The first battle was with hurlers, in which they slung
stones at each other until one side could not stand.
The Tuatha were victorious. Again Bres met Sreng
in the middle. He asked that they end this senseless
bloodshed. Again the Fir Bolg declined. The next day
the Gaiscioch and the Tuatha headed into battle and by
nightfall every last Fir Bolg warrior had fallen and the
Fir Bolg king lay mortally wounded. But the Fir Bolg
were not all that suffered losses. During the battle the
Tuatha King Nuada lost his right hand to the blade of
Sreng. He was replaced by Dagda, as the King could
not show weakness or be disfigured in any way.
After the battle was over, The Tuatha returned to the
Fir Bolg. They offered them any one of the 5 provinces
of Ireland for them to settle and do with as they please.
They then threw a feast and invited their brothers from
the south to join them. The Fir Bolg and the Tuatha
joined forces as one united Irish nation and later fought
together to defeat the Formorians.
It was this story that compelled me to create a family
in its image, A community that looks out for everyone,
even when it is not requested. A gathering of people
from all walks of life, with all professions and trades
represented. A legend of honor, respect, integrity and
fellowship. This is what we attempt to recreate in
today’s modern era.
6