In the realm of Irish mythology, Balor (often spelled as Balar in contemporary texts) stands out as the domineering leader of the Fomorians, a race of supernatural entities. Commonly depicted as a colossal figure, he possesses a singular eye whose opening results in widespread devastation. The most renowned account of Balor centers on his demise at the hands of his grandson, Lugh, who is recognized as a figure embodying drought, destruction, and the burning heat of the sun.
The Name Balor
The name Balor is believed to derive from the Common Celtic term *Baleros, which translates to “the deadly one.” This aligns with the Old Irish word at-baill (to die) and the Welsh term ball (death, plague). Alternatively, it may have origins in the term *Boleros, meaning “the flashing one.” Throughout his lore, Balor is identified by several titles, such as Balor Béimnech (Balor the smiter), Balor Balcbéimnech (Balor the strong smiter), Balór na Súile Nimhe (Balor of the Evil Eye), and Balor Birugderc (Balor the piercing-eyed), contributing to the English rendition, Balor of the Evil Eye.
In Irish Mythology
According to myth, Balor is the offspring of Buarainech and wedded to Cethlenn, with Neit as his grandfather. He reigns oppressively over Ireland from the stronghold on Tory Island, where he is portrayed as a giant with a destructive eye. The epic tale of Cath Maige Tuired describes his eye as not just destructive but poisonous, capable of overwhelming armies with mere warriors’ might. It was said that four warriors had to lift his eyelid, having been cursed by peering into a potion brewed by his father’s druids. Extant folklore describes Balor’s singular eye in his forehead, constantly covered by seven layers; each layer he removes unleashes different calamities upon the landscape, culminating in flames engulfing the countryside.
Fearing a prophecy indicating his death at the hands of his grandson, Balor imprisons his daughter, Ethniu, in a tower on Tory Island to prevent her from conceiving. In a twist of fate, he steals the magical cow Glas Gaibhnenn from Goibniu, the smith, prompting Cian, who was guarding the animal, to pursue him. With the assistance of the druidess Biróg, Cian accesses the tower, where he encounters Ethniu and they conceive a child. Enraged, Balor has Cian executed but attempts to drown Ethniu’s newborn son. The child, however, is saved by Manannán, the sea deity, who raises him as his own, resulting in the boy growing up to be Lugh.
Lugh ultimately becomes the ruler of the Tuatha Dé Danann and leads them into battle against the Fomorians, with Balor commanding their forces. In a fierce confrontation, Lugh employs a spear, or at times a sling stone, to pierce Balor’s eye, which in turn devastates the Fomorian army. Following this, Lugh beheads his grandfather. Legend holds that the impact of Balor’s fall created a hole filled with water, giving birth to the lake Loch na Súl (“lake of the eye”) in County Sligo. Another narrative claims his demise occurred at Carn Uí Néit, also known in English as Mizen Head. On Tory Island itself, there exist sites called Dún Bhalair (“Balor’s fortress”) and Túr Bhalair (“Balor’s tower”).
Folklore
In the folklore of the 19th century, Balor became known for a glass object through which he viewed victims, utilizing it to desolate vegetation at Moytura. A hero, intrigued by his method, prompted Balor to remove the glass, allowing the hero to extinguish it. The blood that flowed from Balor’s eye reportedly formed a lake named Suil Balra.
Interpretation
Scholar Dáithí Ó hÓgáin offers an interpretation connecting Balor’s narrative to agricultural cycles, positing that Balor symbolizes drought and blight which Lugh, the god of harvest, triumphs over. Both Ó hÓgáin and Máire MacNeill link Lugh’s victory to the Lughnasa festival and to the later story of Saint Patrick’s conquest over Crom Dubh.
In “The Myths of the Gods: Structures in Irish Mythology,” Alan Ward further establishes Balor as the embodiment of drought, interpreting the struggle between Balor and Lugh in terms of a cosmic battle between drought and fertility. Balor’s capture of the cow represents the oppression of nature, while Lugh—born from the union of a Sun God and a Water Goddess—grows to contend with Balor, ultimately receiving a thunderbolt from a Smith God to vanquish the drought.
Folklorist Alexander Haggerty Krappe discusses Balor in “Balor With the Evil Eye: Studies in Celtic and French Literature,” positing that Balor’s tale is rooted in ancient narratives involving cyclical themes of life, death, and rebirth. He notes parallels between Balor’s story and myths from other cultures, such as Greek and Egyptian legends, suggesting a broader archetypal significance. Krappe identifies multiple common elements across myths: prophecies and the inevitable downfall orchestrated by a descendant, the confinement of a daughter, a stranger’s seduction, and the ensuing confrontation that yields death to the elder figure.
