Delbáeth or Delbáed ( or ) was one of several figures from

Irish mythology Irish mythology is the body of myths indigenous to the island of Ireland. It was originally Oral tradition, passed down orally in the Prehistoric Ireland, prehistoric era. In the History of Ireland (795–1169), early medieval era, myths were ...

who are often confused due to the repetition of the name in the mythological genealogies.

Name

According to the Dindsenchas, the name Delbaeth is derived from Dolb-Aed, meaning "enchanted fire" or "fire shape(d)."

Family

His father is variously listed as

Aengus In Irish mythology, Aengus or Óengus is one of the Tuatha Dé Danann and probably originally a god associated with youth, love,Ó hÓgáin, Dáithí. ''Myth, Legend & Romance: An encyclopedia of the Irish folk tradition''. Prentice-Hall Press, ...

Ogma Ogma () is a god from Irish mythology, Irish and Scottish mythology. A member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, he is often considered a deity and may be related to the Gauls, Gallic god Ogmios. According to the In Lebor Ogaim, Ogam Tract, he is the i ...

of the

Tuatha Dé Danann The Tuatha Dé Danann (, meaning "the folk of the goddess Danu"), also known by the earlier name Tuath Dé ("tribe of the gods"), are a supernatural race in Irish mythology. Many of them are thought to represent deities of pre-Christian Gaelic ...

Elatha In Irish mythology, Elatha, Elotha, Elier or Elada (modern spelling: Ealadha) was a king of the Fomorians and the father of Bres by Ériu of the Tuatha Dé Danann, as well as Delbaeth, Ogma, Elloth (another name for Lir the father of Manannán ...

of the Fomorians, and his mother was Ethniu of the

Fomorians The Fomorians or Fomori (, Modern ) are a supernatural race in Irish mythology, who are often portrayed as hostile and monstrous beings. Originally they were said to come from under the sea or the earth. Later, they were portrayed as sea raider ...

. He succeeded his grandfather Eochaid Ollathair ("

the Dagda The Dagda ( , ) is considered the great god of Irish mythology. He is the chief god of the Tuatha Dé Danann, with the Dagda portrayed as a father-figure, king, and druid.Koch, John T. ''Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia''. ABC-CLIO, ...

") as

High King of Ireland High King of Ireland ( ) was a royal title in Gaelic Ireland held by those who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over all of Ireland. The title was held by historical kings and was later sometimes assigned anachronously or to leg ...

. Delbáeth ruled the united

and

for ten years, before dying at the hand of his son, Fiacha.

Children

In some traditions the goddess Eithne is mentioned as his daughter. Portions of ''

Lebor Gabála Érenn ''Lebor Gabála Érenn'' (literally "The Book of Ireland's Taking"; Modern Irish spelling: ''Leabhar Gabhála Éireann'', known in English as ''The Book of Invasions'') is a collection of poems and prose narratives in the Irish language inten ...

'' identify Delbáeth as the father of Brian, Iuchar, and

Iucharba In Irish mythology, Gaelic mythology, Brian (or Uar) was one of the three Sons of Tuireann along with Iuchar and Iucharba. Name In many extant institutionally-held manuscripts of the ''Oidheadh Chlainne Tuireann'', Brian is actually called Uar ...

, and also mention that Delbáeth was also called "Tuirill Biccreo".Macalister, R. A. Stewart. (1941). ''Lebor Gabála Érenn''. Part IV. Irish Texts Society, Dublin. § VII, First Redaction, ¶ 316. The Delbhna (an ancient Irish tribe) claimed to be his descendants.

Alternative and shared names

Delbáeth seems to be the same character as the thunder god

Tuireann In Irish mythology, Tuireann (Old Irish: Tuirenn or Tuirill Biccreo) was the father by Danu (Irish goddess), Danu (or Brigid) of Creidhne, Luchtaine, and Goibniu. His other sons included Brian (mythology), Brian, Iuchar, and Iucharba, who killed L ...

, because he was identified as "Tuirill Biccreo", the father of Brian, Iuchar, and

, mentioned above. Delbáeth is also given as a name of "Lugaid mac Tail" after Lugaid lights an enchanted fire from which burst five streams. A different Delbáeth – Delbáeth Mac Neit – is identified in the same section of ''Lebor Gabála Érenn'' as Tuirill Biccreo's great-grandfather.

References

Tuatha Dé Danann Legendary High Kings of Ireland {{Celt-myth-stub