Delbáeth or Delbáed (modern spelling: Dealbhaoth or Dealbhaodh) was one of several figures from Irish mythology 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 – Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal S.A. is a Portuguese aerospace company focused on aircraft maintenance and manufacturing. History OGMA was founded as part of the reorganisation of the Portuguese Army's Aeronautic Service on June ...

of the

Tuatha Dé Danann The Tuath(a) 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 Gae ...

or Elatha of the Fomorians, and his mother was

Ethniu In Irish mythology, Ethniu (), or Eithne ( Modern Irish pronunciation: ) in modern spelling, is the daughter of the Fomorian leader Balor, and the mother of Lugh. She is also referred to as Ethliu (modern Eithle), Eithlionn (genitive; modern E ...

of the

Fomorians The Fomorians or Fomori ( sga, Fomóire, Modern ga, Fomhóraigh / Fomóraigh) 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 eart ...

. He succeeded his grandfather Eochaid Ollathair (“

the Dagda The Dagda (Old Irish: ''In Dagda,'' ga, An Daghdha, ) is an important god in Irish mythology. One of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the Dagda is portrayed as a father-figure, king, and druid.Koch, John T. ''Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia ...

”) as

High King of Ireland High King of Ireland ( ga, Ardrí na hÉireann ) 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 later sometimes assigned an ...

. Delbáeth ruled the united

and

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

Fiacha Fiacha (earlier Fíachu) is a name borne by numerous figures from Irish history and mythology, including: * Fiacha Cennfinnán, High King of Ireland in the 16th or 20th century BC * Fiacha mac Delbaíth, High King in the 14th or 18th century BC * ...

Children

His daughters, by Ernmas, were the three eponymous Irish

goddess A goddess is a female deity. In many known cultures, goddesses are often linked with literal or metaphorical pregnancy or imagined feminine roles associated with how women and girls are perceived or expected to behave. This includes themes ...

Ériu In Irish mythology, Ériu (; modern ga, Éire ), daughter of Delbáeth and Ernmas of the Tuatha Dé Danann, was the eponymous matron goddess of Ireland. The English name for Ireland comes from the name Ériu and the Germanic (Old Norse or Ol ...

Banba In Irish mythology, Banba (modern spelling: Banbha ), daughter of Delbáeth and Ernmas of the Tuatha Dé Danann, is a matron goddess of Ireland. She was married to Mac Cuill, a grandson of the Dagda. She was part of an important triumvirate of ...

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

Lebor Gabála Érenn ''Lebor Gabála Érenn'' (literally "The Book of the Taking of Ireland"), known in English as ''The Book of Invasions'', is a collection of poems and prose narratives in the Irish language intended to be a history of Ireland and the Irish fro ...

'' identify Delbáeth as the father of Brian,

Iuchar In 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 (or Uair), but t ...

, and

Iucharba In 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 (or Uair), but ...

, 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 The Delbna or Delbhna were a Gaelic Irish tribe in Ireland, claiming kinship with the Dál gCais, through descent from Dealbhna son of Cas. Originally one large population, they had a number of branches in Connacht, Meath, and Munster in Irela ...

(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 (or Brigid) of Creidhne, Luchtaine, and Goibniu. His other sons, by his daughter Danand, included Brian, Iuchar, and Iucharba, who killed Lugh's father ...

, because he was identified as “Tuirill Biccreo”, the father of Brian,

, 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