lend his Ocean-Sweeper and his white horse to them, so that they should not fail.
But the great champion of the gods was Lugh Lam-Fada, or Lugh of the Long Hand. When the Tuatha de Danann were oppressed by their enemies the Fomorians, Lugh came riding from the Land of the Ever-Young on the white horse of Manannan, with a light like sunrise round his head, and armed with a fiery sling. He urged the Tuatha de Danann to fight, saying he would lead them against their enemies. So, when they had made all their preparations, Lugh led them out; and Balor, the giant Fomorian king, whose eye of evil either killed or turned to stone whoever it looked upon, led out his people, and the opposing armies fought a great battle on the plain of Moytura. In the midst of the fight the battle-fury came on Lugh, and he rushed out before all his people and with his sling of fire threw a magic ball of light into Balor's eye of death, so that the giant Fomorian died and his people were utterly routed. Then the Mor Riga sang her song of victory, as I have told you before, and peace came to the people of Ireland.
