Editing Balor (section)

==Mythological Cycle==
Balor first appears in the medieval texts that make up the [[Mythological Cycle]].

Balor was the son of Dot son of [[Néit]] according to the ''[[Cath Maige Tuired]]'' (''CMT''),<ref name=cmt-ss128/> but called Balor son of Buarainech in the list of renowned [[Rath (ringfort)|rath]]- and castle-builders of the world, preserved in the ''[[Book of Leinster]]''.<ref name=ocurry-rathbuilder/><ref name=arbois-rathbuilder/>{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|Buar-ainech means "cow-faced" according to Arbois de Jubainville, who encourages comparison with the Celtic deity [[Cernunnos]].<ref name=arbois-rathbuilder/>{{sfnp|d'Arbois de Jubainville|1903|p=218}}}}{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|A later version of this list, in verse and prose, was made by [[Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh]], anno 1650.<ref name=ocurry-rathbuilder/>}} [[Cethlenn]] was Balor's wife according to [[Roderick O'Flaherty|O'Flaherty]]'s ''Ogygia'' ([[1685]]).<ref name=oflaherty-ogygia-eng/> Cethlenn is mentioned by name in the ''[[Lebor Gabála Érenn]]'' (''LGE''), but not as a wife of Balor.<ref name=lge-para314&366/>

The Mythological Cycle tells of a struggle between the divine [[Tuatha Dé Danann]] and the demonic Fomorians. At the behest of [[Bres]], the Fomorians go to war against the Tuath Dé. Balor appears as champion of the Fomorians and king of the Isles (the [[Hebrides]]), while Indech mac De was the Fomorian king; the two of them leading the Fomorian army.<ref name=cmt-ss050/><ref name=cmt-ss133/> Balor built for Bres the fort of Rath Breisi in Connacht, according to the rath-builder list.<ref name=ocurry-rathbuilder/><ref name=arbois-rathbuilder/>

In the ensuing battle, the second Battle of Mag Tuired, Balor kills the Tuath Dé king [[Nuada Airgetlám]], but Balor is himself killed by his own grandson [[Lugh]] before he had a chance to use his destructive eye.<ref name=cmt-ss133/><ref name=lge-para312&331&364/> Balor's eye wreaked destruction when opened, unleashing some "power of poison",{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|''nem'', ''neim''<ref name=dil-neim/>}} but it took the strength of four warriors to lift the eyelid, by grabbing the ring (handle) attached to it.<ref name=cmt-ss133/><ref name=dil-drolam/> Lugh shot a [[Sling (weapon)|sling]]-stone ({{langx|sga|cloch as a tábaill}}, "stone from the sling"){{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|táball<ref name=dil-taball/>}} at the eye, which came out the other side and harmed the Fomorian army. Balor's falling body crushed 27 Fomorian soldiers, and his head struck their king Indech.<ref name=cmt-ss133/>

Though not stated outright, the supposition is that Balor here is a "one-eyed giant".{{sfnp|Sheeran|Witoszek|1990|p=243}} In one account of the battle, Lugh also killed a Fomorian leader named Goll (meaning "one-eyed"), who may be a duplication of Balor.<ref name="ohogain-fionn">Ó hÓgáin, Dáithí. ''Fionn Mac Cumhaill: Images of the Gaelic Hero''. Gill & MacMillan, 1988. pp. 10-11</ref> The ''CMT''  says that Balor's eye gained its baleful power from exposure to the fumes from the [[magic potion]]<ref name=dil-fulacht/> his father's druids were brewing.<ref name=cmt-ss133/><ref>See {{harvp|Scowcroft|1995|p=141}} and {{harvp|Sheeran|Witoszek|1990|p=243}} for paraphrases of this passage. Scowcroft writes the eye was "envenomed by vapours from druid concoctions".</ref> O'Curry tantalizingly stated he was in possession of a manuscript with an alternate explanation on how Balor got his power, but does not elaborate due to lack of space.{{sfnp|O'Curry|1863|pp=233–234}}

Another description of Balor's death, dating from at least the 12th century, says he survived the loss of his eye and was chased by Lugh to [[Mizen Head]]. Lugh beheads Balor and sets the head on a large rock, which then shatters. This is said to be the origin of the headland's Irish name, ''Carn Uí Néit'' ("[[cairn]] of Nét's grandson").<ref name="ohogain"/>