Also called Eochu Bres, Bres mac Elathan.
Their story
Bres was the son of a Fomorian king and a woman of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and so beautiful that everything lovely was compared to him. He was made king when Nuada lost his arm, but he was mean: guests left his house with no smell of ale on their breath and no grease on their knives. The poet Coirpre made the first satire in Ireland against him, and his face broke out in blotches, forcing him from the throne. After the Fomorians lost the Second Battle of Mag Tuired, Bres bought his life by telling the Tuatha Dé when to plough, sow and reap.
Best times to give to them
- Lughnasadh
- when sowing seeds
What they like being given
- share food generously with guests
- bread given away
How to honour them
- Let his tale remind you that a host must be generous.
- When sowing seeds, remember that even Bres had knowledge worth keeping.
How they can help you
- lessons in generosity
- the duties of leaders
- farming knowledge
Symbols
- the plough
- the empty plate
Sources
- Cath Maige Tuired
- Lebor Gabála Érenn
More Celtic beings
- Balor Fomorian king of the deadly eye
- The Fomorians The dark powers from under the sea
- Taliesin The chief of bards, born of the cauldron
- Y Ddraig Goch The red dragon of Wales