The Spear of Lugh Eisteddfod

The head of the Spear of Lugh

The Lammas Games spear

The spear presented to the winner of the annual Lammas Games Eisteddfod is not nearly as blood-thirsty as its mythological namesake (see below). Created by a craftsman named Fox, the spear's forging instilled in it not the fire of violence and rage, but of awen, the creative spirit that falls upon the bard or poet like a 'fire in the head'.

As well as being a great warrior, Lugh was also a master of all crafts, and the Lammas Games spear represents this aspect. On winning custody of the spear, the spear-holder is charged with a year-long mission to harness its fire, to flow with the awen, and to inspire creativity in themselves and others.

Read the Crafting the Spear of Lugh, by Fox

The mythological spear

According to legend, the Tuatha Dé Danann brought four magical treasures with them to Ireland:

These four treasures can be linked to the four elements, seasons and cardinal directions found throughout Pagan mythology. The cauldron or cup represented water, autumn and the west. The stone or pentacle represented earth, winter and the north. The sword represented air, spring and the east. The spear or wand represented fire, summer and the south.

Lugh's spear was magical in that he had no need to wield it himself. It was alive, and thirsted so for blood so strongly that only by steeping its head in a sleeping draught of pounded poppy leaves could it be kept at rest. When battle was near it was drawn out. It roared and struggled against its thongs, fire flashed from it, and, once slipped from the leash, it tore through and through the ranks of the enemy, never tired of slaying.