Sligo is a beautiful region in the northwest of Ireland, a county that has produced artists and celebrities such as poet W.B. Yeats and several members of the pop band Westlife.
Amid waterfalls, sweeping valleys, and mountains, Sligo also preserves legendary secrets from a heroic past, keeping Ireland’s ancient myths alive.
One of these old stories takes us to Lough na Suil, the “Lake of the Eye,” near the town of Geevagh.
It’s a charming but little-known area, far from the usual tourist radar on the Emerald Isle. But those who venture here will find themselves surrounded by lush, rolling green countryside and the legend of a peculiar lake that disappears from time to time—said to be the resting place of the head of a demonic giant who once terrorized the region.
This is the tale of Balor and the Lake of the Eye.
Balor, King of the Fomorians
The Fomorians were, according to Irish folklore, the ancient gods of death, darkness, and destruction. They dwelled in the Atlantic Ocean, beyond the known world, and were said to be monstrous beings with supernatural powers. Among their ranks were figures like Morrigan, the goddess of death, and Tethra, the king of the dead—ancestor to our story’s protagonist, Balor.
Balor is said to have been a curious boy who, like many legendary figures, was cursed for letting his curiosity get the better of him. While exploring near his father King Buarainech‘s fortress, he stumbled upon a group of druids performing mysterious rituals around a cauldron.
Unseen, he crept closer—but a gust of wind blew a wisp of the cauldron’s cursed steam into his face. Days later, one of his eyes began to burn with excruciating pain.
Some versions say that from that moment, Balor’s face transformed. He lost one of his eyes, but gained another on the back of his head—cursed and deadly. Whenever he opened it, a lethal ray would strike down anything in its gaze.
Balor turned his curse into a weapon, terrorized the land, and eventually overthrew his father to seize the Fomorian throne.
Under his rule, the Fomorians conquered Ireland, and no one could withstand the destructive power of Balor’s evil eye.
Until Lugh appeared—a brave warrior of the Tuatha Dé Danann, destined to end the tyrant’s reign.
A Prophecy Fulfilled and a Giant’s Head in the Lake
Balor, drunk on power, continued his rampage across the island. But as so often happens in myth, a prophecy loomed over him.
It foretold that Balor would be defeated by one of his own descendants, just as he had once overthrown his father. Determined to avoid this fate, Balor imprisoned his daughter Ethnea in a tower. But a warrior named Cian, from the Tuatha Dé Danann, reached her with the help of a druidess.
Cian and Ethnea fell in love, and in time she gave birth to triplets.
When Balor discovered them, he threw the babies into the sea, hoping to eliminate any threat to his reign. Two of the children perished in the waves, but one survived—Lugh.
Known as “Lugh of the Long Arm,” he was raised by the Tuatha Dé Danann and became a formidable warrior.
Eventually, his clan faced Balor in battle. The giant used his cursed eye to kill Nuada, their leader. Enraged, Lugh vowed revenge. He hurled a stone from his sling with such force that it destroyed Balor’s eye and shattered his skull.
The giant collapsed at Mag Tuired—the battlefield where Ireland’s fate was decided.
The prophecy had been fulfilled. Balor’s head was cut off and thrown into a lake, forever known as Lough na Suil, or the Lake of the Eye.
A Head Beneath the Waters and a Myth That Endures
Since then, the cursed head of the Fomorian giant is said to rest deep in the waters of this Irish lake. Every year, thousands of visitors come to this peaceful spot—many unaware of the story behind it—and enjoy the quiet countryside and shimmering lake.
Ireland is a nation rich in mythology, filled with tales passed down through generations that explain the origins of mountains, lakes, and ancient landmarks.
Yet the story of Balor and Lugh isn’t unique to Celtic tradition. It echoes other ancient narratives—the child who defies his parent, the inevitable fulfillment of prophecy, and the young hero who kills a giant with a stone, reminiscent of David and Goliath.
Whatever its origin, Sligo is well worth a visit—not only to uncover these captivating legends, but to experience the landscapes, culture, and heritage of this extraordinary region in the northwest of Ireland.
