Now the chiefs of the Danaan folk were assembled upon the Hill of Usnach, which is upon the western side of Tara in Meath, in order to meet there the stewards of the Fomorians and to pay them their tribute.  As they awaited the arrival of the Fomorians they became aware of a company on horseback, coming from the west, before whom rode a young man who seemed to command them all, and whose countenance was as radiant as the sun upon a dry summer’s day, so that the Danaans could scarcely gaze upon it.  He rode upon a white horse and was armed with a sword, and on his head was a helmet set with precious stones.  The Danaan folk welcomed him as he came among them, and asked him of his name and his business among them.  As they were thus talking another band drew near, numbering nine times nine persons, who were the stewards of the Fomorians coming to demand their tribute.  They were men of a fierce and swarthy countenance, and as they came haughtily and arrogantly forward, the Danaans all rose up to do them honour.  Then Lugh said: 

“Why do ye rise up before that grim and ill-looking band and not before us?”

Said the King of Erinn, “We needs must do so, for if they saw but a child of a month old sitting down when they came near they would hold it cause enough to attack and slay us.”

“I am greatly minded to slay them,” said Lugh; and he repeated it, “very greatly minded.”

“That would be bad for us,” said the King, “for our death and destruction would surely follow.”

“Ye are too long under oppression,” said Lugh, and gave the word for onset.  So he and his comrades rushed upon the Fomorians, and in a moment the hillside rang with blows and with the shouting of warriors.  In no long time all of the Fomorians were slain save nine men, and these were taken alive and brought before Lugh.

“Ye also should be slain,” said Lugh, “but that I am minded to send you as ambassadors to your King.  Tell him that he may seek homage and tribute where he will henceforth, but Ireland will pay him none for ever.”

Then the Fomorians went northwards away, and the people of Dana made them ready for war, and made Lugh their captain and war-lord, for the sight of his face heartened them, and made them strong, and they marvelled that they had endured their slavery so long.

In the meantime word was brought to Balor of the Mighty Blows, King of the Fomorians, and to his queen Kethlinn of the Twisted Teeth, of the shame and destruction that had been done to their stewards, and they assembled a great host of the sea-rovers and manned their war-ships, and the Northern Sea was white with the foam of their oarblades as they swept down upon the shores of Erinn.  And Balor commanded them, saying, “When ye have utterly destroyed and subdued the people of Dana, then make fast your ships with cables to the land of Erinn, and tow it here to the north of us into the region of ice and snow, and it shall trouble us no longer.”  So the host of Balor took land by the Falls of Dara[14] and began plundering and devastating the province of Connacht.