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In Irish mythology, Elatha or Elada (modern spelling: Ealadha) was a prince of the Fomorians and the father of Bres by Ériu of the Tuatha Dé Danann. The imagery surrounding him suggests he may once have been a sun[1] or moon god.



During the Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh, Elatha, son of Dalbaech, watched over Dagda's magic harp, Uaithne, sometimes called Dur-da-Bla, "the Oak of Two Blossoms," and sometimes Coir-cethar-chuin, "the Four-Angled Music." He is said to have a sense of humor and a sense of nobility.

Though considered to be the Fomorian father of Eochu Bres, Elatha (Elada) was also the father of the Dagda, Ogma, a son named Delbaeth, and Elloth (the father of Manannan mac Lir) according to the Lebor Gabála Érenn. The mother of these Tuatha De Danann chiefs may have been Ethne, the mother of Lug, based on Ogma' often cited matronymic "mac Ethliu." Since Ethne was Fomorian, this means they are all Fomorians. This is rather confusing, but may betray the battle between the two groups as actually being about the new generation of gods displacing the older generation.

Elatha and Bres[edit]





Elathan is used incorrectly by Squire and Lady Gregory, as Elathan is the genitive case of Elatha and means 'of Elatha'.

According to Lady Gregory the etymologie of Elatha is "art" or "knowledge" in the bardic sense.[2] The name Elathan could also mean "(he) of the art" the n is justified in this case. This could explain why Ogma (inventor of the ogham script) is son of Elatha(n) (bardic knowledge).


  1. ^ Ériu, Volume 14. Royal Irish Academy, 1946. p.27
  2. ^ Lady Gregory, Gods and Fighting Men

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