Nuada Airgetlám:
“Nuada of the Silver Hand”

In Celtic mythology, Nuada Airgetlám (“Nuada of the Silver Hand”) was the first High King of the Tuatha. Nuada served as the Tuatha’s king for seven years before the Tuatha came to Ireland. The Tuatha came into contact with the Fir Bolg, a race of settlers from Greece who had taken control of the island.

Upon making contact with the Fir Bolg, Nuada asked to be given half the island; the Fir Bolg king Eochaid refused, and as a result, Nuada led the Tuatha into war against the Fir Bolg at the First Battle of Mag Tuired. The Fir Bolg Champion Sreng challenged Nuada to one-on-one combat during this battle; Sreng handily defeats Nuada by chopping off his right hand. However, the Tuatha turn the tide and drive the Fir Bolg out of Ireland.

Having lost his arm, Nuada was no longer eligible to serve as High King, as ancient tradition states that the king of the Tuatha must be physically perfect. Thus, Nuada was replaced by the half-Fomorian Bres. During Bres’ seven-year reign, the physician Dian Cecht replaced Nuada’s missing arm with an arm made of silver. The Tuatha would eventually remove Bres from the throne, and Nuada would go on to rule for another 20 years.

Nuada’s sword, Fragarach, is one of the Four Treasures of the Tuatha; it is said that none can escape from Fragarach once it is drawn from its sheath, and none with Fragarach at their throat may tell a lie.