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Balor (bahl-or)
Also occurs as Balar and Bolur, “the Flashing One”
The Celtic God Balor was one of the kings of the Fomhoire of Irish Celtic Mythology, son of Buarainech and grandson to Net. When he was a child, he spied on his father’s druids as they were mixing a terrible potion. The fumes from the potion got in his eye, causing it to be permanently destructive. He is sometimes called Balor Birug-derc, which means Balor of the Piercing Eye, for his gaze would kill all he looked upon. The Celtic God Balor is often called ‘Balor of the evil eye’. His one eye was covered by a great eyelid with a ring pierced through it. It took four men to lift it using the ring.
It was prophesied that his grandson would bring about his death. So, he attempted to hide his daughter away, never to meet a man. But, of course, she did meet a man, Cian of the Tuatha De Danann. They had a son, Lugh, who did, indeed, kill his grandfather in the Battle of Moytura by throwing his great spear through Balor’s eye as it was opening to cast destruction upon the Tuatha De Danann. He is sometimes associated with the sun in its destructive aspect of scorching heat, drought and withering crops. His grandson, Lugh, represents the opposite, beneficial aspect of the sun in Celtic Myth.

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