Lugh was the name of the Irish sun god. He was part Fomorii since his grandfather was the one eyed god Balor who was champion of the Formorii. The Formorii were sea gods who challenged Thutha De Dannan for control of Ireland, they are sometimes portrayed as having one hand, eye or foot. Lugh's mother was Ethlinn only daughter of Balor.

A prophesy had foretold that Balor would be killed by his grandson, so he locked Ethlinn in a crystal tower on Tory Island, but Cian son of the Tutha De Dannan god of healing Dian Cecht, managed to reach Ethlinn as a result Lugh was born. Lugh was saved from Balor by either Manannan Mac Lir or the smith god Goibhniu, Cian's brother and raised him to manhood.

Lugh's prowess as a warrior became legendary in his early manhood, and the De Dannan leader Nuada stepped down in his favour. At the second battle of Magh Tuireadh Lugh fulfilled the prophesy when he killed Balor with a sling shot. Before striking the final blow Lugh is said to have circled the enemy army on one foot with one eye closed, mimicking the single leggedness of the Formorii and Balor in particular. Balor's single eyelid had to be raised by four servants and at the moment it was Lugh delivered the fateful shot, which drove Balor's eye back through his head where it gazed on the Fomorii assembled behind causing them to scatter.

Lugh became known as Lamfhada (of the long arm) he was also sometimes known as Samildanach (the many skilled). Lugh is portrayed as the father of Cuchulainn, he was believed to have fought alongside his son during Queen Maeve's invasion of Ulster.

Lugh's name may live on to day in the word leprechaun (tiny guardian of treasure, and a cobbler) which is derived from the word Luchorpain which is said to have meant 'Little stooped Lugh'