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In Irish mythology, the Fomorians (Irish Fomóire, Fomórach) or Fomors were a semi-divine race who inhabited Ireland in ancient times. They seem to represent chaos and evil. They may have once been the beings who preceeded the gods, similar to the Greek Titans, or perhaps the gods of the Ivernic-speaking peoples who preceeded the Goidelic-speaking Gaels.
In medieval Irish texts they were said to be the offspring of Noah's son, Ham. They are said to have had the body of a man and the head of a goat, according to an 11th century text in Lebor na hUidre (the Book of the Dun Cow).
The followers of Partholon were the first to invade Ireland after the flood, and defeated the Fomorians in battle, but later died of plague. Then came the followers of Nemed who the Fomorians enslaved, but rose up and destroyed their headquarters, Conand's Tower on Tory Island, before the sea rose and drowned most of them, scattering the rest to the four corners of the earth.
The next invasion was by the Fir Bolg, who strangely did not encounter the Fomorians. Next came the Tuatha Dé Danann, who defeated the Fir Bolg but soon came under the opression of the Fomorians. In the second Battle of Magh Tuiredh the Tuatha Dé Defeated the Fomorians and their leader Balor.
Some Fomorians include:
The name "Fomoiri" comes from two ancient irish words meaning "beneath the sea," its modern Irish equivilant would be "Faoi Muire," as the race were said to be displaced by the rising sea-level since the end of the ice-age. This most ancient of origins survives some accounts where the formorians attack accross a landbridge between Ireland and Britain which was drowned during the stoneage. In celtic times, any settled pirates or sea-bourne raiders were labeled Fomorians and the original meaning of the word became overlooked.
In the fantasy role playing game of Dungeons & Dragons the Fomorians are one the Giant Kin Races.
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