Cian

Cian was the son of Dian Cécht and Danu. Cian had two brothers: Goibhniu (master smith) and Sawan. But according to Oidheadh Chlainne Tuireann (Death of the Children of Tuireann), his brothers were Cu and Cethe; they were the sons of Cainte.

Cian possessed a magic cow that had an endless supply of milk. When Balor deceived Sawan (who was guarding the cow), Cian took revenge upon the Fomorian captain by seducing Balor's daughter, Ethlinn. Ethlinn bore Cian three sons.

It was prophesied that Balor's grandson would one day kill him. Balor had Ethlinn (Ethnea or Eithliu) imprisoned in the tower. When her sons (triplets) were born, Balor threw each son from the tower into the sea. Only one infant was saved by Manannán (Manannan) and a Druidess named Birog. Birog brought the child to Cian. Cian put the child, whom he named Lugh, into the care of his brother Goibhniu.

Cian's death was only briefly given in the Lebor Gabala Erren, saying that he was murdered by the sons of Tuirill Biccreo - Brian, Iuchar and Iucharba. The story was greatly expanded a lot later, in the Oidheadh Chlainne Tuireann (or the "Death of the Children of Tuireann").

When Lugh reached manhood, he became the Deliverer of the Tuatha Dé Danann. When the Danann gathered an army to oppose the Fomorians, Cian was sent to enlist fighting men from Ulster. On his journey, he transformed himself into a pig to avoid the sons of Turenn, whom he had a blood feud with. However, the sons of Turenn weren't fooled by Cian's disguise and mortally wounded the pig (Cian). Cian pleaded with the sons of Turenn that he wished to transform back to a man, and they granted his boon.

When Lugh discovered his father's death, he captured Turenn's sons. Lugh sent them on impossible quests (eric) to escape execution. The brothers fulfilled most of the tasks. Most of the eric Lugh sent them on had to do with obtaining items to help the Danann with the war, such as a magic spear from Persia and a magical pig-skin that could heal any wound or disease. In their last tasks, the brothers were mortally wounded. Turenn pleaded with Lugh to heal his sons with the healing pigskin, but Lugh refused. The sons of Turenn died from their wounds, thereby avenging Cian's murder.