Oghma the Champion

Oghma who created the ogham alphabet, was a great warrior and was the Champion of his tribe. That title “Champion” was only held by one person at a time. It was not lightly given and it came with wonderful perks. The Champion was the most respected person in the tribe, right up there with kings and chief druids/poets. To be champion you had to have the best martial prowess, and character. Honor was a champions garment!

In the lead up to the second battle of Maige Tuired, Oghma served as the Champion during a difficult time for his tribe. Their great king had lost an arm to battle and could no longer hold that office and a new king was chosen. They chose a man named Bres who was half of their tribe and half of the enemy tribe. Probably hoping it would help relations as their enemies, the Fomorians, were gaining ground and gaining power in Ireland. Unfortunately Bres held bias towards the Fomorians and against Oghma’s tribe. He burdened them with excessive taxes, and made their leaders do humiliating work.

Oghma the Champion, the man that gets the first and largest cut of meat at every banquet, was forced to carry firewood very long distances on land and over the sea, on an empty stomach. A task usually done by slaves or bond servants. Because he was so weak for want of food he would lose one third of his load of firewood. He endured this humility, he the Champion, the highest honor one could have!

He not only endured, he must have somehow still held his head high and himself in check, because he was still considered the Champion during and after this humiliation. He must have been a man of exemplary honor, a man who did not voice his complaint, but endured hardship and humility with grace and honor. A very inspiring thing indeed!

The tribes great king was restored, Bres was out but he deceived them and threw in with the Fomorians completely. Oghma was Champion and was restored to his place of honor and received his great portion once again. However, war was coming. He was seated as Champion one day, before the war, when a young man showed up at court to try to ingratiate himself with the king and the tribal leadership. The young man was let in after completing a set of challenges, one of which was skill at arms against the Champion Oghma. The young man bested the Champion, and the great king stepped aside and gave his thrown to this young man. He was the next great king, Lugh.

Oghma now served Lugh as Champion of the tribe. He was bested by Lugh, but he didn’t take it badly, he took it with honor and respect. He took it like a Champion, and so he continues as Champion. When the battle came and the king, Lugh, asked him how he would serve in the coming battle he responded that he would take out the enemy King and 27 of his chieftains. That is what he did!

Sometime after, I imagine as he aged and turned towards more scholarly and poetic pursuits, he invented the ogham and gave the world that wonderful gift. The story of the battle says that he died while fighting the Fomorian king, but it later shows him with another Fomorian king’s sword (presumably won in battle with said king) after the battle. Just like with so many other stories about the Tuatha De Danann he was dead but then miraculously alive again. It seems to be a common thread in the stories about these “Gods”.

He lived on to be known for his sweet tongue and fine poetry, his great oration and the ogham. He truly was a great Champion and is a great God!