Balor of the Evil Eye was a giant king of the Fomorians in Irish mythology. His single eye killed anyone it looked at. His own grandson, the hero Lugh, put it out. Balor is the great villain of Irish myth. His story still has a real home on Tory Island, off the Donegal coast.
Most people know the Irish heroes. Fewer know the monster they fought. Yet the tale of Balor is one of the best in all of Irish folklore. It has a prophecy, a tower of glass, a stolen baby and a battle at the end.
Who Was Balor?
Balor was the leader of the Fomorians. These were the old rivals of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the gods of early Ireland. You can read more about them in our guide to the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Storytellers gave Balor a few famous names. Here is what each one means:
- Balor Béimnech means Balor of the Mighty Blows.
- Balor of the Evil Eye is the name most people use today.
- Balor Birugderc means Balor of the Piercing Eye.
The old texts say he had one huge eye. He kept it shut. Four men had to lift the lid with a polished handle. When the eye opened on a battlefield, the army in front of it fell. That is a lot of power for one king to hold.
How Balor Got His Deadly Eye
Storytellers told two main versions. In one, Balor was born with the eye. In the other, he got it as a boy. He peeked through a window while his father’s druids brewed a potion. The fumes soaked into one eye and gave it a terrible power.
Either way, the result was the same. Balor ruled by fear. Nobody wanted to be in front of that eye.
The Prophecy and the Tower of Glass
A druid told Balor that his own grandson would kill him. Balor had one daughter, Eithne. So he decided she would never have a child.
He locked her in a tower on Tory Island. Some tellers say the tower was made of glass or crystal. Twelve women guarded her. No man could reach her.
The plan failed. A man named Cian, of the Tuatha Dé Danann, crossed the sea with help from a druidess called Birog. Eithne had three sons. Balor ordered the babies drowned in a whirlpool. One of them survived. That baby grew up to be Lugh, Ireland’s sun god.
Here is a fact worth sharing with your family: in Irish myth, the villain made his own doom. Balor tried to stop the prophecy, and that effort brought it about.
☘️ Enjoying this? 64,000 Ireland lovers get stories like this every week. Subscribe free →
The Battle of Mag Tuired
The Fomorians and the Tuatha Dé Danann met in the Second Battle of Mag Tuired. Many scholars place the story near Lough Arrow in County Sligo. Lugh came to the battle as a master of every craft. The gods made him a commander.
Balor stepped forward. His men lifted the lid of his eye. Lugh did not wait. He hurled a stone from his sling. It struck the eye and drove it out through the back of Balor’s head.
Then the eye looked the other way. It turned its gaze on the Fomorian army, and many of them fell. The prophecy came true. The battle was won.
The gods had other great weapons too. Our guide to the four treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann tells that story. For the wider tale of who held Ireland and when, see the mythological invasions of Ireland.
Balor and the Sea: Tory Island Today
Tory Island sits about 12 km (roughly 7 miles) off the north-west tip of County Donegal. It is about 5 km long and very exposed. Around 140 people live there, and Irish is still their everyday language.
At the east end, a rocky headland carries the name Balor’s Fort. The cliffs fall straight into the Atlantic. On a grey day, with black clouds over the water, you can see why storytellers chose it.
Tory has other stories too. The islanders crown their own king, and a school of island painters made the place famous. A round tower and a rare Tau cross still stand among the houses.
The Evil Eye in Irish Folk Belief
Balor did not stay in the old books. The idea of the evil eye lived on in village life. In Irish it is called droch-shúil. Many families believed that a jealous look could bring bad luck.
People took simple steps to protect themselves:
- They said “God bless it” when they praised a baby, a cow or a new calf.
- They tied red thread or a small charm to a child’s clothing.
- They kept a blessed object near the cradle or the byre.
Families from Donegal and other western counties took these habits abroad. Many left for Glasgow, Boston and Philadelphia. Grandparents there still said “God bless it” over a new baby. They may not have known the habit began with a giant on a Donegal island.
Balor Among the Other Great Figures of Irish Myth
Balor belongs to a set of great stories. Each one has a hero and a rival. Manannán mac Lir rules the sea. The Dagda holds the cauldron that never runs empty. Cú Chulainn holds the pass for Ulster. Balor plays the dark counterpart to all of them.
If you like warrior tales, read our look at the real clans and battle traditions behind Irish mythology. For another hero with a magic gift, try Fionn mac Cumhaill. You can also plan a wider trip with our guide to County Donegal.
How to Visit Balor’s Country
You can follow the legend in a few easy steps. Here is a simple plan:
- Drive to Magheroarty pier in north-west Donegal.
- Check the sailing times for the Tory Island ferry. The weather often changes the crossing.
- Walk to the east end of the island for the cliffs below Balor’s Fort.
- Ask the islanders about the old stories. Many still tell them.
- Finish the day on the mainland coast, where sea arches rise from the Atlantic.
Go in autumn if you can. The light is low and moody. It suits a story about a giant, a prophecy and a deadly eye.
A Story That Stays With You
Balor reminds us that Irish myth is not only about heroes. It is about people, and about what fear does to them. A king tries to stop his fate and brings it closer. That idea still feels true today.
Next time you hear “God bless it” over a baby, you will know where the habit began. A little piece of Balor’s story lives on in Irish homes across the world.
Frequently Asked Questions About Balor
Who was Balor of the Evil Eye?
Balor was a king of the Fomorians in Irish mythology. His single eye could destroy an army when he opened it. He was the grandfather of the hero Lugh, who killed him.
Where did Balor live?
Legend places his fortress on Tory Island, off the Donegal coast. A headland at the east end is still called Balor’s Fort. The ferry sails from Magheroarty and takes about 45 minutes.
How did Balor die?
Lugh struck his eye with a sling stone at the Second Battle of Mag Tuired. The stone pushed the eye out the back of Balor’s head. It then turned its deadly gaze on the Fomorian army.
Was Balor a real person?
No. Balor is a figure from myth and not from history. Medieval monks wrote down his story in manuscripts such as the Cath Maige Tuired. The tale is much older than the books.
Who were the Fomorians?
The Fomorians were the old rivals of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Storytellers described them as powers of the sea, the dark and the wild. Balor was their most feared leader.
☘️ Join 64,000+ Ireland Lovers
Every Friday, get Ireland’s hidden gems, local secrets, and travel inspiration — the kind you won’t find in any guidebook.
Subscribe free — enter your email:
Already subscribed? Download your free Ireland guide (PDF)
📲 Know someone who’d love this? Share on WhatsApp →
Love more? Join 43,000 Scotland lovers → · Join 29,000 Italy lovers → · Join 7,000 France lovers →
Free forever · One email per week · Unsubscribe anytime
Tours & experiences you might love
Powered by Viator. Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Secure Your Dream Irish Experience Before It’s Gone!
Planning a trip to Ireland? Don’t let sold-out tours or packed attractions spoil your journey. Iconic experiences like visiting the Cliffs of Moher, exploring the Rock of Cashel, or enjoying a guided walk through Ireland’s ancient past often sell out quickly—especially during peak travel seasons.
Booking in advance guarantees your place and ensures you can fully immerse yourself in the rich culture and breathtaking scenery without stress or disappointment. You’ll also free up time to explore Ireland’s hidden gems and savour those authentic moments that make your trip truly special.
Make the most of your journey—start planning today and secure those must-do experiences before they’re gone!