Amairgin was the poet and wise man of the Milesian race. When they first landed on Ireland he sang a poem of thanks aligning himself with all of nature. He met Ériu and promised her that her name would be the name for Ireland ever after. He also met her sisters Banba and Fodla and he promised them that their names would be one of the names of Ireland.
He met the three kings Mac Cécht, Mac Cuill and Mac Gréine and agreed to move out past the ninth wave in order to allow them to prepare a defence. The kings caused a storm to occur in order to put the Milesians off from landing. Amairgin sang a verse over the waves and quelled the storm.
Amairgin was the first to put his foot on land, and when he stood on the shore of Ireland, this is what he said:
The First Poem of Amairgin
The Mystery
I am the wind which breathes upon the sea,
I am the wave of the ocean,
I am the murmur of the billows,
I am the ox of the seven combats,
I am the vulture upon the rocks,
I am a beam of the sun,
I am the fairest of plants,
I am a wild boar in valor,
I am a salmon in the water,
I am a lake in the plain,
I am a word of science,
I am the point of the lance of battle,
I am the God who created in the head the fire.
Who is it who throws light into the meeting on the mountain?
Who announces the ages of the moon?
Who teaches the place where couches the sun?
(If not I)
Translated by Douglas Hyde ( first president of the Republic of Ireland)
The Poem of Amairgin - Version II
"I am the wind on the sea;
I am the wave of the sea;
I am the bull of seven battles;
I am the eagle on the rock
I am a flash from the sun;
I am the most beautiful of plants;
I am a strong wild boar;
I am a salmon in the water;
I am a lake in the plain;
I am the word of knowledge;
I am the head of the spear in battle;
I am the god that puts fire in the head;
Who spreads light in the gathering on the hills?
Who can tell the ages of the moon?
Who can tell the place where the sun rests?"
