The fomorians, whose name means ‘dark of the sea,’ were a race of Gaelic demons said to be the offspring of Noah’s son, Ham. They are said to have the body of a man and the head of a goat, according to an 11th century text called The Book of the Dun Cow.
Most sources list the Fomorians as one of the 4 races of Ireland who were defeated by the Tuatha De Danaan.
The fomorians consisted of Buarainech; Balor, the son of Buarainech, whose one eye is kept permanently closed because it could kill any mortal or god with one glance and king of the fomorians; Bress, whose consort is Brigit, the daughter of the Dagda and who briefly ruled the Tuatha De Danaan; Elathan; and Ethniu, the daughter of Balor who is the mother of Lugh Lamhfada.