Summary
How Conchobor Came to Be and Ascended as King of
Ulster
Nes inquired of the druid Cathbad about the auspiciousness of the hour. Cathbad
informed her that it was an opportune time for conceiving a king and vowed that
a child conceived at that moment would be renowned in Ireland forever.
Subsequently, Nes and Cathbad were intimate, resulting in the birth of
Conchobor, whom Cathbad nurtured.
Fergus was the reigning King of Ulster and desired to marry Nes. She agreed to the marriage only if her son Conchobor could rule as king for a year. Fergus consented, allowing Conchobor to take the throne temporarily. However, Nes was shrewd and, by the end of the year, convinced the Ulstermen to reject Fergus's return.
The Curse of Labor Pains on the Men of Ulster
Crunniuc mac Agnomain, a prosperous widower, was visited by a remarkable woman
who chose to stay in his home. Under her care, his household thrived. During a
significant fair in Ulster, Crunniuc attended, while the pregnant woman
remained behind. She cautioned him to mind his words, yet he boasted that his
wife could outrun the king's chariot horses. The king promptly demanded proof,
and the woman was summoned. Despite her pleas for mercy as she was on the brink
of labor, her requests were ignored. She revealed her name as Macha and
proclaimed that Ulster would be cursed for her forced participation. She raced
the chariot, and as she crossed the finish line, she gave birth to twins,
declaring that all men who heard her cry would endure labor pains when Ulster
needed them most. All the men present that day, along with their descendants
for nine generations, suffered this curse, with the exception of Cúchulainn and
his father.
The Tale of Deirdriu
Cathbad prophesied that the king's storyteller Fedlimid's daughter would grow
into the most beautiful woman in the world and bring about destruction in
Ulster. The warriors wanted to eliminate her, but Conchobor chose to raise her
in secrecy until she was mature enough to marry him. The girl, Deirdriu,
encountered Noisiu, the son of Uisliu, and they fell in love. Together with his
brothers, they fled and eventually settled in Scotland. There, the local king
desired Deirdriu for himself. Conchobor promised them safe passage back to
Ulster. Fergus, Dubthach, and Conchobor's son Cormac vouched for their safety.
However, Conchobor had the brothers killed, with Noisiu dying by the spear of
Eogan mac Durthacht, who also slew Fergus's son Fiacha as he tried to defend
Noisiu. Fergus, Dubthach, and Cormac then sought refuge at the court of
Connacht. Heartbroken, Deirdriu took her own life.
The Birth of Cúchulainn
Deichtine, the sister of Conchobor, was steering her brother's chariot as they
pursued a large flock of troublesome birds. As night descended, they found a
small house where a woman was about to give birth. Deichtine assisted in
delivering a baby boy. By morning, everything had vanished except for the
infant. Deichtine took the child home, but he soon passed away, leaving her
devastated. One of her servants offered her a drink of water, and as she drank,
a tiny creature flew into her mouth. She swallowed it without realizing. That
night, she dreamed of a man who introduced himself as Lug mac Ethnenn, a prince
of the Síde , the magical beings dwelling in fairy hills. He revealed that the boy she had cared for was his son, and she was now carrying him. She was to name him Sétanta. When it became clear that Deichtine was pregnant, her brother arranged her marriage to Sualdam mac Roich....
(This entire section contains 2166 words.)
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Distressed by marrying while pregnant, she expelled the creature she had swallowed. Soon after, she became pregnant by Sualdam and gave birth to a boy named Sétanta. Although the tales of Cúchulainn's birth are conflicting, a logical explanation for his origins has never been anticipated.
The Pillow Talk
Medb and Ailill, the queen and king of Connacht, were having a conversation in
bed about which of them was wealthier. They tallied their possessions and found
them to be equal, except that Ailill owned a magnificent bull, Finbennach,
originally the calf of one of Medb's cows that had joined Ailill's herd to
avoid belonging to a woman. Medb inquired of Mac Roth if there was another bull
of equal value in Ireland. There was only one: the Donn Cúailnge in Ulster. Mac
Roth was dispatched to borrow the bull for a year, offering a substantial
reward. Dáire, the owner, was happy to lend the bull under such generous terms.
However, one of the messengers became intoxicated and declared that if the bull
were not lent, they would seize it by force. This angered Dáire, who then
ordered them to leave.
The Muster of the Connacht Army
Ailill and Medb gathered their army and awaited a favorable omen before
marching. The poetess and prophetess Feidelm warned Medb that the army would
suffer great losses at the hands of Cúchulainn, repeatedly stating, "I see them
bloody. I see them red."
The Army Encounters Cúchulainn
Fergus, placed in charge of the army, deliberately misleads them to buy time
for the Ulstermen to recover from their affliction. Sensing the army's
approach, Cúchulainn urges his father, Sualdam, to alert the people. To delay
the Connacht army, Cúchulainn issues a challenge, but the army bypasses it. He
tries again to stall them by placing a forked branch in the river, impaling the
heads of four advancing warriors on it, and declaring that they cannot proceed
until someone removes the branch using one hand. Fergus rises to the
challenge.
The Boyhood Deeds of Cúchulainn
Ailill inquires about Cúchulainn's age, and upon learning he is only seventeen,
Medb dismisses him as an inexperienced warrior. Fergus recounts Cúchulainn's
childhood feats, including the tale of how he got his name. As a young boy, he
killed a ferocious guard dog that attacked him and then protected the owner's
property until a replacement could be raised. Thus, he became known as Cú
Chulainn, meaning 'the hound of Culann.'
Cúchulainn's Challenge and the First Series of
Combats
Cúchulainn blocks the army's path with a log, challenging them to continue only
if a warrior can leap over it in a chariot. Reluctantly, Cúchulainn kills his
childhood friend Fráech, who was sent to confront him. Fergus clears the oak
with his chariot. Cúchulainn defeats and kills all opponents who face him.
Meanwhile, the army ravages Ulster. Ailill suspects an affair between Fergus
and Medb, so he dispatches his chariot driver to investigate. The driver
discovers them sleeping together and takes Fergus's sword from its sheath,
returning to Ailill to confirm his suspicions. Ailill appears satisfied,
saying: "She is justified. She does it to keep his help on the raid." He
instructs the charioteer to safeguard the sword.
Bargain of the Single Combats
Cúchulainn positions himself at the river Cronn, invoking the elements of air,
earth, and the river to assist him. Maine, the son of Ailill and Medb, along
with thirty horsemen, reach the river, where Cúchulainn kills them all. These
killings persist until Fergus and Lugaid mac Nois Allchomaig negotiate terms of
combat that favor Cúchulainn.
The Escape of the Bull, the Bargain of the Single Combats, and the
Morrigan
Medb embarks with a third of her forces to capture the bull and devastate
Ulster. Cúchulainn encounters Buide mac Báin, Medb's cowherd, who has taken the
Bull of Cooley. Cúchulainn kills Buide, but Medb's soldiers succeed in bringing
the bull back to their camp. Cúchulainn faces numerous warriors in battle.
Amidst these challenges, the Morrígan appears disguised as a young woman and
offers herself to him. He rejects her, prompting her to vow to obstruct him. He
promises to leave her with lasting wounds unless he grants her a blessing. He
continues to confront all champions sent against him. When his foster brother
Lóch fights him, the Morrígan intervenes three times and is injured each time.
Fergus motivates Briciu to provoke the weary Cúchulainn to maintain his
fighting spirit. Cúchulainn realizes his need for assistance. He defeats Lóch
but is left drained. The Morrígan reappears as an old woman milking a cow. He
requests a drink of milk, and she offers him three. With each drink, he blesses
her, and she heals. Medb sets up an ambush, but Cúchulainn overcomes the
warriors. She proposes her daughter to him, but he cuts the girl's hair and
leaves her at a pillar stone.
Respite for Cúchulainn
Laeg notices a distinguished man approaching them. Cúchulainn recognizes him as
one of the síde. The man reveals himself to be Cúchulainn's father
from the otherworldly hills, Lug mac Ethnenn. Cúchulainn confesses, "My wounds
are severe. It is time they were allowed to heal." Lug advises him to rest and
attends to his injuries. While Cúchulainn sleeps, the young warriors of Ulster
come to aid him but are tragically killed after a valiant fight, much to
Cúchulainn's grief. Cúchulainn commands his sickle chariot, described as having
'every angle and corner, front and rear was a tearing place,' and in a frenzy,
he charges through the enemy camped against him.
The Single Combat of Ferdia and Cúchulainn and the Fight of
Cethern
An Ulster warrior named Oengus arrives and hurls stones at the Connacht army
until he is killed. In search of another champion to face Cúchulainn, Medb
approaches Fergus. He refuses to fight his foster son. However, he confronts
Cúchulainn, asking him to yield a step if he himself gives way at another time
when requested by Cúchulainn. Cúchulainn agrees. The fighting continues, with
Cúchulainn emerging victorious.
Fíacha mac Fir Febe, an Ulster exile, comes to Cúchulainn's assistance during a battle. Meanwhile, Medb manipulates Cúchulainn's foster brother and closest friend, Ferdia, by falsely accusing Cúchulainn of slandering him. The two engage in combat for four days. Ultimately, Cúchulainn delivers a fatal blow to Ferdia, mourning the loss of his dear friend. The Ulster warrior, Cethern, arrives, attacks the enemy forces, and then retreats to Cúchulainn, detailing his numerous injuries. He kills several doctors until Conchobor's physician, Fingin, assesses his wounds from a safe distance. Fingin informs Cethern that he can either remain still for a year and survive or have three days of strength to fight before dying. Cethern opts for the latter and perishes in battle.
Fintan and the Death of Finnabair
Fintan, Cethern's father, arrives to seek revenge for his son's death. His
other son is captured and returned under the condition that Fintan refrains
from attacking Ailill's forces until the final battle. Rochobad Rigderg comes
to assist Cúchulainn, but Ailill sets a trap using Finnabair as bait. Finnabair
has confessed her love for Rochobad to her parents, who agree to let them be
together if Rochobad grants them a truce until Conchobor arrives.
The Warning of Súaldaim and the Muster of the Men of
Ulster
Súaldaim goes to support his son. Cúchulainn sends him to alert the Ulstermen,
urging them to come immediately to retaliate against the invaders. Súaldaim
reports that "men are slain, women carried off, and cattle driven away." He
trips and is decapitated by his own shield, but even in death, his head
continues to issue the warning. Conchobor pledges to defeat the raiders and
reclaim their spoils.
Ailill asks Mac Roth if he can see the Ulstermen approaching. Mac Roth describes them advancing like a mist filled with lightning. Upon going out again, he observes the Ulster camp and returns with descriptions of the warriors and their forces. Fergus identifies them for the king. A truce is declared until the following morning. The Morrígan appears to foretell the impending slaughter.
The Battle of the Armies and the Two Bulls
The battle commences. Ailill and Medb plead with Fergus to join the fight and
return his sword to him. Fergus cuts through the Ulstermen and faces Conchobor
but is held back by Cormac, who urges him to remember his own kin. Cúchulainn,
leaving his sickbed, arms himself and confronts Fergus, insisting he honor his
promise to retreat before him. Fergus withdraws the Ulster exiles from the
battle, followed by the men of Leinster and Munster. Cúchulainn catches up with
Medb but chooses to spare her. Fergus remarks that the battle's outcome is
predictable when the herd follows a mare.
The next morning, the survivors assemble to witness the battle between the two bulls. The Donn Cúailnge emerges victorious over Finnbennach, scattering parts of Finnbennach's body across the area. The locations where they clash later become known by specific place names, marking significant events. Ultimately, the Donn Cúailnge meets its end at Druim Tairb.